French Picnic Essentials: Elevated Blanket Dining

It’s HOT in Bordeaux this week—the parks are dotted with blankets, people stretched out in the shade, soaking up summer and enjoying life. Sure, there are plenty of bikinis basking in the sun (GIRL, spf is your friend!), but this fair-skinned, freckled gal is far more interested in dining on a blanket than using it to catch a tan. Besides slathering on extra sunscreen, I’m focused on one thing: gathering everything I need to fill my picnic basket.

Packing for a picnic in a French city park calls for a bit of consideration and thoughtful restraint. This isn’t the place for rolling coolers, portable grills, booming speakers, or pop-up tents—no one’s driving up and unloading a trunk full of gear. It’s all about what you can comfortably carry on foot or tuck into the basket of your vélo. Besides, where would you even find bags of ice to fill a cooler on wheels anyway? I haven’t seen a single bag of ice at any store in Bordeaux, plus my freezer is only big enough for an ice cream machine tub and a small bag of frozen fruit. The essentials!

Did I mention there’s no loud music? Of course, people are chatting, laughing, and enjoying themselves, but have a refreshing level of respect for fellow park neighbors. You can read a book, take a nap, play a quiet game of chess, or simply lounge and makeout to the gentle hum of park life. (And yes, from young couples to those well past retirement age, French lovers are openly holding hands and kissing with passionate, yet casual affection. I’m totally here for it.)

Recently, while picnicking in the Jardin Public with my husband and our two dogs, we had a front-row seat to what not to do. A large group nearby started shouting and squealing using a higher octave than needed while playing a game, and the reaction was instant—though silent. Around 40 park goers collectively turned to stare. Rugby players paused mid-throw, families glanced up from their spreads, and quiet readers looked away from their stories. Kind of like calling out that one guy ruining the movie for everyone else. No words were needed—the energy shifted, the volume dropped, and peace returned.

French Pique-Nique Aesthetic

The piqu-nique isn’t about convenience, it’s about creating a temporary outdoor dining room. Once reserved for the elite in royal gardens, picnicking became part of everyday public life after the French Revolution. Égalité for everyone who enters the public jardin.

In Claude Monet’s 1866 painting Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe (“Luncheon on the Grass”), a bottle of wine, stemware, and a whole roast chicken on a blanket were considered normal. I know this was long before buckets of fried poultry, hot dogs, and koozies were invented—but honestly, some things are already perfect and really don’t need to change.

Le Déjeuner sur L'herbe, Claude Monet, 1866

In another time, I would be the lady in the polka dot dress, who baked the gâteau, taste tested the cheeses and selected the fruit. I’d arrange each item across the blanket just-so and delight in passing around my favorite plates alongside ornate glasses full of wine. Just need to paint in a small dog at my side and you’d never know the difference.

Though less fancy and more casual, today’s picnics still involve bringing items from home, quality reusable pieces that will attend the next outing, not end up in the trash can. Maybe it’s just a basket or an old blanket, set of small knives, or linen napkins, not every item is pristine, nor does it have to be expensive. We are eating in the grass, after all.

Places for a Bordeaux Picnic:

• Jardin Public

  • City center, lots park goers, convenient to shops for grabbing picnic food and baguettes.

• Parc Bordelais

  • Largest park in Bordeaux, plenty of green space, slightly outside the city, and peaceful.

• Green spaces along the Garonne River

  • Great people watching, waterfront views, fewer trees, and convenient to all of downtown.

Jardin Public

Brocante Hunting for Picnic Items

Brocante-ing on a Saturday afternoon is very French. I prefer establishments of eclectic tunnels with high walls of antiques covering every square inch over fancy organized display booths. For me, it’s about the hunt, the discovery, and digging through shelves to find the perfect piece that makes a Brocante so special.

Where’s the fun, if you’re shopping in a pristine curated environment? I want the unforgettable smell of musky old books, to pan over a collection of glasses multiple times, with each pass discovering something new, to dig through a menagerie of cutlery, to say pardon constantly in a claustrophobic aisle as I slide between other patrons on a similar mission. This is a treasure hunt —with the reminder to say re-bonjour and not bonjour on the second time you’ve entered the shop in one day. Oh, always remember to look up, there’s copper pots up there!

Practical considerations: Items that are beautiful AND functional for actual outdoor use. Since we’re walking or biking to the park, delicate wine glasses may not be the best choice. Instead, I’ve been packing ceramic cups and mugs, sturdier options to eliminate the worry of broken glass.

The patina factor: I find imperfect pieces to be the most beautiful. My favorite ceramic mixing bowl, with its uniquely painted leaves along the sides, has a large chip on the rim—and just like the wrinkles by my eyes when I smile, there’s a story there, one that perfectly smooth lines could never tell.

What to hunt for:

• vintage wicker baskets

  • Basket handles are essential! Bonus if the handles are made of leather.

• linen napkins

  • As a kid, I used to loathe folding my mom’s linen napkins and stacking them perfectly in her buffet cabinet. But now, I find a great deal of pleasure in using my own linen napkins at every meal—and, ironically, I keep them neatly stacked in a kitchen drawer. Ornate designs instantly elevate the outdoor dining experience with a touch of color and style. Washable textiles are in; paper towels are not on the list!

