plan sophisticated lunch or brunch picnic

What do you think of when you think about fresh air feasting?

Do you think of a flimsy blanket over scratchy grass, soggy sandos and ants on parade? Well, if you think THAT'S the way picnicking is, we challenge you to a sophisticated brunch or lunch picnic makeover! 

When the beach, winery, boat or park is calling, answer the call with a perfectly-planned brunch or lunch outdoors, but with all the victuals and comforts of a table side meal.

This time of year makes for a perfect fresh-air feast, but an "elite" lifestyle demands a change in venue, menu and activities to enhance your outdoor agenda and take  you from a "picnic" to a sophisticated outdoor dining experience, with just a few small considerations that will elevate your entire experience. 

The Venue (Location)
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Picnics don't have to be limited to a park or picnic table. If a fresh-air feast is on your mind, consider upping the ante by choosing an unusual location (such as a new trailhead, winery, or waterfront lookout point), changing up the picnic menu, and adding some interesting activities to your picnic agenda. 

Here’s how:

• Think outside of a park setting. Maybe you would like to hike-in to a destination overlooking the falls, or pick a bench near a fountain, sit across a stadium or amphitheater, plop down under a climbing rock or hot air balloon launch site, or simply pick a grassy area in your own backyard!  Atmosphere, not location, is what’s important when selecting a picnic spot.  
• Add your own atmosphere.  Maybe you are lucky enough to find a picnic location near live music or street performers.  If not, consider bringing along your own music to set the tone of your picnic retreat. 
• Enhance the experience with comforts of home like fluffy blankets, pillows, centerpieces, flowers or aesthetics that might elevate the experience. Other ways to make your picnic feel more elite include stemware, silverware or decorate plastic plates.
• Consider other picnic “buggers.” Consider picking a spot with lots of shade if it’s a particularly warm day, lots of sun on a colder day. Also, consider things like which locations are bug-ridden, muddy, or have lots of clapping geese or seagulls before laying out your picnic blanket.

The Menu

Lunch and brunch are the best picnic meals to consider for your sophisticated outdoor dining experience. While there are some basic rules to selecting menu items like choosing handheld, non-saucy, single dish cold foods--don't feel isolated to those rules! Try something new, and use clever ways to keep your picnic foods looking delicious, staying warm or keeping from getting soggy. For example, bento containers keep food from shifting around. Disposable containers make for easy clean up. Thermoses and ice chests keep things cool, but also can help keep things warm, too! And separating your foods from sauces before consumption prevents soggy bread and veggies.

All of these considerations allow you to think outside the standard picnic and incorporate some delicious and unique recipes for your sophisticated outdoor experience. And, when you combine these swanky recipes with the robust, velvety flavor of Steakhouse Elite Kobe-Crafted beef, the result is a next-level elevated lunch or brunch picnic experience.

Brunch Recipes

Beef-stuffed Breakfast Burritos (a silverware-free version of egg breakfast)
Cheeseburger on an English Muffin (what's more brunchy than breakfast AND lunch?)
Brunch Beef Strata (it's an beefy egg casserole!)

Lunch Recipes

Layered Beef Salad Shakers (salad beautifully layered in a mason jar--just shake and serve!)
PB&J Wraps with Steakhouse Elite Beef (a protein-rich version of the traditional PB&J)
Greek Meatball Subs (a Greek twist on a fancy Italian sandwich)

Other (Non-Beef) Picnic Munchables:

Trail mix
Charcuterie Board
S'Mores (Use chocolate frosting instead of chocolate bars)
Fresh or Dried Fruits
Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
Beef Jerky and String Cheese
Hummus and Fresh Vegetables
Sparkling Juice, Infused Water, Mimosas (champagne and juice), Wine

What to Pack

Finally, the key to the perfect picnic is preparedness. Comfort comes from thoughtfulness and adequate preparation, so be sure to throw the following items into the trunk of your car before your brunch or lunch picnic.

• Food and drink
• Utensils (especially ones needed for serving or spreading condiments)
• Napkins
• Non-glass drinking containers
• A bag for garbage
• Sun block
• Water
• Ice packs to keep food cold
• Activities. Consider packing a bug exploring kit or bat and ball for the kids, or you can improvise with an impromptu scavenger hunt.  For an adults-only picnic, consider downloading question/answer game such as Table Topics or Scattegories (available through your App Store)

So, how do you enjoy a bougie, sophisticated picnic? You start with the location, the atmosphere, the menu and packing all the essentials and mix it with the next-level flavor of recipes infused with Steakhouse Elite for a picnic worthy of impressing anyone!

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