GAZELLE MAGAZINE JUNE 2018 | Page 60

CUISINE The Art of the Picnic By Suzanne Corbett “It depends on the mood, the theme and location,” Ziegenfuss said. “In my basket, I like to keep it simple, and include high-end meats like Black Forest ham and German sausages from G & W Meats, or sausages from Salume Beddu. “I’ll add good cheeses, some grapes, seasonal fruit (berries are in season now), and I also like to have a couple of different crusty breads,” he added. “And I have to have wine in that basket - or beer, if you like. We certainly don’t have a shortage of good beers here.” Ziegenfuss recommends bringing together a little bit of this and a little bit of that - a variety of items designed to please your guests. While he likes to keep it simple, he enjoys presenting the unusual or unexpected, such as his jarred salad layered in a mason jar. It’s a Simple and sophisticated – Cedar Lake Cellars’ picnic trays bring a gourmet touch to the grab-and-go picnic concept. 58 GAZELLE Cellars W arm weather and countless outdoor venues call to the culinarian within to pack a picnic and dine al fresco; to create a basket repast that reaches beyond the humdrum quick fix sandwich and chips. I strive for something a little gourmet and something a little nostalgic that will craft a menu of delectable delights guests can nosh and linger over while lounging on the lawn or at the patio table. Wondering how a chef would pack a picnic, I asked Butler’s Pantry executive chef, Greg Ziegenfuss, for his thoughts. Before assembling a picnic or menu, he first considers the event and what he thinks people will like.