The Art of the Picnic
Balloons, baubles, and a buffet full of bargains
This week we focus on an art I fear is vanishing — the art of the picnic!
This is a subject I will be returning to as we get into summer, assuming the rain stops. I will be scouting — and soliciting — good locations for picnics around town. Sites with picnic tables, with facilities, with beautiful views.
The idea will be to learn to picnic at these picnic spots.
When was the last time you saw people gathered at a picnic table with a tablecloth, a basket, and actual food? Normally when you see a picnic table in use, it is in use just by someone planted on the table, feet on the bench, phone in hand. Perhaps with a bottle of water — there is always that bottle of water — and maybe, maybe, some fast food out of a paper bag. Fie!
A bunch of us ladies got together in Ellicott Creek Park this week to start getting back in practice. This is a special group. We call ourselves the Ladies of Lounge because we reconnect frequently on Fridays at Johnny D’s at the Hyatt, where my husband, Howard, plays the piano for happy hour.
Note: Although this was a ladies’ picnic, picnicking is not just for ladies. Gentlemen should know as well how to get a picnic together. Picnicking will always be in fashion for both genders, as illustrated by the great Spanish painter Antonio García Mencía.
First Step: Reserve!
This was a surprise for me. When my friend Janet reserved a shelter at Ellicott Creek Park, I agreed along with everyone else to pitch in. However, secretly, I thought she was crazy. The fee was $97. Why pay that, I said, when you can picnic in so many places for free?
Then I learned the answer: Because the fee is non-refundable, you are locked in. The weather being cool, had we not had this reservation, friends would have bowed out. There was a motion to postpone it. No. We reserved. It is now.
And guess what? The day was sunny, almost 70. Perfect, as it turned out.
Next tip: Aldi!
Food for a picnic does not have to be a lot of work. I ran to Aldi and headed straight to the back, where live the sausages and cheese.
A one-pound chub of Braunschweiger liverwurst: $2.09. As I reported, the price had gone up, however, still a bargain, and it went over big. If your friends are less sophisticated eaters who get squeamish at the words “liver sausage,” call it pate. It’s the same thing.
Aldi also has an array of cold cuts — Black Forest ham, sliced turkey. You can get rye bread or rolls for sandwiches. My friend Andrea brought dessert from Aldi as well, along with deviled eggs she made herself.
I got Bratwurst marked down — score! — however at full price they are a steal too. Pick up mustard if you need it.
Grab some cheese, of course. Borgonzola, Camembert, or Brie will run you just under $5 — delicious, and you get a lot. Happy Farms cheese blocks are a little over $2.
I also bought strawberries and, ahem, pork rinds. The pork rinds were a novelty. My friends got a kick out of them. Other Aldi ideas: Imitation Crab is universally beloved. It’s a favorite in Japan, said my friend Cindra, who lived there for years. Salad greens, radishes, cucumber. The radishes from Aldi have been so sweet and good this year. I wonder if they are coming in yet at the Clinton-Bailey Market. I will have to go and check.
Anyway, do not overthink the food. We did not feel up to tackling the grill so we just brought everything ready to serve.
Decorate
You can tell picnic amateurs by the fact that they just dump everything on the table. No tablecloths, no nothing. Bring a tablecloth. A bedsheet will do if you do not have a tablecloth. Or shop the Bins!
How is this for creativity: Janet went to Dollar Tree and bought baubles and balloons, ribbons, and adorable bouquets!
A closeup of the Decor on the table. We all loved those little glass jewels!
Janet also had little clips to clip down the tablecloth so it wouldn’t blow away. I must get some of those clips for myself.
And to drink:
Seltzer can be very festive! Janet brought Polar Cranberry Lime — bright pink cans, a hit all around. She also chose bright plastic picnicware. And look how she uses rocks as paperweights! Genius! These are stones carefully gathered, curated, and cleaned.
Janet is a violinist and this is how she got through Oberlin, paying this loving attention to every detail.
A closeup of my plate loaded with salad, Bratwurst, Borgonzola, deviled eggs, and there is Braunschweiger in there somewhere as well.
I am low carb so there were many goodies I had to pass up.
The Groaning Board
Don’t try to put the food on the table where everyone is sitting. Having rented a shelter, we had extra tables, and one table became the buffet.
Those are yummy brownies in the foreground. I think our friend Brenda made them. The Banana Nut bread Andrea got at Aldi is visible at the lower left. The cheese slices are scattered on my Traveling Cheese Board — another story for another day. Someone is helping herself to Braunschweiger. And barely visible in the upper right hand corner is the Imitation Crab.
Another view:
Wow, that was delicious, you know? I wish a giant hand could pick me up and put me back there right now!
Darn, I thought I had a photo of the bar. The bar was on a separate table. It’s all right, you can imagine it. It was two boxes of wine: a fancy French sauvignon blanc brought by our friend Pauline, and Bota Box Dry Rose I picked up at the last minute from a nearby liquor store on Niagara Falls Boulevard. The wines were both low alcohol, perfect for the occasion. Another picnic tip: Check the fine print on the wine label for alcohol content. The Dry Rose was just 11 percent.
Having set everything up, we enjoyed drinks …
… and then we returned to the buffet. In this picture you can see the cute historic shelters in Ellicott Creek Park. They date to the 1930s, when they were built by the WPA.
What fun! What a day!
Next time we might attempt the grill. It would be fun to use the grill they have on site. We would have to clean it. However that is all part of the adventure. I am looking forward to it and I will chronicle what I learn.
Meanwhile, anyone else picnic tips are welcome. What is your secret sauce? What do you recommend?
Let’s put everything on the table!
Tariffs Take a Bite Out Of Aldi
Tariffs are hitting Aldi! I was there this morning and I could not help noticing.
Mary Kunz Goldman is known in Buffalo for having written the Buzz Column, a popular feature in The Buffalo News, as well as another hit column, “100 Things Every Western New Yorker Should Do At Least Once.” She is the author of two books, “Pennario” and “Sketches of Buffalo.” Enjoy her independent Substack publication at MaryKunzGoldman.Substack.com. New stories appear just about every day!
Thank you Mary! More picnics to come!