Adventures in Dating By Gigi Flores and Helen Obispo

Marc didn’t have a favorite meal to choose, so Gigi did that. This is an easy task, since she loves to cook. So does her Jean-Claude, and hopefully he will be here soon to prove just that. A while back, Gigi chose going on a picnic as a romantic activity. She thought that before it gets cold, a romantic picnic would be just the thing, and she included quite a few recipes on things you could take on that picnic…

Romantic Picnic Ideas for Planning a Romantic Picnic

Planning a romantic picnic for your sweetie? Then our romantic picnic ideas (including a wonderful –and easy– picnic menu) are just what you’re looking for.

The truth is, there’s noting quite as romantic and unpretentious as a picnic on a beautiful day. It kind of reminds you of why you’re with your significant other in the first place– for the joy of simply being together!
Don’t have the weather for a picnic and want to plan a romantic dinner for an anniversary, Valentine’s Day, or just for fun? I’ve got lots of great romantic menus and romantic date ideas here!

Or planning any type of picnic? Check out my picnic planning pages here.

Our Romantic Picnic Menu

Each of the romantic picnic ideas and recipes below is easy to put together, and can be assembled a couple of hours in advance to allow you to get everything prepared and ready to transport. With a bottle or two of wine, plastic plates and cutlery, you may wish you could eat like this every day!

Main Dish: Turkey, Avocado, and Brie Sandwiches with Herb Mayonnaise
Side 1: French Green Bean, Cucumber, and Red Potato Salad
Side 2: Cold Tomato, Garlic, and Basil Soup
Served with: A chilled Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio
Dessert: Chocolate-covered strawberries or Chocolate Mousse

Want to add a little romance in addition to a whole pile of great food? We’ve got some creative ideas here that will make the romantic picnic ideas and recipes on this page all the much more special.

Side 1: French Green Bean, Cucumber, and Red Potato Salad Recipe

Not even in the same family as your traditional mayo-based potato salad, this wonderful romantic picnic recipe is perfect for a summer picnic… or to make you feel like it’s summer on a chilly Valentine’s day.
Don’t buy regular green beans for this– you need the thin, sweet French green beans called Haricots Verts. If you can’t find them, you can slice regular green beans in half lenghtwise– but the flavor won’t be quite the same. But no matter how you make it, this wonderful picnic salad is delicious, and a nice change of pace from your average potato salad recipe.

Serves 3-4. You’ll want the leftovers!

Ingredients:
3/4 lb. red potatoes (the smallest you can find)
1/2 lb. thin, young French green beans (haricots verts)
1/4 lb. English cucumber, peeled and sliced
1/4 C. fresh dill, chopped
1/4 C. minced red onion
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. teaspoon sugar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions: 1. Prepare washed, cleaned potatoes by cutting the larger ones (over 1 1/2″ or so in diameter — smaller ones can stay whole) in half, then salting all potatoes lightly. Steam for about 15 minutes, until tender. Cool.

2. Trim the French green beans, then steam for about 6 minutes, or until crisp-tender. Cool.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine potatoes, green beans, cucumber, dill, and onion.

4. In a small bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, salt, sugar, mustard, and pepper to taste. Pour over potato mixture and stir gently to mix.

5. Let flavors combine for about an hour in the refrigerator. If desired, taste and adjust for seasonings, adding more oil, lemon, salt, etc., as needed.

Side 2: Cold Tomato, Garlic, and Basil Soup Recipe

If you’re planning a romantic picnic in summer, you’re going to want dishes like this to beat the heat. This chilled, fresh soup is the perfect romantic picnic idea– fresh, summery, and easy to make, it’s a refreshing alternative to mayonnaise-based salads. Pack it up in a thermos to keep it cold until you reach your picnic destination.
Serves 2 to 4 people.

Ingredients:
1/2 head roasted garlic (find instructions here)
2 lbs. vine-ripened tomatoes
2 tsp. good-quality balsamic vinegar
Hot pepper sauce, to taste
2-3 tbsp. Extra virgin olive oil
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/3 C. chopped fresh basil
Instructions: 1. Quarter tomatoes and peel your half-head of roasted garlic.

2. In a blender, puree garlic and tomatoes (in several batches, if necessary). Pass each batch of puree through a sieve.

3. Stir in vinegar, pepper sauce, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Cover and chill until very cold. Can be refrigerated at this point up to a day.

4. Before serving (or before transporting to your picnic location), stir in basil. Taste for seasonings and add extra salt and pepper, if needed.

Want some more great romantic picnic ideas? This page is chock full of ‘em!

Main Dish: Turkey, Avocado, and Brie Sandwiches with Herb Mayonnaise

When you read the ingredients list, this sandwich may sound strange. But it tastes anything but weird… because this combination of flavors is just wonderful! Serving this is a great romantic picnic idea, because it’s delicious, elegant, and easy to transport. It also tastes wonderful at room temperature.
Serves 2.

Ingredients:
2 individual French rolls (or small baguettes), split
1/2 lb. smoked deli turkey, sliced thin
3 tbsp. mayonnaise
1 tbsp. minced fresh cilantro
1 tbsp. minced fresh oregano
1 to 1/2 tsp. minced fresh garlic (to taste)
3-4 slices pepperoni, finely chopped
1.5 oz. good quality brie, sliced
1 lg. tomato, sliced
2 C. baby spinach leaves, washed and dried
1/2 ripe avocado, sliced
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions: 1. In a small bowl, combine the mayo, herbs, garlic, and pepperoni.

2. Spread mayonnaise mixture over both sides of your French roll halves.

3. On the bottom of each roll, layer remaining ingredients in the following order: sliced brie, turkey, tomatoes, avocado, a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and spinach. Divide ingredients evenly between the two sandwiches.

4. Top each with the other half of your French roll, wrap in foil or parchment paper, and refrigerate until ready to transport. Best when prepared no more than 2 hours in advance.

Dessert Recipes: Chocolate Covered Strawberries and Ultra Creamy Nutella Mousse

A Valentines Day Treat: Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
There’s something so decadent and romantic about chocolate covered strawberries. They’re one of those treats that just screams “romance.” Which is great for those of you looking for something inexpensive to give as a gift or make for a Valentine’s dessert, because chocolate-covered strawberries are ultra cheap and easy to make at home.
The recipe below is basic and contains just a few ingredients. The most important part? Be sure to buy nice, ripe strawberries. Organic are best. If they have a white strip at the top, they’ll be sour and disappointing instead of sweet and luscious.
You can also make black and white or tuxedo strawberries by making both a white chocolate and a dark chocolate mixture, and decorating as desired.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries Recipe
Recipe is good for about 30 medium-sized strawberries. They look best with stems on!
Ingredients:
2 pints fresh ripe strawberries
1 1/2 C. dark chocolate chips
2 tbsp. corn syrup
1/3 C. butter
Instructions: 1. Wash and dry strawberries and allow them to come to room temperature before getting started. This helps the chocolate to go on more smoothly.
2. In a double boiler or in the microwave, melt together the chocolate chips, the corn syrup, and the butter. Stir often. Remove from heat.
3. Dip each strawberry into the mixture, covering only the bottom 2/3 or so and letting the excess chocolate drip away.
4. Place on waxed paper to set.
5. Refrigerate 15 to 20 minutes to fully set.

MMMMM… does that sound delicious or what?

Romantic picnic