Picnic- a word understandable in all languages. And wherever you are, picnic– this is air, beautiful landscape and... food. How to assemble a basket that is tasty, interesting and not difficult? There are enough complications with a home stove. All you need to do is relax in nature!

Grace in French
Of course, the favorite pastime of the French nobles was hunting. But the gentlemen of the aristocracy were accompanied to the “quail” hunt by baskets of food in order to thoroughly refresh themselves before the main entertainment of the court. This breakfast on the grass was of great importance to everyone present. Intrigues, politics, loving languid glances and gossip of secular fashionistas. It was there that special traditions and etiquette developed.

The main dish in the “French basket” should be a cold pie. For example, from shortcrust pastry. The filling can be made from pieces of brisket with eggs beaten with cream. Second you can put a sweet pie, in French - tart, made from the same shortcrust pastry, but with fruit and sweet cream. The French love liqueur-soaked sponges and tiny chocolate cakes. Of course, the picnic set includes cheese, wine and vegetables: tomatoes, bell peppers and lots of lettuce.

Picnic in Italian
Previously, ordinary people dined outdoors in Italy. The peasants' food was not particularly sophisticated, but it was very filling and tasty. The sunny traditions of Italy have migrated to us with soft and hard cheeses, hearty breads and delicious Italian dry-cured ham. By the way, Italians can eat this delicious dish with melon or other sweet fruits. Undoubtedly, an Italian basket must contain vegetables. Those who like a heartier snack will enjoy the closed calzone pizza and the indispensable Italian sandwich. It consists of two large slices of bread, boiled meat and vegetables between layers. By the way, this giant can be grilled - then it will be covered with an appetizing crust. In general, the variety of Italian sandwiches is very large. To try them all, you need to go outdoors every day. You can take with you thin triangles of bread with layers of ham and cheese, or you can make classic bruschetta. It just has a mountain of amazing toppings. This includes olive paste and even portions of vegetable stew. A bottle of Italian wine will help create a romantic atmosphere.

English style picnic basket
Fashion for picnics in Britain it became an elegant social snack of the 19th century. The prim British loved relaxing in nature so much that they even created a special Picnic Society. The members of this club preferred to gather in city parks to have a tasty and substantial meal in nature.
In the “English style” basket you need to put sandwiches with cold meat and eggs. In the English set, the benefits of cucumbers and watercress are important. These vegetables go amazingly with the main dish. English picnic– choux pastry pies with pork. Moreover, the filling itself looks like our usual brawn.
Exquisite picnic dish will serve chicken pieces with a special sauce of curry and mayonnaise. This is a British classic that you can try in a big loaf of bread. This is exactly what modern Englishmen do at a picnic. For alcohol, you can grab canned beer, and for those who like something hot - gin or rum.

It is from England that the indispensable attributes of English come picnic: a blanket, a tablecloth and an impressive size suitcase with dishes. The conservatism of British people lies in porcelain plates and cutlery.

Go out on a picnic with a basket filled with great food and you'll discover why the French prefer to eat this way.

The French do everything with their usual panache, especially when it comes to dining en plein air. These days, adding a little Gaelic panache to your picnic isn't hard to do. Modern French cuisine is light and simple - it suits the modern lifestyle perfectly. When going on a picnic, French gourmets prefer not only fresh vegetables and fruits, but also an assortment of smoked sausages, delicious homemade cheeses, crispy village bread - everything generously seasoned with herbs (mainly chives and tarragon. Now all this can be easily bought in some supermarket or specialty store, but if you prefer homemade, we've provided all the recipes you need below. Choose any ideas from these four menus and create your own unforgettable dejeuner sur l"herbe.

FIRST MENU

Tomatoes in Pravan style- whole, ripe tomatoes, scraped inside and deseeded, filled with a mixture of crushed garlic, parsley and toasted bread crumbs and olive oil.

Green salad- green salad leaves with boiled green beans, dressed with vinaigrette made from olive oil, lemon juice and tarragon.

Baked small new potatoes with aioli (garlic mayonnaise) (just crushed garlic with high-quality, thick mayonnaise).

Whole, ripe, juicy apricots, peaches, nectarines and slices of fragrant melon.

WINE Alsatian Pinot Blanc

SECOND MENU

Country pate generously spread on fresh crusty walnut bread.

Pieces of Comte cheese with pickled gherkins (pickled cucumbers).

Salad "Frise" with crispy pieces of fried bacon and vinaigrette dressing.

Range almond cakes.

WINE Red Cotes du Rhone.

THIRD MENU

Dish with smoked trout and boiled shrimp, served with dill and lemon wedges. Serve with a great sauce (great for seafood), just mix chopped capers, tarragon and dill with mayonnaise.

Pickled fennel salad- simply mix finely chopped fennel with lemon juice and olive oil; season. You can leave it to marinate until you arrive for a picnic.

Baguette with unsalted French butter.

Lemon tarts "tartes au citron" with lemon whipped cream - just add lemon zest to it.

