Perfect Picnics

THE BIG EVENT

Easy and flavorful foods make a memorable picnic for family and friends.

There is an old Irish saying that has been the driving force behind a good Celtic dinner for centuries: "It's not what's on the plate - it's who's in the seat that counts." If you think about it, a loaf of white bread, some bologna and a store-bought cake would be delicious under a summer sky as long as the grass below it is teeming with friends, family and plenty of laughing children. But a few special dishes can add to the picnic experience.

Great picnic fare should be easy to prepare and eat, and high on flavor. Fresh fruits and vegetables, tasty dips and snacks, tangy salads, hearty burgers and barbecue - punctuated with a fresh, sweet dessert - should leave your picnic guests with sticky fingers, slightly stained shirts, and that sinking feeling that they've overindulged.

For this summer's big picnic event, be smart. Buy prepackaged items from the store that will make the day easier for you. Cut-up vegetables, pre-made fruit salads, cole slaw and potato salad from the deli, along with fresh burger buns and and possibly a few bakery cookies will save you time so that you can put your efforts into whipping up a few special recipes.

We found some great picnic foods through Ohio Proud (www.ohioproud.org), the state-sponsored program that helps promote local and regional growers and food producers by connecting their products to grocery stores and the public. Recipes developed by Ohio Proud's contributing chefs hit the mark: They weave the state's best products into delicious treats.

Chefs love June: It's just the month for Ohio strawberries. But making strawberry shortcake is a messy proposition for a picnic, so why not try a strawberry spinach salad with strawberry vinaigrette instead? The bright colors might entice the kids to eat their spinach.

A spicy sausage dip with tortilla chips gets its zest from a salsa made in Elyria. For a special treat from the grill, try "Chili Bob" Vogel's burgers,  which integrate potatoes into the mix to help the patties retain their juices. Contrast that with a light almond chicken salad.

For the grill, we recommend purchasing some of the newer Ohio poultry and beef products that you'll find at your grocery store. Slather that meat with some Ohio-produced barbecue sauce - a few brands are now widely available. Perhaps it's the mix of flavors in the sauce, or maybe there's something about barbecued meat that gives us all a lift.

PERFECT PICNICS - FOR THE BIG EVENT

Need a spot for a picnic wingding? City parks, metro parks and state parks have plenty of tables and grills, in addition to grassy fields for Frisbee and ball games. Mentor Headlands State Park (above) on Lake Erie offers picnic tables and opportunities to swim and sun on the state's largest beach. At the state's southern boundary, picnickers can take in views of the Ohio River from Woodland Mound Park on Cincinnati's east side. In addition to picnic areas, there are nature trails; an 18-hole Frisbee Golf course; and playgrounds, including "Parky's Wetland Adventure," a children's "sprayground" for hot summer days. Woodland Mound's breezy riverside location is also ideal for flying kites.

A LITTLE ROMANCE

Finger foods, champagne and ripe berries make a menu for two.

In Merchant Ivory films and Jane Austen novels, summer appears to be an endless series of afternoons spent picnicking in the countryside. Ladies and gentlemen, dressed in their best summer linens, arrive by horse-drawn carriage while servants trail behind carrying cases loaded with china, silverware, crystal goblets, tablecloths and umbrellas. This daylong ritual entails a brief walk followed by a sumptuous picnic and lively and flirtatious conversation.

These days, it's difficult to hire a horse and carriage, and almost impossible to find servants who are willing to carry a steamer trunk loaded with your best china across a field of wheat grass. Nevertheless, there are some fabulous options for creating a perfectly romantic picnic.

First, settle on an easy, sensual menu. For more than 10 years, chef John D'Amico of Chez Francois in Vermilion has been creating picnics for couples at his lakeside restaurant. They arrive with a basket and ask him to fill it as they prepare to take a sunset boat cruise or just sit on the Lake Erie shore for a late afternoon snuggle.

"Start out with a soft cheese like a Camembert or Brie," says D'Amico, "then pair that with a nice French bread." A roasted tenderloin, "just enough for two,"  served with spicy French mustard and a selection of olives is a good choice for a main course. "Having all finger foods is good, and a tenderloin isn't too sloppy," he says.

Cap it off with chocolate mousse, a selection of fresh, ripe Ohio berries, and wash it all down with a good Ohio champagne (Ohio's own Ravenhurst label is a terrific choice) for a light meal that's the perfect prelude to a midsummer romance.

PERFECT PICNICS - FOR A LITTLE ROMANCE

The perfect location for a romantic picnic, Mt. Jeez Scenic Overlook at Malabar Farm State Park in Lucas, has breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. Brandywine Falls (above) in the Cuyahoga Valley State Park is a favorite of couples looking for a romantic setting. A sublime evening for two set to classical music can be had at one of Ohio's outdoor music venues such as Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, and the summer home of the Columbus Symphony on Olentangy River Road. In the northeast corner of the state, Ashtabula County features covered bridges that can be discovered on a driving or biking trip for two. Contact the Ashtabula County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800/337-6746, or www.visitashtabulacounty.com for covered-bridge locations.

ON THE ROAD

The destination may be the most important part of a summer trip, but stopping along the way to enjoy a roadside meal is part of the fun.

Be smart. Pack a supply of healthy snacks, juices and water, portioning out servings in small plastic containers throughout the trip. This will help you control how much your children are eating - and also help you avoid some spills. Next, make a plan for the meals you'll have while you're on the road. Pack a cooler with food that keeps well: plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, sandwich items, bread and a few sweet treats. Also, consider buying foods that come in single-serving packets, which are travel-friendly. String cheese, single-serving raisin boxes and juice boxes also solve a multitude of on-the-road issues.

Shirley Kindrick, Ph.D., RDLD, is team leader of the Comprehensive Weight Management Program at the Ohio State University Medical Center. She recommends packing a healthy lunch that includes fresh fruit and vegetables, sandwiches made with whole-grain breads and low-fat meat and cheese, homemade smoothies kept cool in a Thermos, and store-bought potato salads infused with some extra fresh vegetables from your kitchen. For dessert, snack on fruit - fresh or dried - and whole-grain granola.

If you can't pack a fresh lunch, Kindrick recommends planning ahead. "Take a look at the fast-food web sites on the Internet and make choices about where you'll stop and what you'll eat ahead of time," she says, adding that many chains now offer an online menu with nutrition information on each item that they serve.

Ohio Turnpike plazas and Travel Centers of America are convenient stop-offs for Ohio highway travelers, and both offer location finders on their web sites, along with quick overviews of the restaurants they have at each location. Visit www.ohioturnpike.org or www.tatravelcenters.com to identify which plazas have the healthiest choices in fast food.