Springtime brings along an inevitable feeling of carelessness that somehow takes us all back to our childhood.
The table too, reflects the effect of this general mood and is adorned with flowers, fresh grass and a general breeze of spring.
The delight brought by this atmosphere, instils in any person who makes use of the five senses to enjoy the pleasures of life, a general thirst for experimenting new places and flavours.
Inevitably, in such moments of excitement, the idea of a pic-nick comes into mind: may it be a day off exploring new places, or simply a trip to the countryside in order to enjoy nature, good food and silence.
The ingredients for a successful pic-nick are mainly the pleasure given by other people’s company and the inner instinct of camaraderie that comes as a feature of the human being and reaches its highlight during these moments.
Sharing meals with other people and tasting new flavours can sometimes create indelible memories, and it is in those memories that we can find again those feelings that we hold so dear. Feelings that outlive people, times and spaces and can be recollected through the images of tartan tablecloths and wicker baskets.
Cheers to traditions, one might say.
The word pick-nick is a concoction deriving from two French words: piquer (grab, nibble or nick some food) and nique (referred to some small thing with little value). This etymological note says a lot about the main idea and spirit of a pic-nick.
The term has spread from the XVII century and it initially referred to a quicker, less demanding meal that could be eaten in a small quantity of time and without all those high manners imposed by the bourgeoisie.
Just like every etymology, it has found an inevitable evolution through the centuries; in recent history, the word pic-nick is immediately linked in our imagination to a meal in the fields, carried out in a super relaxed atmosphere with family and friends, whose aim is to bring people together and enjoy good food and humble traditions.
Just think about the famous picture by Manet “Luncheon on the grass”, which perfectly summarizes the importance and the conviviality of this ritual given by people and impressionists painters themselves.
The core of today’s idea of a pic-nick has much to share with the feelings Manet wanted to deliver with his painting: the atmosphere is cool and relaxed, and it’s definitely able to change people’s mood into positive.
That said, in order to prepare an awesome pic-nick, some of our ingredients might definitely come in handy.
In our sections dedicated to single regions you will find ideal Boxmixes that will satisfy your appetites. Scrolling down our catalogue, you can find so many tasty ingredients that will make your very own Luncheon on the grass look and taste spectacular.
Pick the specialty that most fits in your food basket and let us know all about your pic-nick and table setting on the grass by posting your pictures with the hashtag #goshopitaly. The best pic-nick will be featured in our Instagram feed!