WINE Pink from Anjou or Provence

FOURTH MENU

Assortment of smoked sausages with pickled artichokes.

Chicory leaves, seasoned with aromatic olive oil, spinach and a drop of white wine vinegar.

French bread with salted French butter.

Chocolate mousse with orange shortbread.

WINE White Brugunda.

Recipes to note

– a wonderful idea for couples in love. Enjoying the company of your loved one, laying your head on his lap, admiring nature, enjoying a warm day and the warming sun - isn’t this the crystal dream of a girl in love?

If you and your loved one decide to have such a picnic, take advantage of the experience of the French, who firmly hold the palm in their ability to create a romantic atmosphere. A French picnic is a special format of outdoor recreation: no barbecue, beer and - God forbid! – sandwiches with sausage and cheese: but there is a lot of fruit, snacks and vegetables, canapes, of course, fondue.

Undoubtedly, in a classic French picnic basket, cheese occupies one of the main places: but not processed cheese and only in combination with good wine. The French picnic menu is exquisite - it is based on fruit, wine and cheese - and easy: after all, you didn’t come to eat in nature?!

WomanJournal.ru offers you 25 dishes with a French accent, which will be very useful at a picnic with your loved one.

Everyone's on a picnic!

Radish butter on crackers

Recipe for appetizers made with radishes, butter and black pepper.

What you need (for 1 serving):

200 g red radishes, peeled, room temperature

6 tbsp. spoon of unsalted soft butter

Sea salt and ground black pepper

How to make radish butter on crackers:

• Grind the radishes in a food processor. Using cheesecloth, squeeze out the radish juice. Mix the radish mass with oil until smooth, add salt and pepper.
• Serve immediately on crackers or toast.
• Radish butter on crackers is ready.

Bon appetit!

Smoked salmon tartlets

Recipe for tartlets with smoked salmon, French sour cream and cucumber.

What you need (for 12 servings):

Ready dough

200 g smoked salmon

1/4 sour cream 20% fat

1/4 cup cucumber, peeled and cut into bars or cubes

Greens for decoration

How to make smoked salmon tartlets:

• Cut the salmon into thin narrow strips, place 1 strip in a semicircle in each tartlet, add cucumber sticks or cubes and sour cream.
• When serving, garnish with dill sprigs, cilantro or chervil leaves.
• Smoked salmon tartlets are ready.

Bon appetit!

Tartlets with nuts and goat cheese

Recipe for tartlets with goat cheese, fig jam and walnuts.

What you need (for 12 servings):

Ready dough

100 g goat cheese

2 tbsp. spoons of fig jam

2 tbsp. tablespoons chopped walnuts (plus a few nuts for decoration)

Greens for decoration

How to make tartlets with nuts and goat cheese:

• Make 12 tartlets from the finished dough, rolling them into envelope cups. Bake for 7-9 minutes at 350. Cool.
• Fry the walnuts over medium heat for 1 minute. Cool.
• Place 1/2 teaspoon of fig jam into the prepared tartlets. Top with 1 teaspoon of goat cheese and 1/2 teaspoon of chopped walnuts.
• Serve by garnishing the tartlets with dill sprigs or chervil leaves and walnuts.
• Tartlets with nuts and goat cheese are ready.

Bon appetit!

Tartine with brie cheese and green apple

Recipe for a French sandwich with melted brie cheese, apple and arugula.

1 baguette, cut into pieces

3-4 tbsp. tablespoons unsalted butter

250g brie cheese, peeled and thinly sliced

2 green apples, cored, thinly sliced

A pinch of freshly ground black pepper

How to make Brie and Green Apple Tartine:

• Brush baguette slices with butter on 1 side and fry until golden brown.
• Turn each tartine over to the other side, place apple slices in the center, and place in the oven. Cook until the apples soften.
• Remove from the oven, place a slice of cheesebry on top of each and return the tartines to the oven for 2-3 minutes.
• Place tartines on a serving plate and sprinkle with arugula and black pepper.
• Tartine with brie cheese and green apple.

Strawberry toast

Recipe for toast with goat cheese, strawberries and honey.

1–2 dense rye or grain bread
2 teaspoons goat cheese (paste consistency)
3 strawberries, cut into slices
1–2 teaspoons honey
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

How to make strawberry toast:

• Pre-toast the bread in the toaster.
• Place toast on a serving plate and spread with goat cheese.
• Place strawberry slices on top, drizzle with honey. Pepper, cut toast into halves.
• Strawberry toast is ready.

Bon appetit!

French nut salad

Salad recipe with arugula, tomatoes, chicken, avocado and almonds.

