The Heart of the Table | Gatherings & Entertaining

One Pretty Picnic

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As spring slowly begins to surround us, we find ourselves searching for something different to do. A little change of pace. A supper to look forward to.

I have a plan based on my new favorite corner pub, the end of my driveway! For now, I’m thinking about setting up the ultimate picnic, and have the perfect recipes in mind.

What makes this supper special is that you can prepare it in advance (like even the day before). It tastes better served at room temperature than it does right out of the fridge. And, you can leisurely enjoy the meal. There’s no rush.

The first dish is a simple caprese salad, arranged by layering slices of heirloom tomato, mozzarella cheese, and basil. Make this salad several hours before serving and let it sit on your counter. The juices will combine with the oil and make a fabulous dip for a nice piece of crusty Italian bread.

From the Archives: A Change of Pace

Riffs and Classics

The second dish is a riff on a Niçoise salad, but in place of tuna, I substitute salmon that has been simply roasted with a rub of brown sugar, chili powder, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. I include olives, hard boiled eggs, simply sautéed green beans, and fingerling potatoes.

The third dish is one of my absolute favorites! Based on the Italian classic, Vitello Tonnato—cold poached veal with a tuna and caper sauce—I substitute chicken for the veal. The chicken is delicately poached in wine, broth, and citrus. The trick is that the chicken is incredibly moist and retains that moisture by covering it with the very flavorful sauce.

So, set up your picnic table, lay out your platters, pour a glass of something FUN and leisurely enjoy the first picnic supper of the season. Let’s look forward to many more to come… together!

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