437488 Sun Sep 02 14:06:46 -0700 2007 10 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 2905011 I've lived in LA practically my whole life. Because the local weather allows us Angelenos the opportunity to picnic almost the whole year long, I've done a fair amount of picnicking. And although I've enjoyed most of my years here in the City of Angels (and Angles), I experienced the Hollywood Bowl for the first time last night - I know, totally unexcusable since I've had decades of summers' worth of opportunities to go. It was a hot and somewhat muggy night (I live on the Westside where anything 10 degrees above or below our typical 65-70 degrees is either too hot or too cold for us mild weather Westside whimps) but nearly perfect for dining in the beautiful hills around the Bowl. The Hollywood Bowl is known not only for its incredible acoustics, great performances by the LA Philharmonic and other talents known throughout the world, and beautiful surroundings, it is also known for being a great place to bring your own food and drink. Picnic tables and benches are scattered throughout the grounds - even around the parking areas. And the whole array of picnickers can be found, from brownbaggers to multi-course gourmets and everything in between. The Bowl even offers picnic boxes that you can order and pick up upon arriving - heck, whole bottles of wine can be purchased at the snack bars. The Bowl even has box seats with tables that are in the first couple of sections in front of the stage. We kept it as light and neat as possible. Being it was our first time there (okay, my eight-year old son went on a school field trip a few monthes back but he wasn't taking notes on potential picnic arrangements), we didn't want to haul around too much baggage. Whatever would fit inside of our collapsable ice chest (probably about the size of a smallish picnic basket) was our limit. One bottle of wine, a few drinks for the kids, some sandwiches, tomato salad, prepared fruits, and a bar of Toblerone dark chocolate. Not bad for our first outing to the Bowl and now that I can see going back whenever the gods of opportunity bestow us with the chance, I'm revved up to go again and again. My question might be simple or maybe not so simple. I'm wondering if anyone regularly goes to the Hollywood Bowl or similar digs and has any pointers on what to bring, what works best for them, and what equipment you find to be most beneficial. Of course, portability and compactness counts since whatever you bring for your picnic will have to be repacked, brought with you, and stowed under the seat/bench when you sit down for the performance. Thanks in advance for any tips... Sun Sep 02 14:06:47 -0700 2007 64003 bulavinaka 1 2906303 deb and i enjoy a good picnic whether climbing to the top of angel island, circumnavigating manhattan island on a circle line cruise or day-sailing our boat on long island sound. while all picnics are different, we've simplified things tremendously over the years. here's a generic lineup: • fresh, crusty bread(s) from your favorite bakery. • charcouterie. dried and smoked meats form the backbone of the picnic. • pates, terrines and galantines. the more exotic the better. • assortment of olives • selection of cheeses • fresh fruit • wines (ask your merchant for suggestions). bread, wine bottles, napkins, glasses (real glass!), corkscrew, knives and forks go into a simple canvas bag. the rest of the food items go into an insulated, collapsible tote bag like you already have. use one of those frozen "ice-paks" if necessary. the only downside to this type of picnic is that it tends to draw a crowd. sharing is ok. Mon Sep 03 08:56:22 -0700 2007 2905011 10627 steve h. 2 2906492 We picnic alot -- mostly in Central Park (for all the concerts or just because) plus we've done so on camping trips, Governors Island, etc. We could not picnic without our handy-dandy picnic backpack. No lugging a fancy basket for us. The backpack contains "service" for 4 (plates, plastic wineglasses, forks, knives, spoons, cheese/bread knife, small cutting board, linen napkins and tablecloth) plus a side insulated holder for wine plus a large compartment for food. And it goes right on your back which