The Picnic A History - The Meals Series Author:Walter Levy Picnics are happy occasions and have always been a diversion from everyday cares. We think of the picnic as an outdoor meal, set on a blanket, usually in the middle of the day, featuring a hamper filled with tasty morsels and perhaps a bottle of wine, but historically picnics came in many forms, served any time of the day. This first culinary hi... more »story reveals rustic outdoor dining in its more familiar and unusual forms, the etymology of the word, the cultural context of picnics and who arranged them, and, most important, the gastronomic appeal. Evidence for the wide range of picnics is drawn from various media and literature, painting, music, and even sculpture.« less