The elegant picnic "Le Diner en Blanc" is considered the pioneer of picnics in our country
Fast food culture is being replaced by the slow food movement. The cuisines of Italy, Georgia and Asian countries emerge on the wave and give way to each other. Trends in the world of gastronomy change, but traditions always remain. One of them is cozy dinners surrounded by the closest people or summer picnics, many of which invite Lithuanians to gather this summer.
Dinner is about being together
Residents of every country in the world could tell you what makes their dinner special. The French and Italians might say that the most important thing is that no one is in a hurry at dinner and everyone is enjoying themselves. Residents of Asian countries would mention that there should be plenty of food and it is important to share it. Sharing is also an important part of eating in Arab countries. As Urtė Mikelevičiūtė, head of culinary studio "Čiop Čiop", observes, all the corners of the world and dinners are connected by one very important thing - being together and communicating. Dinner culture has also been important in Lithuania since ancient times. Back then, when people worked all day in the fields, it was the only moment for the family to meet and communicate. Later on, the importance of the dinner dropped a bit, but it comes back again.
"Perhaps in the XNUMXs, when we regained our independence and freedom, bought phones and computers, started living a faster life and in a hurry, we forgot about dinner parties, we turned away from our roots. However, I am happy that the tradition of dinners is slowly coming back", U. Mikelevičiūtė observes.
DerVynas blog the author says she adores organizing dinner parties and picnics. According to her, all it takes is a little desire and spontaneity to organize a fun dinner for family or friends. A cozy time together can be arranged at home, for example, on the balcony.
"My most enjoyable outdoor dinners or picnics were with close company. Wherever I am or go: to the mountains, by the sea abroad or by the Baltic Seaside, I always try to organize a small picnic for two, five, six people", U. Mikelevičiūtė shares her experience.
A picnic is the idea of a summer dinner
Journalist, cookery presenter and book author Beata Nicholson says that some of the most memorable picnics she has attended are the picnics and concerts held in London's Kew Gardens. According to B. Nicholson, picnics are part of the culture in England.
"In the warm season, it is necessary to be outside as much as possible. I am glad that the tradition of picnics is also spreading in Lithuania", says B. Nicholson.
The number of picnics in Lithuania is increasing, and the elegant "Diner en Blanc" picnic, which will take place in Vilnius this year on August 25, is considered to be its pioneer in our country. This is private and public at the same time event was quickly loved by the people of Vilnius and became part of the picnic culture in Lithuania.
B. Nicholson, who participated in this picnic and shared her impressions on her blog, says that she admires the idea of "Diner en Blanc" - gathering a large group of people dressed in white in a secret place.
"I really like the idea of Diner en Blanc, and for that matter, to dine alfresco and socialize." It's a really special event, I don't know if I'll be able to participate this year, but I highly recommend it," says B. Nicholson.
Ideas for a picnic or dinner table
A picnic is also a great opportunity to gather relatives and friends. As the hotel Radisson Blu Royal Astoria says and restaurant "Brasserie de Verres en Vers' sales and marketing director Zinaida Karpičienė, when going to a picnic or a summer dinner, you shouldn't have to think about what to make or put in your bag in order to be able to eat until you're full. It will be much more fun if you share food with everyone, discover new tastes, socialize a lot and just have a good time.
According to Z. Karpičienė's advice, always use only fresh seasonal berries, fruits, and vegetables for a picnic or dinner outside. They are light, tasty, refreshing and everyone loves them.
"Various spreads, cheeses, and fresh baked goods are also perfect, but the latter should be low-fat so that you don't feel drowsy and don't get dirty," says Z. Karpičienė.
Jolanta Smičienė, a certified champagne connoisseur, advises combining types of non-vintage pink champagne, for example, "GH MUMM Le Rose" with these snacks.
"These champagnes have a good amount of fresh acidity, as well as a 'viny' character (usually dominated by the region's best Pinot Noir grapes), which brings them even closer to the gastronomic wine style. It's no secret that pink champagne is especially popular during the warm season, so choosing this type is like killing two birds with one stone," says J. Smičienė.
"If you still want a bit more filling food during the picnic, you can make chicken breast, steaks from veal or beef, which will go well with fried vegetables or fruits", advises Z. Karpičienė.
When choosing champagne for such dishes, according to J. Smičienė, you need to pay attention to several things, for example, that white fish "likes" the company of Blanc de blanc (made only from the Chardonnay variety) champagne, pink fish - a type of pink champagne. Pink vintage or older champagne is considered the best companion for meat.
"The most important thing is to know that champagne should be tasted outdoors or at a picnic at the right temperature (7-9 degrees), so you will definitely need a cooler or a special bag to maintain it," says J. Smičienė.
If you want a sweet treat, a low-fat apple or cottage cheese pie will be a great choice for a picnic or dinner. You can also make a fresh ice cream dessert "Affogato", which the marketing manager of AB "Klaipėdos pienas" Silvija Matavičiūtė offers to try.
"Various berries, jams, hot chocolate or coffee can be combined with the Lithuanian favorite vanilla plum. During the picnic, you can also make "Affogato" - a vanilla plum dipped in espresso coffee. Only two ingredients, and the taste is amazing", says S. Matavičiūtė.
S. Matavičiūtė advises those preparing for a picnic to try this summer's new DIONE ice cream. One of them is juicy mango fruit ice cream enriched with cranberries. Another is fluffy vanilla ice cream with Nordic sweet and sour custards, real Belgian chocolate and roasted almonds.
Choice of dinner attire
"Comfort is the most important thing when participating in a picnic or an outdoor celebration," says Rasa Vileikytė, manager of the Europa shopping center. According to her, a picnic or a summer dinner outside should evoke pleasant feelings, allow relaxation, so the outfit should not be a hindrance.
A stylish outfit idea for women this summer is a trouser suit with classic lines and an air of elegance. Also, the open neck and shoulders still dominate women's summer style. The manager of the "Europa" shopping center advises not to forget a head covering, which will not only look stylish, but also protect from the sun. In addition, the headdress does not require strict rules, so you can freely improvise when choosing it. However, if you are not inclined to experiment, light, casual, elegant summer hats will be a great choice for both women and men.
According to R. Vileikytė, a man who is going to a picnic or outdoor dinner could choose a light summer jacket that emphasizes the shoulder line.
Footwear should be light and comfortable. A charming highlight of men's clothing this summer is slip-on shoes or espadrilles.
"Women should also prioritize comfort when going to a picnic or outdoor dinner, such as flats, low heels or platform sandals. The already mentioned espadrilles - light shoes with lace-up soles - are on the highest wave this season," observes R. Vileikytė.
When preparing for a cheerful picnic or a playful summer dinner, or perhaps planning a meeting of friends at the upcoming elegant dinner "Diner en Blanc", it is important not to forget the purpose of the gathering - being together, communicating and relaxing in the company of the closest people.
New participants of "Vakarienės baltai" should hurry to register on the waiting list of guests, which can be found here.
