A French Picnic Party

Now that Food52’s Managing Editor Brette Warshaw has stocked her First Kitchen, she’s ready to throw parties in it: no-stress weeknight parties for anyone, anytime, and (almost) every kitchen. You’re invited.

Today: A game plan for pretending you’re somewhere else.

Pretending to be somewhere else — or someone else, or something else — is fun. It’s why I throw indoor clambakes, carbonara parties, and tiki parties. It’s why I dream of throwing a party where everyone dresses like ABBA. It’s also why I tell creepy men at bars that my name is Lola and I’m an astronaut. 

So let’s pretend, for a moment, that we’re in France. Let’s pretend the sun is shining and the birds are chirping. Let’s pretend we’re on a quilted blanket and drunk on rosé and the Eiffel tower is waving in the background. Let’s pretend we’re living each and every lovely cliché we could possibly think of, and then let’s roll out a blanket on our apartment floors and throw a French-style picnic.

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The Menu

Cured meats + olives + crackers
French Onion Tart
French Bean Salad with Tarragon and Green Peppercorn
Sweet, Salty, Crunchy, Zingy Apple and Celery Salad
Grape, Almond, and Olive Oil Cake

The weekend before your party: Make the crust for your French Onion Tart; it’ll keep in the fridge for a few days.

The night before: Caramelize your onions for your filling, adding the thyme and sherry vinegar. Bake off your Grape, Almond, and Olive Oil Cake. Blanch your green beans for the French Bean Salad. 

The morning of your party: Before you head off to work, make your Sweet, Salty, Crunchy, Zingy Apple and Celery Salad; it’s even better after a few hours in the fridge.

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When you get home from work: Make the dressing for your French Bean Salad. Roll out your tart dough, and finish up the filling.

An hour before your guests arrive: Finish your tart. Let it perfume your home. Toss together your French Bean Salad. Set out your meats and olives. Lay out a picnic blanket (or don’t).

When your guests arrive: Start pouring wine. Snack, then dine. 

When the food is gone: Bring out the Grape, Almond, and Olive Oil Cake. Eat it with your hands.