Picnic backpack gift, something to go with it?

[marycarol]

For a wedding shower gift, I got a "picnic" backpack with plates/utensils/wine glasses, and adding a bottle of Prosecco to the side wine holder (bride is Italian). Anything else you can think of, non-perishable, I can add inside? A picnic cookbook? Any ideas are appreciated, thanks in advance. mary

[rednails]

I'd definitly include a picnic cookbook and a guide to local parks or campsites. How about a gift certificate to a local gourmet market that has prepared food to go? For those spur-of-the-moment occasions.....

[HillJ]

A disposable camera for taking pictures at the picnic
Those new scented garbage bags for the leftovers don't reek
2 Sun visors
Sun lotion
Bug spray :)

[Robert Lauriston]

http://www.chefsresource.com/pocket-p...

[kitchensalli]

THAT is a great idea. Need something equally handy for salt and you’re good to go.

[lizzy]

I have given this very same gift in the past so hopefully I can help you out. If your basket doesn't come with a blanket you might want to include one, and at the very least I would include a couple of nice linen napkins. Some food items I have used are gourmet mustards, crackers, cookies, vaccuum packed sausages, salami and cheeses, candy, olives, and high end water. You can also try and get travel/sample sized foods, Cost Plus World Market is a good place for this. If you opt not to do food you could always include a nice set of containers to transport the food. Lastly, since you are including a nice bottle of wine don't forget to include a corkscrew. I'm sure they will love the gift! :)

[Pei]

I'm going off on a tangent here, but I'm really curious. What do people do with the dirty utensils and plates once they're done eating? You can't just stick it back in the backpack without making the interior dirty. If you're at a park you can rinse them off in the restroom and wash it at home later, but what if you're somewhere more remote?

The backpacks always seem to have just enough space and slots to hold everything perfectly in places, so putting all the dirty stuff in a plastic bag doesn't seem convenient.

What do you do?

[lizzy]

You know, I have no idea. I guess I've never thought about it until you brought it up.

I guess if you don't have access to running water you could bring something like handi wipes and clean off everything so it fits back in its place. Then you could wash everything more throughly when you get back home. You could also bring multiple plastic bags, wrap everything up individually, and then put it back in its place. Theoretically, you could finish all of the food you brought so putting everything in a single plastic bag and sticking back in the backpack could be done. Good question.

[Amuse Bouches]

The interior wipes clean pretty easily, and there's usually room in there because you've eaten the food.