As the weather warms up, plan a romantic picnic under the stars! My simple romantic picnic menu is designed for elegance and packability. I’m serving baguette sandwiches layered with turkey, brie, and plums, a crispy chickpea salad with creamy feta dressing, and the most gorgeous pastry roses stuffed with thinly sliced plums. It’s a whimsical way to impress a loved one on the go!
As the weather warms up, there are so many opportunities to pack a picnic and enjoy an evening outdoors. From concerts in the park to movie nights and fireworks under the stars, it’s one of the simplest ways to slow down and enjoy the season. There’s something effortlessly elegant about a picnic like this, and the food should feel the same way.
A great picnic menu should be fresh, flavorful, and easy to pack. Nothing fussy, nothing that requires juggling a dozen containers or assembling each bite on the spot. The goal is to create something that feels thoughtful and a little special, without turning the whole thing into a production. (Though, to be fair, there’s always room for a few favorite snacks from Trader Joe’s.)
For this romantic picnic menu, I focused on recipes that strike that balance—simple to prepare, easy to transport, and just elevated enough to feel memorable. The sandwiches are layered with turkey and brie on a French baguette, finished with a swipe of honey-thyme mustard and slices of ripe peach for a soft, subtle sweetness.
They’re paired with a couscous salad filled with crispy spiced chickpeas, cool cucumbers, and juicy tomatoes, all tossed in a creamy whipped feta dressing that feels indulgent while still light and fresh.
And for dessert, a simple but beautiful finish: plum rose pastries topped with thyme sugar. They look like something from a bakery, but come together easily at home—delicate, lightly sweet, and just a little bit unexpected.
This is the kind of menu made for relaxing—something to pack up, bring along, and enjoy slowly. Because while the setting makes a picnic feel special, it’s the food and the company that make it unforgettable.
What’s On The Menu?
This menu is designed for elegance, simplicity, and the most important part–packability.
- Turkey, Brie, and Plum Baguette Sandwiches with Honey Thyme Mustard
- Crispy Chickpea and Couscous Salad with Creamy Feta Dressing
- Plum Roses with Thyme Sugar
Turkey, Brie, and Plum Baguette Sandwiches
Elevating a turkey and cheese sandwich is exactly the kind of challenge I love to embrace here at The Mid Century Modern Romantic. Everything about this sandwich gets stepped up, and the results take a simple sandwich and make it feel extra special. I start with great bread–a fresh baguette, in this case–layer in smoked turkey, brie, and arugula lightly dressed in olive oil and balsamic. The two things that really take this over the top is a sweet layer of sliced plums and perfectly balanced honey thyme mustard smeared generously on the top and bottom layers. This is the kind of sandwich that is bringing so many flavors that it becomes truly unique and delicious.
For the full recipe for my Turkey, Brie, and Plum Baguette Sandwiches, click the link here. (recipe to come)
Crispy Chickpea and Couscous Salad with Creamy Feta Dressing
My Crispy Chickpea Salad is a true blend of flavors and textures coming together to make a distinguished salad. I love the extra crispy chickpeas here that are spiced before being roasted in the oven. They bring that extra little crunch on top of peppery arugula, chewy pearled couscous, crispy cucumber slices, and sweet little cherry tomatoes. The creamy feta dressing welcomes everyone to the party and creates that kind of salad where you just keep going back for one more bite. This is definitely my kind of salad in that it’s a little bit heartier too–perfect for packing and sharing at a romantic picnic.
The Crispy Chickpea Salad Recipe is here. (recipe to come)
Plum Roses with Thyme Sugar
These little plum roses absolutely gorgeous! Seriously, this is my kind of dessert–one that looks pretty and complicated but is a total cinch to pull off. Strips of puff pastry are layered with thinly sliced plums then rolled into these little roses. I like to dust them with a bit of thyme sugar to bring that extra little romantic note to them. These are absolutely giftable and just look so gorgeous on the plate. They also pack easily so hosting a romantic picnic is all that more effortless.
Follow the link for the full Plum Roses recipe. (recipe to come)
Planning Notes
- This menu was designed to be packed and taken with you for a romantic picnic, so of course everything can be made in advance. Here are a few tips:
- For the sandwiches, the honey thyme mustard can be made a few days in advance. Then on picnic day, just spread it on the bread and layer the sandwiches–you’re good to go!
- For the salad, I like to bring the salad and dressing separately. The chickpeas, couscous, and dressing can be made the night before so on picnic day you’re really just assembling. If you dress the salad before you take it, it’s still delicious but will feel a bit more like a side salad (think pasta salad or broccoli salad). The arugula will not be as crisp that way, but it will still be delicious.
- The dessert can be made entirely in advance. If you’d like to make that the night before, it will still be delicious at picnic time. Just keep it in an airtight container in the fridge. I serve mine exactly as pictured, but you could also dust with powdered sugar.
- To round out this picnic, I like to pack a chilled bottle of white wine or rose. If you’re looking to add a cocktail to the party, here are a few ideas:
- Strawberry Basil Garden Spritz–these would be so pretty in pink with the picnic menu! Just make the strawberry basil base and bring a bottle of prosecco to top it off!
- The Market Gimlet–I love this cocktail for this menu. It features cucumber, basil, and gin so is very refreshing with the picnic flavors.
- Rosemary Greyhound–This cocktail is easy to mix up in advance and pack, and the combination of grapefruit and rosemary in it are heavenly.
- Just because you’re packing a picnic doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the romance or the atmosphere of your meal! Use a nice picnic basket to immediately set the vibes. I like to pack a tablecloth and spread that out to serve, even if it’s just on the grass. It immediately signals a special meal. Bring a few flower stems to add to the elegance. Or some flameless candles will do the trick. I also like to pack plastic wine glasses (or how genius are these with the covers?! so smart for keeping out bugs) and plates that look like the real thing! So much more elegant than paper plates. You could also pack a little speaker for playing a bit of jazz music at the picnic to really set the mood.
A Beautiful Meal Under the Stars
I designed this menu with packability and portability in mind. If you’d like to add to it, I have lots of ideas and inspiration here on the blog to expand this gorgeous picnic!
I mentioned a few cocktails or wine pairings you could bring along. Along with the sweet plum roses, you could build out the dessert selections at your picnic. I love the idea of bringing my citrus and vanilla macerated fruit–this would be a beautiful way to bring a bit of freshness to the meal. Or add in my strawberry swirled brownies for an indulgent chocolate moment. My favorite Almond Lemon Crumb Cake, cut in wedges, would also be so perfect served under the stars!
If you’d like to bring some snacks/appetizers, my white bean dip with pesto ribbon would be a fun addition along with some dippers. Herbed goat cheese crostini would hold up well packed as well. Or, add in my Golden Chex Mix for a fun snack during the show!
I can’t wait for all of the many wonderful picnics to come this summer! This menu will keep me dreaming of a beautiful meal under the stars.
