I think it’s important to celebrate the everyday moments in life. And a picnic is the perfect way to do that. In fact, a romantic picnic date is even better.
I love a picnic. There’s something about it that’s so festive. You can sit on the ground or at a table. Outside or even inside- picnics really have no “rules.” I also love to date my husband. I think its super important to the life of your relationship to make dating each other a priority. And let’s face it, we could all use a little more romance in our lives! What I love about picnics is that they don’t have to cost a lot of money, and you can get super creative with them. Read on to see the romantic picnic date James and I went on!
Get creative with your location.
James and I recently purchased a Tuscan villa on an avocado ranch. The vistas from the villa are stunning- making it a super romantic spot for our picnic date. At the end of this post I share a little sneak peek of some of the groves! A picnic near water is also always a hit. Whether you’re at the beach, next to a lake or sitting near a creek listening to the sound of the water- it’s all very peaceful and incredibly romantic. You could also find a secluded spot in an orchard or park. Or if you prefer to stay home you could string up some lights outside and sit in your own backyard! A romantic picnic date on the floor in front of a roaring fire would be amazing in the cooler months too!
Every romantic picnic date needs good wine and yummy food.
An important detail to make your picnic date extra special is to have delicious nibbles. But if you have to transport it you also need to make it easy to bring with you. And don’t forget the wine! A good wine definitely helps to bring up the romance factor!
I love great wine and I feel blessed to live in California where we have some of the best wine in the world! Flat Top Hills wines were created by the fourth generation of the Mondavi family. I love these wines because they are delicious, and I also love the desire their creators had to not only satisfy the palate but to stir your soul. They believe in reliving the #flatopmoments that make life special. These are wines you can celebrate everyday moments with.
I have two incredible wines to share with you that we recently had on our picnic date.
The reason I chose these two is because our picnic date was outside during the early evening. So it was still pretty warm out. And there’s nothing better than a nice chilled bottle of white on a hot summer day! I also love a red blend. This one is so easy and approachable. It’s full bodied yet we still felt like it was light enough to drink on our picnic date. The Flat Top Red Blend is also the perfect red to pair with all the bbq you’ll most likely be eating this summer!
The chardonnay pairs wonderfully with fish and shellfish. One of my favorite things to eat is shrimp cocktail. So I brought this along on our date. I also pre-made a kale salad that had spicy pecans and pomegranate seeds. I like this salad because the leaves are so hearty that even after its prepared it can last several days in the fridge. This makes it a great prepared salad to bring to a picnic.
Here’s the menu I chose for our romantic picnic date.
Roast beef sandwiches (I used sliced roast beef from the deli and served it on a baguette with spicy mustard.) I chose roast beef because it pairs so nicely with the Flat Top Hills Red Blend!
Kale Salad– see recipe below
Shrimp cocktail– I chose shrimp cocktail because it was easy to bring along, and so nice and and cool to eat. It also paired perfectly with the Flat Top Hills chardonnay.
Guacamole– this was a no brainer since we live on an avocado farm! The creaminess of the avocados (I used bacon avocados) paired wonderfully with the Flat Top Hills Chardonnay. See below for my favorite recipe. 🙂
Carrot and Celery spears– I brought these along in mason jars. You put your dipping sauce (ranch, hummus etc) in the bottom and screw on the top. This is the perfect portable picnic snack! My friend Sarah taught me this trick. Read more about my time with Sarah and her family on beautiful Bainbridge Island in this post HERE.
Charcuterie snacks– Everyone loves a good charcuterie platter. For this picnic I packed nuts, cheese, and cherries. Picnic food should be fun and also easy. Charcuterie plates are perfect for that!
Kale Salad Recipe:
Since we live on an avocado farm I thought it was best to make a couple recipes with avocados! This salad is so easy and always a hit. I learned how to make this from my friend Jenny at greensandgracesb. Jenny is a nutritional consultant and makes the most delicious salads and healthy recipes. You can also find her on instagram @greenandgracesb
Ingredients:
1 bag of shredded kale
2 avocados
1 lemon
olive or avocado oil
sweet & spicy pecans (Jenny actually taught me how to make homemade candied walnuts for this salad too)
1 container of pomegranate seeds
pink Himalayan sea salt
Mash the avocado and massage into your kale until the kale has compressed by at least half of its original volume. Squeeze the lemon over the kale and drizzle several counts of olive oil. Massage the kale again and thoroughly mix. Next add the spicy pecans (I get mine at Trader Joes) and the pomegranate seeds. Sprinkle lots of sea salt.
Guacamole Recipe:
I used to add a lot to my guac. But lately I’ve really simplified it. I’ve decided I’d rather tase the freshness of the avocado instead of masking it with too much spice. I used to add chili sauce, red onion and tomatoes. Now I like to take at least 3-4 avocados and squeeze a couple lemons into it. One lime and lots of sea salt. It tastes super fresh and has nice citrus notes. It paired wonderfully with the Flat Top Chardonnay!
Okay so we’ve talked about locations and food for a romantic picnic date, but you know I can’t leave you without talking about some DECOR first!
Make your romantic picnic date super special by adding some of your own personal touches. How much you add to your decor will obviously depend on how easy it is to get to your picnic spot. I decided to bring outdoor pillows to make sitting on the ground more comfortable. This adorable mini picnic table folds up and has a handle. Find it HERE!
I also brought this super cute and soft blanket I found at Target.
I love these outdoor lanterns and candles! I used them for my happy hour post I did with Flat Top Hills- see my tips for creating a magical patio and the easy recipes and menu HERE.
Even if you’re surrounded by nature bringing extra flowers is still a good idea. I even plucked some bougainnvillea leaves off a nearby bush and made a little wreath on the ground around us. Hello wedding vibes!
I borrowed this adorable swing from my friend Shannon.
Avocado grove tour
We took.a little break from our romantic picnic date to grab some avocados. Flat Top Hills gave me the coolest WINE BACKPACK so we brought our wine with us too! Ahhhhmazing!
This date was such a treat for us. It was so nice to steal away for a few moments and be in nature. Good food and great Flat Top Hills wine made it even better.
Be sure to follow me over on Pinterest and Instagram for daily fun and inspo! You can also be inspired by Flat Top Wines on their instagram and pinterest! In fact, every Thursday at 4:30 the winemakers do live tastings and recipe sharing on Instagram. They make me thirsty and hungry every time I watch! ha! And if you’re interested in finding Flat Top wines in your area visit their “find near you” page HERE!
Photography by Emily Ream Tabyanan
This is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own.
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What are some of your favorite dates you’ve been on? I need more ideas so please drop a comment below!!
XO,
You look beautiful! The mason jar snack trick is awesome!