Spring has arrived, and with that comes blossoming flowers and sunshine that provide a beautiful backdrop for a picture perfect date. Planning an outdoor picnic gives you a chance to impress that special someone with your culinary selections and love for nature at the same time. As you pack your picnic basket, you can use these ideas for inspiration that will leave your date looking forward to spending more time together.

Put Together the Essentials

Picnics don’t require any fancy table settings, but you do want to have everything in place to enjoy your meal. A picnic blanket is great for giving you a clean place to sit on the ground, or you can use it as a tablecloth. You’ll also want to pack some basic silverware and napkins along with something to drink as you enjoy your day at the park.

Pick Out Your Entree

Sandwiches and wraps are classic picnic meals that are guaranteed to be a hit. You can always choose a traditional turkey or ham sandwich if you aren’t sure what your date would like. Or, you can pick out a veggie wrap that is filled with flavorful ingredients such as grilled zucchini, roasted peppers and tomatoes for a flavorful option that works perfectly for a vegetarian.

If you prefer something warm for your picnic lunch, then consider ordering a grilled bbq chicken breast from a meal delivery NJ foodies love. You can simply heat this up and keep it warm by wrapping the dish in foil and putting a hot pack on top. Your date will be impressed by a warm picnic lunch that is restaurant level quality.

Plan the Perfect Sides

You’ll next want to round out your picnic menu with the right sides. For sandwiches and wraps, you can often go with chips or potato salad. Hot meals might require something a little different to create the concept of enjoying a professionally prepared meal in the park. Barbecue baked beans are delicious with chicken and maintain that low key vibe that works great for picnics. Toasted orzo with spinach is another option that will dazzle your date. Green salads are also a great side that tend to work well with just about any meal.

Remember to Add a Sweet Surprise

Pulling out a special dessert adds the icing on the cake for a perfect date. For a romantic spring picnic, you might want to choose something that captures the flavors of the season like ginger cake with orange-sherry glazed pears. Your date will be impressed by your ability to pick something that just seems so perfect. You can also go with something more traditional. A New York style cheesecake with raspberry sauce is bound to make your date smile when you pull it out of your basket for a surprise finale to the meal.

Prepping for a springtime picnic should be as effortless as soaking up the sunshine. Make sure to leave the heavy prep work up to us. We’ll make sure that you have fresh food that impresses your date while leaving you with more time to get to know that special someone.

"Creating Culinary Magic"

- Chef John Deatcher

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