A grazing picnic works particularly well when several people are eating together and everyone wants to try a little of everything. Instead of preparing individual lunches, the food is placed in the middle and shared throughout the afternoon.

A long board or several smaller platters can form the centre of the picnic. Bread, crackers, cheeses, olives, dips, fruit, vegetables and charcuterie are easy to combine and require very little serving once everyone is seated.

Start with a few larger items and build around them. Several cheeses, one or two dips and enough bread provide the basis, while smaller ingredients such as grapes, tomatoes, nuts, olives and dried fruit can fill the spaces between them.

Fresh fruit helps balance richer foods. Grapes and berries are easy to share, while melon, peaches, figs or watermelon can be prepared beforehand and packed in containers until the picnic is ready.

The setting can be kept informal. Blankets, cushions and a low table make it possible to create one large eating area without transporting a complete outdoor dining setup. Individual plates and napkins are still useful, particularly when several dishes are being shared.

For a larger group, it helps to divide the food between a few containers rather than trying to transport one finished board. Everything can be arranged after arrival, which keeps bread crisp and prevents softer ingredients from moving around during the journey.

Food safety becomes more important when a picnic lasts several hours. Cheese, meat, dips and other chilled foods should stay in a cool bag until shortly before they are served, especially during warm weather.

A grazing setup is also easy to adapt to the occasion. It can become a casual lunch with friends, part of a birthday outdoors or a larger picnic during a weekend away. Local bread, cheese, fruit and other regional products can make the table different each time.

Looking for a place to enjoy a picnic in the countryside?
Discover The Kempen in our fourth edition →

#GrazingPicnic #OutdoorLunch #PicnicIdeas #OutdoorDining #StepOutside