Ah, picnics. There’s nothing like dining al fresco to lift one’s spirits.

The most important ingredient for a perfect picnic is the company that you bring with you. So invite some of the people you love to enjoy a bit of fresh air with you first. The second most essential component of your picnic is its location. You want two things in a picnic location, soft ground, and shade. A good view is always a nice touch.

For an ideal picnic, you want to pack foods that get better the longer they sit. Ingredients that are prone to becoming mushy are not the move.

Rainbow Salad in a Jar – This is the way to go if you want to bring a salad. The visual presentation will make you the envy of fellow picnickers and your ingredients will stay fresh.

Chickpea Avocado Sandwich – Packing a sandwich can work so long as you keep the moist fillings from touching the bread with a layer of romaine.

Peach and Strawberry Bruschetta – This is a great option if you pack the toppings separately and slice your bread ahead of time to let it develop a crust.

Rosé is the quintessential french picnic wine (we love this one from Riojana) but it can also be nice to switch things up with some white wine. If you aren’t going too far from home you can probably get away with chilling your wine ahead of time and not fussing with ice.

And remember, whenever you enjoy an outdoor space it is important to make sure that you don’t leave anything behind. Please pick up any wrappers or boxes you might have brought with you. Often it is ultimately up to the community to keep our public spaces clean.