How to pack the perfect picnic

A guide to picnicking like the French!

With roots in the French countryside dating back centuries, “Pique-Niques” have earned their place as a quintessentially French activity through the iconic depictions in famous works of art, to the everyday view of Parisians enjoying a meal along the Seine. While a lot of elements are open to interpretation - the location, the company, the conundrum of whether to bring plates, the French stick to the classics when it comes to the essentials. 

Essentials for a French picnic: 

A Baguette (or two)
An essential element to the French picnic - a crisp, yet chewy baguette serves as the base for some of our favorite sandwiches, an excellent vessel for serving pate, or simply enjoyed with a bit of cheese.

Cheese
A country known for its seemingly endless options of delicious fromage, there are a few that find their way into our picnic baskets time and time again. You cannot go wrong with a creamy, soft-ripened cheese like camembert or brie. We’re also partial to the semi-hard comte (similar to greyere).

Fruit
Add a bit of sweetness to the spread by hitting a local market and loading up one whatever fruits are in season! Dried fruits, like apricots or figs, will also do in a pinch.

Meats
A saucisson sec (dry-cured) salami is a must for layering onto sandwiches, or pairing with your favorite cheese. And we’d be remiss not to mention that adding a rich pate will do wonders to elevate a simple alfresco outing.

Salad
For something a little more substantial, we’re big fans of a simple pasta or orzo salad. Enjoyed with the Picnic+ utensils, of course.

Drinks
A crisp rose, or a nice cold cremant are

A little something sweet
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a bit of Nutella spread on a baguette, or a few Pétit Écoliers.

Don’t forget the perfect picnic knife, an Opinel!