By Jayden Nguyen
There are many places where one can enjoy a picnic, whether it’d be a park, the beach or even in your front yard. However, one thing that remains in great picnics is the people we spend our day with. I believe that the most crucial part of a picnic is who you spend your time with. That being said, this is how I would build my perfect picnic.
Location
I would probably choose to have a picnic in a field, preferably with a tree for shade. I think that fields are more optimal than beaches for picnics since a bit of wind could blow sand into the food, and no one likes crunchy salami. Preferably it would be a nice sunny day with a wind speed of five miles per hour.
Food
Now for the most important part of a picnic: the food. For a picnic, I believe that the best food is hand-held options, so soups are completely off the menu. As an appetizer, I would make a nice simple charcuterie board, probably with some salami, prosciutto, blueberry goat cheese, honey and whole grain crackers. This provides the palate with some savory meats, Umami from the cheese, and some sweetness from the honey.
As the main course, I would bring some Banh Mi Sandwiches, a classic Vietnamese American delicacy. The fresh herbs, the heat from the jalapenos, acidity from the carrot and daikon and the savory cold cuts all inside a crispy baguette. This is the ultimate picnic food as it encompasses a whole meal in an easy-to-deliver package.
For a drink, I believe nothing beats a nice sweet tea, but with some lemonade to make an Arnold Palmer makes it all the more better. And for desert, I think just simple fruit like berries or a nice watermelon to cap off the meal ties it all together.
That’s how I would create the perfect picnic; however, ultimately the perfect picnic is dependent on who you’re spending your time with. With the weather getting nice, I implore you to spend time with your loved ones this summer.
