In summertime, there are few things I enjoy more than sharing a delicious meal outside with family and friends. So I was ecstatic when our family decided to surprise my mom with a lunchtime Duffy boat harbor cruise for her July birthday.

Planning menus and cooking for celebrations is my jam, so I volunteered to be in charge of the food and drinks for this birthday soirée. My goal was to plan a meal that would not only be delicious and exquisite, but easy to transport, able to be made ahead of time, would last the three hour duration of the trip, and most importantly, not go sliding into the ocean.

After perusing my collection of cookbooks and the internet for inspiration, I came up with this scrumptious menu..

Chic Summer Picnic

Sparkling Cantaloupe Vodka Lemonade

Savory Cocktail Nuts

Italian Antipasto Skewers

Shrimp Cocktail

Hummus Dip with Fresh Crudités and Flatbread

Mini Bundt Cakes

My chic summer picnic was a success.  The preparation and transportation was a breeze and each dish was amazingly delicious.  Next time you want to have a picnic, chic or casual, try this menu.  I promise your guests will love it!

 

Now, for my 4 Picnic Musts

1. Always serve at least one, really delicious, store bought food.  Over the years, I have learned to cut myself a little slack and not have a completely “made from scratch” menu. I like to  purchase the dessert or appetizer. This small act relieves a huge amount of stress and work and helps me enjoy the party that much more.
2. Bring your own “clean-up” supplies. A roll of papertowels, hand sanitizer, and at least one heavy duty trash bag are essentials to your picnic packing regimen.
3. Use disposable dinnerware and utensils. No one wants to be carrying unnecessary dishes to and from the picnic site and then needing to wash them after. For this picnic, I found the nautical themed partyware at Party City.
4. Transport your food to the picnic in freezer and sandwich size ziploc bags. This helps the food stay intact and keep its freshness and flavor. Once at the picnic site, you can arrange everything on your serving platters to your liking.

Now go enjoy the beautiful outdoors and have yourself a fabulous chic summer picnic!