The Urban Picnic

Arlene Gryfe is a Toronto-based professional nutritionist and home
economist.

In our hectic world, there is something about a picnic that conjures up
fun, good food, and relaxation. In the early 18th century, “picnic”
(nowadays called a “potluck”) denoted a fashionable party to which
all guests contributed. By the 19th century, the meaning of picnic
expanded to include a large function with lavish dishes that were
brought to an outdoor location by means of carriages and servants.

The authors share a love of and gift for cooking. Their intention for
this book was to close the gap between country leisure and present-day
city chaos—to inject some balance between lazy rural afternoons and
modern hectic lifestyles. They aim to offer stressed-out urbanites the
inspiration and practical tools they need in order to escape, albeit
briefly, from their activity-filled lives.

The book is jam-packed with picnic-related information: historical
background, the “slow food” manifesto, early newspaper comments on
picnics (both favourable and critical), Emily Post’s advice on
behaviour at picnics, a chronology of 20th-century advances designed to
improve the picnic experience, food safety, games to play, recipes. And
not just recipes. There are more than 20 theme picnics with suggested
menus, page references for the recipes with vegetarian alternatives,
wine suggestions, and accompanying music.

The recipes are mainly in imperial measures and are listed under
“Starters and Sides,” “Soups,” “Salads,” “Sandwiches,”
“Mains,” “Barbecues,” “Breads and Muffins,” “Desserts,”
and “Drinks.” Many of the recipes are accompanied by line
illustrations. There is an extensive cross-index as well as a
bibliography and credits for recipes from current cookbook authors.

The Urban Picnic may or may not inspire city dwellers to prepare or
purchase some tasty morsels for a picnic down the street from the home
or office.