Nantucket Wildflower Farm flower truck on Main Street in Nantucket, Ma. The geese hold the spot until Charlene the truck arrives. The farm specializes in growing native flowers and only sells on Main Street during the summer season. If you can, grab some flowers for your picnic and put them in a mason jar or an old food jar. Easy to carry, it's an upcycled producct and will add a bit of summer fresh whimsy to your meal.
With Labor Day upon us our days of enjoying a meal outside are winding down. Vacationing on Nantucket where I have been lucky enough to come every year for the past 10 or so years. And 4 years ago we upped it and started coming for 2 weeks. It is for me the most relaxing and beautiful place. Whenever I am here I think can I live here year round?
The crowds can be a bit much but just this morning I dropped off Harper and my husband at the docks for a pirate adventure and it was relatively quiet. A ferry just arrived and delivery trucks were making their way to restaurants. I walked along the cobble streets to the coffee shop and thought this is one of the things I love about this place. Just walking around the quaint, historic New England village. AND pedestrians have the right away, cars and trucks stop for you and wave across. Complete opposite of life in NYC.
Summer is wonderful here. An abundance of places to have picnics and barbecues; the beach, the docks or the wharf are all a perfect setting. In our case we utilize the barbecue at our rental which also has a beautiful yard and garden with a quick 5 minute walk to the beach. We really are lucky.
So what to do when you pack a picnic and want it to look like the lovely dinner parties you give at home? Here are some platter ideas that are picnic and environmentally friendly.
Simple sandwiches and chips. Food52 using bamboo plates, paper straws, glass bottles and cloth napkins.
Food52 crudite platter using a mesh net cover from Dot and Army. Starting from the bottom clockwise, yellow pepper sticks, cherry tomatoes keeping the vine intact, snap peas, orange pepper sticks, carrot sticks and celery sticks. Notice how the green snap peas are placed to be diagonal from the artichoke dip; color coordination.
Antipasto platter from Southern Living - pickled okra, kalamata olives, roasted peppers, salami, breadsticks and cheese.
Layered salad in a jar from Lavender and Lovage - starting from the bottom, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, green olives, salsa and sour cream. Don't add the chips on top until you are ready to eat. No one likes soggy chips.
Do you have any go to favorite platters you like to create for picnics or barbecues? There are so many wonderful ideas out there. Please share if you have a favorite. And thanks for visiting!
Tracey