e Fine Day

Everything you need to know to plan
theperfect picnic.

ANNABEL COHEN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

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no coincidence that the word for pic-
nic is the same in so many languages.
The whole picnic kick-back attitude and serv-
ing-style experience is universal. It's something
you go to, do and eat, one of life's simplest, most
gratifying memory-makers. No wonder painters,
story-tellers, movie-moguls and advertisers choose
the picnic theme as the ultimate depiction of fam-
ily fun.
It seems everyone has a favored picnic remi-
niscence: That impromptu romantic afternoon
where you ate nothing but brie, grapes and cook-
ies and remembered his favorite wine (but forgot
the corkscrew). A reunion of family and friends
on that cloudless day, with checkered tablecloths,
cold chicken, potato salad and icy lemonade. Or
that terrific tailgate on a crisp autumn day just
before the team you love beat
the pants off the team you love
to hate.
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A few guidelines before plan-
ning the big day:
Time is of the essence. The
best excuse for having a picnic
is no excuse. So it only goes to
reason that the best time to
have a picnic is anytime. It's an
indubitable fact that everything
tastes better eaten with the sky
as your ceiling.
There's no place like away
from home. As an old saying
goes, the best place for picnic is
somewhere else. So plan your

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casual Sunday brunch out-of-doors. Go to Mead-
ow Brook and sit on the lawn with a basket of
goodies. Pack a duffel with PB&J, fresh fruit ke-
babs and frisbees and take your favorite juveniles
to a state park.
People and picnics. The only people required
for a perfect picnic is you. Everyone else who
comes along is a bonus. Our picnic ideas are grat-
ifying whether you're dining solo or entertaining
the troops.
A moveable feast. Don't eat anything you can't
lift. This may sound like some new fad diet, but
actually it's the only real "rule" of picnic food. So
unless you realize what you're getting into, don't
plan a five-course dinner under the stars. In gen-
eral, a few delicious, easy-to-pack-and-eat choic-
es are perfect, especially when schlepping is
involved.
What is a must is enough
of everything. Appetites seem
to grow when you wear shorts
and sandals, so pack plenty.
Other than the "Romantic Pic-
nic for Two," the following per-
fect picnic menus and recipes
serve eight starving picnickers.
Multiply as needed. Even if
you're serving less than eight
guests, make the recipes as
written. Somehow, the food al-
ways gets eaten.
Remember, even an elegant
picnic is always casual. So don't
sweat it.