• old silverware

  • Forks and spoons with patterned handles. Long tined forks are dinner forks, shorter tined are for dessert, tiny forks are for shrimp and snails. Mix and match!

• ceramic plates

  • Colorful French scenes on small desserts sized plates. Clashing designs on purpose, somehow always works in this scenario.

• small wood cutting board

  • Perfect for slicing cheese and saucisson. I used to spend hours wandering through antique fairs in Nashville looking for French cutting boards—and now, I find them for a third of the price, just down the street.

• ceramic cups

  • Small mugs—handles or not—are great for sipping water or your favorite wine. No one is policing wine drinking in a French park, because, well... everyone is drinking wine.

• quilts or throws

  • Much cheaper than brand new, just needs a quick spin in the wash for a needed scent refresh. The kind of blanket you don’t worry about if there’s spilled wine or grass stains after an evening in the park.

• build slowly

  • Prioritize the basket and blanket first, then add the smaller pieces as you find them. Curate a special vintage story to discuss over cheese and wine.

Bordeaux Brocante Areas

• Rue De Notre Dame, Chartrons Bordeaux

  • My favorite street for popping into Brocantes followed by a bistro lunch.

• Les Puces de St Michel

  • Hunt through the outdoor flea market, then visit the neighboring Brocantes.

Something Old, Something New, Something Brocante-ed, Something Blue

When it comes to fashion, the French have truly mastered the art of layering—like turning a simple pair of jeans into something effortlessly chic with a great jacket or snazzy shoes. It’s that “just-threw-this-on” look that feels casual but is actually curated straight from the closet. While I’m still figuring out my personal style, when it comes to layering a table? That, I’ve got down.

Blending brocante finds with modern practical pieces will give your picnic basket that coveted “je ne sais quoi”. Antiquing is the best way to score unique finds without spending too much, but it’s also fun to add in something new now and then. Layer vintage and contemporary pieces with items you already own for a personal, budget-friendly style that feels effortlessly curated. (Keep this in mind for your wardrobe too.)

• Something Old

  • My little round cutting board from past antique adventures. This beauty has starred in many food photos over the years.

• Something New

  • Asparagus embroidered linen napkins, from a local cuisinier shop. An “I have to have those” kind of purchase.

• Something Brocante-ed (€5)

  • Vintage French plate with beautiful green leaves (€3), just the right size for dessert. Also grabbed, a ceramic cup (€1) which I dug out of a bin in the corner and a couple silver forks (€1) .

• Something Blue

  • Fromage of course! No cheese plate is complete without a generous wedge of bleu!

• French Knives will do!

  • Opinel cheese knives are a great little investment, I’ve had mine for years. Wrap them tightly with a linen napkin and set at the bottom of your bag.

Manger et Boire - To EAT and DRINK!

Fromage

Purchase cheese from a fromagerie or cheese shop, where each piece is sliced from a large block and wrapped neatly in wax paper.

The Rule of Three (soft, semi-hard, bleu)

• Soft

  • Goat cheese won’t melt in the sun like brie or camembert.

  • Try: Bûchette

• Semi-Hard

  • lots of options, slice in wedges, most French rinds are edible

  • Try: Tome Traditionnelle de Brebis (sheep’s milk cheese)

• Bleu

  • A good blue cheese is worth the entire effort of the picnic!

  • Try: Bleu des Basques

Charcuterie

A quick stop at the boucherie for cured meat and a jar of confiture (jam).

• Saucisson: Links of dry-cured pork sausage. Delish, but it does require slicing to serve.

• Jambon de Bayonne: French prosciutto, shaved by the boucher and easy to tear while lying on a blanket.

• Can of Foie Gras: Take things up a notch with a little duck pâté.

• Confiture: Love the baby jars for picnics! I grabbed some pear and cognac chutney to shmere on the sheep’s milk cheese. Keep the empty jar for homemade jams or storing spices.

Baguettes

Crackers have their place, but will not be invited to my French picnic. Fresh baguettes from the local boulangerie are the only option.

• Buy: Purchase baguettes the morning of your picnic, even better if done on the way to the park.

• Store: Wrap in linen cloths and nestle down into your basket. Leftovers are covered in aluminum foil to keep soft for an extra day.

• Cutting: No need for a bread knife. Tear the baguettes by hand and give each person a big chunk.

Vin

At the Cave, the French neighborhood ‘getting-place’ for tasting and buying wine, the caviste (wine merchant) is always ready to help you find the perfect pairing. Personally, I lean toward a chilled white or a crisp rosé to sip on a hot summer day.

Dessert

Fresh seasonal fruit or small treats from the patisserie are a sweet shortcut when you’d rather skip the kitchen—eliminate melted frosting or chocolate drama. Right now, cherries are practically tumbling out of the sidewalk fruit stand crates, and honestly, who can say no to a madeleine?

If you do feel the urge to bake on picnic day, try my recipe for vanilla madeleines.

I'd love to see your vintage outdoor dining finds!

• Do you have a treasured thrifted piece or picnic setup?

• Have any favorite picnic experiences to share?