The Picnic by Spaghetti & Mandolino: a gourmet meal outdoors.

What a beautiful day! Why not go for a picnic outdoors?
The beautiful season is made for outings, allowing you to enjoy the sun, the temperatures, and especially nature. The best way to take advantage of all this is definitely a nice lunch in a park or a dinner at sunset by the lake.

How to organize the perfect picnic? Grab your basket and blanket, the rest is up to us: here’s the picnic according to Spaghetti&Mandolino.
 

Outdoor picnic: meaning and origin of the term we all know

First of all, having a picnic means eating outdoors. The term comes from two French words: "piquer" meaning "to nibble" and "nique" which means "little thing." Don't worry: this doesn't mean you have to eat little, quite the opposite!

Imagine that this custom of consuming food and beverages was already present among the ancient Romans, who enjoyed having rustic snacks in grottos, near springs, or among the trees.

We have testimony of this thanks to Pliny, who in one of his letters recalls a meal outdoors next to fountains with trays shaped like little boats floating from one diner to another.

Even Boccaccio in the Decameron alludes to a picnic under the pines.
In the 1800s, Alexandre Dumas even provided us with a menu for the perfect picnic.

Today, picnics have come back into fashion, partly due to the pandemic, which has somehow pushed people to organize outdoor meals more often.
There’s even a World Picnic Day, celebrated every year on June 18 to encourage people to spend time outdoors and take advantage of clear sunny days to enjoy time with friends and family.
 

Picnic: how to organize an outdoor meal with Spaghetti&Mandolino

Here we are at the part you were waiting for!

First of all, you need to ignite your imagination: close your eyes and imagine your perfect picnic. Where are you? Who are you with?

The place and company are the first things to define, and I can't help you with that, but I can take care of the rest: the food and drinks!

Let me tell you about the gourmet picnic I imagine: along the lake with a view of the skyline of my city, in the shade of a tree, around 8 PM when the sun is about to set, in the company of the 6 people I hold dearest.

A nice wicker basket full of delicacies, a few bottles of beer, and, strictly, the checkered blanket in white and red.

To start the picnic, there are undoubtedly artisanal Pizza Tarallini, to consume throughout the meal, between one chat and another.
As a first course, I see some cold pasta working well, like whole grain penne from Felicetti, dressed with a tasty tomato preserve, the Pacchetella cherry tomatoes from the Piennolo of Vesuvius, and a drizzle of DOP Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Eastern Garda.

Next, we’ll have a nice savory pie. To make it, you can mix flour, eggs, parmesan, ricotta, milk, and oil and then fill it with zucchini and the Speck de 'na olta from La Casara, cut into thin strips: the result is amazing.

For me, picnic also means sandwich, so I’ll leave a spot for some fantastic club sandwiches, slightly reinvented. In traditional American ones, there should be chicken, bacon, and egg, while I put in some thinly sliced Seasoned Guanciale, a few leaves of lettuce, and some Mustard Sauce.

It’s also very tasty with the addition of eggs, but I decide to use them for another preparation.

Since my friends are foodies, they certainly won't hold back and happily enjoy another dish: a succulent omelette with Sweet Sausage and Smoked Scamorza: it's excellent even cold.
 

The Perfect Picnic: drinks and desserts to enjoy outdoors

As I already mentioned, in the Picnic that I would like (ah, was it the mill? Oh well, never mind), there are sparkling bottles of beer. The Maldipa from Magis is perfect as a pairing with the dishes, and why not also a Craft Pils Blonde Beer from the Lesster Brewery.

To end this picnic on a high note, you definitely need a dessert, but it should be easy to eat, so a dry cake, like the Crostata from Biscottificio Guerra: my favorite is the one with raspberry, but on our portal, you can find other flavors, including apricot, Gianduia or Rustic Vegan.

However, I can't help but recommend another dessert, typical of the tradition of Mantova, my city: the Sbrisolona. Since we've left lightness behind with the first course, I feel like proposing the perfect pairing for this rustic and irresistible dessert: Grappa di Barolo pairs perfectly with its crumbly structure and almond flavor.

So here it is, the picnic according to Spaghetti&Mandolino, a celebration of flavors for a gourmet meal outdoors. Remember, nature must be respected, so arm yourself with eco-friendly gear and take care of the environment around you.

And don't forget board games; they can't be missed!

Sara Bettoni

S&M