What you need (for 4 servings):

8 cups shredded Chinese lettuce

4 cups arugula

1/4 cup spinach

2 smoked chicken breasts, cut into pieces

3-4 medium tomatoes on a branch

1 small avocado, cut into pieces

1/2 cup almond petals

1 boiled egg, finely chopped

1/4 cup finely shredded blue cheese

1 tbsp. spoon of finely chopped chives

How to make French Walnut Salad:

• In a large bowl, lightly mash the Chinese salad, arugula and spinach. Place on 4 plates. Top with pieces of smoked (or grilled) chicken, tomatoes and avocado, and add almond petals, chopped egg, cheese and chives as a bright accent.
• You can sprinkle the salad with a few drops of olive oil or lemon juice.
• French nut salad is ready.

Young carrots with sesame seeds

Recipe for spring carrots with sesame seeds in creamy sauce.

450 g young carrots

25 g butter

1 teaspoon light cane sugar

1 tbsp. spoon of sesame oil

1 tbsp. spoon of toasted sesame seeds

How to cook young carrots with sesame seeds:

• For the sauce: put butter in a frying pan and pour in 200 ml of cold water, put on fire and leave for about 8 minutes until the liquid almost evaporates. Add sugar, sesame oil, mix.
• Add carrots to cream sauce and cook for about 4 minutes until carrots are soft.
• Serve by sprinkling the carrots with sesame seeds.
• Young carrots with sesame seeds are ready.

Bon appetit!

Grilled halibut with mango sauce

Recipe for grilled halibut with mango, tomato, cilantro and garlic sauce.

What you need (for 4 servings):

2 cups plum tomatoes, peeled and chopped

1 1/2 cups peeled and chopped juicy mango

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 chopped fresh cilantro

2 tbsp. tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tbsp. spoon of apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon chopped salt

1 teaspoon crushed black pepper

2 cloves minced garlic

200g halibut fillet

1 tbsp. spoon of olive oil

How to Grill Halibut with Mango Sauce:

• For the sauce: mix the first 7 ingredients until smooth, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 pepper and garlic, stir again.
• Rub the halibut fillet with oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Place the fish on the grill and cook for 3 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
• Serve with mango salsa.
• Grilled halibut with mango sauce is ready.

Honey-cheese fondue with fruits

Recipe for fruit fondue with apple juice, honey, ricotta and cinnamon.

What you need (for 6 servings):

450 g ricotta cheese (1 piece)

1 glass apple juice

1 tbsp. a spoonful of honey or a little more, to taste

1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

How to prepare honey-cheese fondue with fruits:

• Combine ricotta, honey and cinnamon powder in a saucepan and whisk well.
• Put on fire, pour in apple juice, beat again.
• Stir until the cheese has completely dissolved and begins to boil.
• Serve immediately with chopped fruit and wooden skewers.
• Honey-cheese fondue with fruit is ready.

Bon appetit!

Summer berry smoothie

Cool drink recipe with summer berries, banana and yogurt.

1 cup fresh or thawed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)

1 pre-frozen banana

What makes a picnic French? A clear plan and lists, a basket, entertainment, colorful blankets, the right dishes? Of course not. What makes a picnic French is the food and drink.

LE VIN - WINE

We advise you to create the mood with light conversations, funny stories and, of course, French wine. The wine can be white or red, preferably dry. By the way, in France, the majority of people produce dry wines.

Source: ebelllosangeles.wordpress.com

LE FROMAGE - CHEESE

Cheese can be a real treat if served correctly. To add variety to your cheese plate, we recommend choosing the following cheeses: Camembert or Brie, Parmesan or Cheddar, one of the blue cheeses, mozzarella, edam or Gouda, and goat or sheep cheese. This way, you will have cheeses of different spiciness and softness on your plate. Don't forget to garnish the cheese with honey, nuts, grapes, strawberries, figs, crackers or baguette pieces.

Source: angelesfinefoods.com

FRUITS ET LEGUMES - FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Be sure to bring lettuce, tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers and your favorite greens. We also advise you not to forget about red-sided apples, bananas and juicy oranges. It’s better to wash and cut everything in advance, so that you don’t have to worry about various little things in nature, but just enjoy it.

Do you want romance and beauty, and not the smell of a fire on your favorite dress? Invite your friends or loved ones for a French-style picnic. We'll tell you how to surprise not only your loved ones, but also yourself with such beauty and lightness.!

What to take from food

France always means fresh bread (baguette, croissants), cheeses (Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, Dor Blue) and wine (of course, choose French: a light rosé or white will make the evening easy). France also means pates that will go wonderfully with herbs (basil, arugula, lollo rossa, iceberg lettuce, a little mint for piquancy and flavor). There is no need to dress salads with oil, just lay out clean leaves beautifully, and guests will assemble their sandwiches themselves. You can make an omelet at home - also a very French dish. A picnic in French is quiche (open pie), eclairs, pasta, profiteroles, meringues. The cheeses are served with honey and nuts, you can even add black olives, strawberries and other berries.

What to take not from food

Take a vintage tablecloth, the oldest plates of different colors, a bouquet of flowers and a straw basket. And glasses, definitely glasses! Make a playlist of the most famous French songs or classic films. The atmosphere of France will be guaranteed to you!