Summer is here and what better way to enjoy it than by preparing an impressive picnic to enjoy with the family? But you may be wondering where to begin. That’s where Olivieri® is happy to help! In this guide to Italian Food for Picnics, you’ll find everything you need to know.
We’ll share with you our best tips and tricks for finding an ideal picnic area, what to pack inside your picnic basket, how to set a picnic table, and most importantly, what food you can bring. Read on and find out how to make your next picnic one to remember!
Picnic Area – Where to Go
Finding the best picnic area near you is all about knowing where the grass grows. Picnics are meant to be held in green spaces. If there are plenty of trees around for shade, that’s a bonus. If there’s a river or a lake nearby that gives off a cooling breeze, even better!
Have a look on Google Maps to find the nearest picnic area to your home. Alternatively, if you don’t mind venturing a little further, you can drive if it means finding a preferable place. If you’re taking the kids out for the day, why not have a picnic by a children’s playground? That will keep the kids entertained while the grown-ups relax.
Picnic Basket – Your Best Friend This Summer
By having a picnic basket, you can keep all your necessary foods, cutlery, and equipment in one place. Picnic baskets are easy to come by online or in your local stores. Just be sure you have one that’s big enough to store goods for the whole family.
You can fill your picnic basket with small shareables, such as sausage rolls, biscuits, potato chips, sandwiches, or pies. You may also want to consider cheeses and cold meats, such as ham and salami. As people from the Mediterranean can attest, bread and olives are always worthwhile additions.
Picnic Table – For Outdoor Dining
If you prefer to have your picnic at a table, there are two main ways to do so. The first is to find a park that has picnic tables. Plenty of them do! Otherwise, you can bring a fold-up table with a set of small fold-up stools. Unpack these from the trunk and set your table at the green space of your choice.
Picnic Blanket – A Must for Any Picnic
If you’re sitting on the grass, the picnic blanket gives you somewhere to put the food and relax. Even if you’re having your picnic at a table, a blanket may still be worthwhile to use as a tablecloth to add some colour and decoration to your mealtime.
Picnic Food
What to Bring to a Picnic
Let’s take a look at the Italian-inspired recipes you can make to take your picnic up to the next level. These are a combination of snacks for sharing, dips to please all tastes and an assortment of fresh pasta salads that are ideal for summer.
Snacks for Sharing
When cheese and tomato-filled gnocchi are wrapped in soppressata and dipped into a tasty Olivieri® Chunky Tomato & Basil Sauce, what you get is Gnocchi Pizza Bites. This is a snack the little ones are bound to love!
Gnocchi can be cooked in just a couple of minutes, then kept in a container and eaten later. That’s why they’re great for picnics. Other delicious options include Skillet Cheese Gnocchi with Tomato Basil Sauce and Cheese-Filled Skillet Gnocchi With a Creamy Pesto Dip.
Another delightful snack boasting Italian flair is this Skillet Gnocchi Antipasto Bites recipe. To try it is to love it!
Pasta Salad for Summer Mealtime
Pasta salads allow you to bring fresh and vibrant meals to a picnic that can also be stored in containers and consumed without any need for heating them up. Try your hand at this Greek Salad Tortellini, a beautiful-looking dish full of bright colours.
Likewise, you simply can’t go wrong with this Confetti Pasta Salad. Just make sure you’ve brought enough plates, and knives and forks to the picnic so that everyone gets a portion. These can be disposable party plates and plastic cutlery found at your local stores.
Given their versatility, you will never be short of pasta salad options. For more tips and tricks on how to get the best out of your next mealtime, feel free to head over to our kitchen.