Holiday Weekend, Picnic Plans!

Soak up some sun while reveling in friends, family, and a taste of the outdoors. This holiday weekend should include a picnic. Regardless of the social agenda, attending or hosting gatherings or a clear schedule, the picnic will always fit the bill. From simple to over-the-top, the ways to incorporate a picnic this Memorial Day Weekend are countless.

The Italian style picnic can be customized as rustic and simple for two, or as a bountiful, yet manageable option for large crowds. The Italian staples consist of bread, olives, a pasta dish that can be enjoyed at room temperature, and various roasted vegetables. This style picnic is great for anytime of the day and can be spread out in any location, even on a blanket in the backyard.

Sample Italian Picnic Menu:

Fresh Italian Bread, such as Semolina, Bastone, or Ciabatta
Assorted olives
Pappardelle with olive oil, fresh lemon, fresh basil, fresh mint
Roasted zucchini, red, yellow, and orange peppers, tomatoes

Use the more traditional picnic fare but, opt for a theme. Whether it be seafood, sandwiches, or a grill menu. Hosting a backyard party with a food theme keeps the essence of simplicity a picnic boasts in tact. Cover outdoor tables with kitschy plaid tablecloths and newspaper for a lobster, crawfish, and crab boil complete with shell crackers for guests. Arrange dishes of drawn butter, fresh lemon halves, and various spices throughout the table. The boiled seafood, corn, and potatoes can be served straight from the table. The same family-style set up can be implemented for a "make-your-own" sandwich bar or with the necessities for grilling out. All options adhere to a relaxed crowd (and host/hostess) present simply to enjoy being outside, eating, and mingling with other guests.


Photo courtesy of potterybarn.com

Sample Traditional Picnic Menus:

Shellfish Boil
Various shellfish (lobster, crab, crawfish, shrimp, mussels)
Corn on the cob
Red skin potatoes

Sandwich Bar
Variety of each:
Rolls, lettuce, pickles, roasted vegetables, cheese, deli meat, mustard, mayo, hot peppers
Homemade potato chips w/crumbled blue cheese

Grill Menu
Marinated chicken (choose 2 favorite styles, such as Caribbean Jerk and Teriyaki)
Grilled fresh fruit, watermelon, pineapple, peaches
Asparagus
Portobella mushrooms
Assorted salads

The picnic will travel with whatever the weekend may bring. Prep an actual picnic basket (or buy a pre-arranged set with price points from $15-$350 on Google shopping search engine, surely one will be suitable) to have ready for impromptu invitations. Neighbors said come over? The basket is an exceptional means to transport food to contribute to the pooled meal. A more thoughtful approach, such as for a host/hostess gift, would be to fill the picnic basket with favorite food items (barbecue sauce, gourmet spreads, honey, jam) for their enjoyment in the future. Pack a favorite cheese and fruit pairing to share that day if asked to bring a dish.


A National Geographic Favorite Picnic Spot: Villa Borghese Gardens, Rome, Italy Photograph by Hemis/Alamy

Grab a Frisbee and the picnic basket and go. Host a sensational party, with ease. Share food favorites with great company. In any style, the picnic should be a priority and the pinnacle of enjoyment during the long weekend. Happy Memorial Day!


What are some of your favorite picnic foods?

Share pictures to our Facebook page of your Memorial Day picnics... we'd love to see Pino Gelato quarts/pints Scooping Some Happiness during celebrations this holiday weekend!

Catering Needs Covered!

 

Special occasions are meant to celebrate and honor with only the best offerings. To create a gathering that will be remembered as a step out from the ordinary add a touch of European flair with gelato catering. The attention to authenticity, the high-standard of quality, and the individual intent Pino Gelato rewards to attendees is the most unique treat to be enjoyed at any event. 