makes for tremendously easy transport -- in NYC or camping, one never drives and unpacks but hikes it! (and there are no seats for concerts.) That said, like steveh, we enjoy baguette, various dips/spreads (hummus, harissa, pesto, tapenade), olives, artichokes, cheeses, fruit, usually one salad-type dish (orzo with pesto or some such thing) maybe some homemade dumplings or other finger food. These are all easy to eat and easy to pack. We also bring plenty of bags (for garbage/recycling and to repack dirty dishes), a candle and matches, and purell. Hope you enjoyed your picnic. Mon Sep 03 10:15:43 -0700 2007 2906303 104084 LNG212 3 2922289 I would love to know more about this backpack! Where did you get it? I'm in NYC as well... Sat Sep 08 08:12:24 -0700 2007 2906492 18154 prunefeet 4 2926250 I actually have two of them -- a 4-person and a 2-person. Both we got as gifts and I think they came (at the time - like 10 years ago) from Sur La Table. More recently, we gave someone the backpack as a gift and got it from Red Envelope. I think places like WilliamsSonoma might carry it too. It's usually just called a picnic backpack and contains the "service" for 2 or 4 (plates, plastic wine glasses, knives, forks, spoons), the napkins, the cheeseboard (a small square wooden block), a serated cheese/bread knife, and a corkscrew. I think the one we sent as a gift also came with little salt/pepper shakers too. That stuff is all in one compartment and then there's another compartment to put food and such in. On the side is attached a lined holder for a wine bottle. And the best part is that you carry it like a backpack -- easy on the shoulders and perfect for, say, the Concerts in the Park series. We've taken ours on hikes too. Mon Sep 10 07:28:32 -0700 2007 2922289 104084 LNG212 5 2944274 Thanks! I'll look into it. Sounds like an amazing gift too. Sat Sep 15 10:48:14 -0700 2007 2926250 18154 prunefeet 6 2944329 It is a pretty cool deal. I saw at least a couple of couples carrying this and using it for their picnics at the bowl - I'm guessing it was the two-person model. Definitely worth picking up if you picnic regularly and walk a ways to your picnic sites. The insulated side pouches for wine/champagne bottles is smart as these items tend to be clumsy to pack or carry. Sat Sep 15 11:10:18 -0700 2007 2944274 64003 bulavinaka 4 2944490 Here you go. http://search.ebay.com/ws/search/SaleSearch?sofocus=bs&satitle=picnic+backpack&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC5&fbd=1&_trksid=m37&from=R6&nojspr=y&pfid=0&fswc=1&few=&saprclo=&saprchi=&fss=0&saslop=1&sasl=&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D0&fls=3&salic=1&saatc=1&sadis=200&fpos=&fsct=&sacur=0&sacqyop=ge&sacqy=&sabfmts=0&saobfmts=exsif&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&sabdlo=&sabdhi=&saaff=afdefault&afcj=&afmp=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&fcl=3&frpp=50 Sat Sep 15 12:27:20 -0700 2007 2922289 60923 MobyRichard 1 2906521 I pack lunchs for boat trips and have found that fried/roast chicken works really well. Pack that with cole slaw/potato salad/past salad, bread, cheese and wine and you have a really nice meal. Mon Sep 03 10:32:29 -0700 2007 2905011 110306 NE_Elaine 1 2922321 "The Urban Picnic" is a book well worth reading for food ideas and the history of the picnic. - http://www.amazon.com/Urban-Picnic-John-Burns/dp/1551521555 Sat Sep 08 08:33:25 -0700 2007 2905011 42449 mrbozo 1 2922343 I need to go to the Hollywood Bowl! I'm close enough, but haven't gone yet. I do picnic at the beach frequently. Here's one of my favorite soups, which I put into a thermos... Saute red peppers (discarding core, seeds and stem) using about one pepper and one whole clove garlic per person in olive oil, adding some chicken stock at the end. When peppers are thoroughly tender, puree in blender with chicken stock adding just enough to make a nice thick soup. Add salt as necessary. You may add some cream, sour cream or creme fraiche, if desired, but the soup is good without it too. Simple and beautiful. Pour into your thermos and pack some styrofoam cups. Add croutons if desired too! Or a ziplock with chopped chives, etc. Sat Sep 08 08:40:55 -0700 2007 2905011 123480 scuzzo