A picnic needs very little: a blanket, some good bread, something cold to drink. The only hard part is making sure the drink is still cold when you sit down.
What to put in the cooler
- A crisp lager or pilsner: made for sun and grass, and the easy match for bread and cheese.
- Rosé or a light white: chill it well, serve it in small glasses and keep the bottle in the shade.
- Sparkling wine or cider: wonderful with strawberries. A screw-cap or crown-cap bottle is easier outdoors than a cork.
- Lemonade, iced tea or sparkling water: for the driver, the kids and the afternoon that is long.
What goes with it
Soft, creamy cheese, a rustic loaf, fresh strawberries. Cheese and cold lager are friends. Strawberries and sparkling are a classic. If you want just one drink-and-food match, take a soft cheese and a dry rosé.
Keeping it cold
- Chill everything at home the night before.
- Pack ice on the bottom and sides, drinks in the middle, food on top.
- Open the lid as little as possible.
- Put the cooler in the shade, not beside you in the sun.
Do not forget
A bottle opener, a small knife, a cloth for sticky fingers and a bag for rubbish. Take glasses that will survive a fall. Leave the place cleaner than you found it.
The best hour
The hour before sunset, when the light is low and gold and nobody wants to leave. Pour slowly.