Pino Gelato has perhaps the most special of all occasions in a lifetime covered as far as gelato catering for "The Big Day", as previously elaborated on our wedding post. The excellence presented in the creamy, natural, and decadent dessert offering of gelato is appropriate for a multitude of events. Host a gelato social to show appreciation for employees with to-go box catering inclusive of everything needed to serve gelato, to-go box catering is the perfect means for a smaller gathering. When hosting any intimate sized celebration allow gelato to become a signature staple on the menu, repeat guests will admire the various flavors and look forward to trying the gelato at each. Pino Gelato cakes are available for just about any instance and add a delectable component as well as a gorgeous visual to showcase then serve. Cakes are customizable by taste, color, shape and size making them ideal for any function. Incorporating gelato as a dessert tradition opens numerous display opportunities from individual servings & cupcakes, large cakes, or extravagant gelato tarts & specialty desserts.

 

For large conferences, parties, and award ceremonies a gelato cart is an exemplary option. Six flavor choices and a server tending to the Pino Gelato cart fills the entertainment and joyous taste components at the biggest events. Ideal for sporting events, tournaments, or community gatherings gelato is an above par choice to serve to all for it's healthier attributes in comparision to dye filled ice or additives present in common ice-cream. Gelato has been served multiple times over the years at major events, such as The Academy Awards, to rooms full of the most discerning patrons. The gelato flavors can be customized from traditional, seasonal, or even color scheme to match corporate sponsors, sports teams, or decor for the special celebration. Give a level of sophistication to the people deserving of honor and allow gelato to headline as "A Scoop of Happiness" at the next social event. Smiles will ensue from all.

Gelato catering is the perfect dessert solution providing a personal touch with individual servings yet boasting full presence at the grandest and largest of events. Allow guests to dabble in the sumptuous treat with Pino Gelato Catering taking perfect care of the serving regardless of the gelato option selected for the event. Gelato will replace the mundane and be the hit of the party!

For information on Pino Gelato Catering visit our webite www.pinogelato.com and contact us!

Happy Mardi Gras!

Today is Mardi Gras!

The party of the year, the largest free show on earth, and a day we are all reminded to eat cake.

Mardi Gras is much more than bead clad crowds, parade floats, or masked parties, though those staples provide for a swell time. Mardi Gras, which translates to "Fat Tuesday" is a Christian holiday that dates back thousands of years in order to celebrate the days leading up to the religious season of Lent. Also known as Carnival, the party of the year is a worldwide cultural phenomenon-especially those with large Roman Catholic populations- and is host to famous festivities inclusive of parade floats, beads, and symbolic foods.


King's Cake photo courtesy of LA Times

Mardi Gras allows for the perfect themed party. If it is entirely too last minute (it is today after all, but the sponteneity could be well worth it) to make it to New Orleans, rally your masses and host a party right at home. For basic decor start with the three colors Purple (representing Justice), Green (representing Faith) and Gold (representing Power), that mark the Carnival season. A very popular custom is the King's Cake which holds a tiny plastic baby for one lucky attendee to find in their slice of cinnamon filled dough with glazed topping sprinkled with sugar in the aforementioned colors. For the brave, try this authentic King's Cake Recipe, or for the savvy create a personal rendition of the dessert by using single portion cinnamon buns or alternate type of cake served in a sundae glass topped with gelato in carnival colors or King's Cake flavors. Go ahead and wrap those sundae glasses with beaded necklaces (perfect for favors) and use this version as a kid-friendly opportunity to hide a tiny plastic baby for each to find in their single serving. Incorporate a little jazz music, a decorate-your-own mask station, and serve up some cajun for a full blown Carnival soiree.  

Serve this

in something like this!

New Orleans hosts one of the largest gatherings for Mardi Gras, a popular place in the US to travel the last few weeks. Recent attention to the city allowed for many renditions of signature NOLA drinks, particularly this sweetened up version of The Hurricane. Bring a bit of New Orleans to the neighborhood and host a Mardi Gras affair to remember. 

Today is an opportunity to celebrate life with a bunch of glorious food/drink, music, and color required to create an authentic representation of The Cresent City's famous entertainment.