Happy Hampers
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday January 12, 2002
Take the hassle out of al fresco lunches with picnic backpacks, coolers on wheels or a basket big enough to fit a cricket bat, writes Gina Leros.
Summer is the time to head for the shade of the nearest Moreton Bay fig. Hot days provide perfect picnic weather, and snoozing under a tree, soaking up some sun and exploring nature trails are better enjoyed with vino, brie and crusty bread on hand.
The idea is to pack a picnic that won't weigh you down; that you can swiftly tote to that perfect, secluded spot without pausing to catch your breath.
So shop around for the right bag or basket to do the job. Check bonus features such as padded straps, hidden pockets, roomy pouches, cutlery, bottle openers and temperature control - all those added extras that make a day in the great outdoors a little greater.
A good picnic set should be light, portable, durable, serviceable, and preferably equipped with all the necessary tools, says Joanne Duley, general manager of The Essential Ingredient.
"It's also got to be easy to carry so that your hands are free for deck chairs, kids' toys or a few bags of roast chicken," adds Duley.
"I have a couple of dogs, so I can hold their leads and still carry my picnic. We've sold quite a few backpacks to Moonlight Cinema-goers and to mothers who need to push strollers at the same time. The ultimate picnic basket should be hands-free."
Shoulder Picnic Bag
Made of flexible rattan with plaited handles, this picnic bag ($100) fits like a life vest - though you're unlikely to be buoyant once you've fully loaded it! There are three pouches woven into the bag: one in the back for bulkier items such as rugs or plates, and one on either side (like breast plates), which are handy for drinks. It leaves your hands free, though you can just as easily sling it over your shoulder like a tote.
Parterre Garden, 527 Military Road, Mosman, 9960 5900 and 33 Ocean Street, Woollahra, 9363 5874.
Picnic Cooler
On Wheels
Similar to a flight attendant's luggage, this is a first-class way to pack a picnic. Imported from the United States but assembled in Sydney, Picnic at Ascot's hamper-on-wheels ($329) comes with a retractable handle so you can pull along heavy bottles and six-packs without a worry. An insulated food compartment keeps drinks cold for at least three hours, while the detachable front section unzips to reveal stainless steel cutlery, melamine plates, napkins, Aussie-made polycarbonate glasses, a corkscrew, cutting board, cheese knife and salt and pepper shakers. Picnic at Ascot also makes insulated picnic packs, including the Deluxe Backpack ($189), with the same settings for four, a detachable wine pouch and a woven blanket buckled to the side as an optional extra so you can walk or cycle your way to a picnic.
Strandbags, Strand Arcade, 193 Pitt Street, city, 9233 2816; Deluxe Backpacks available from Gowings, cnr Market and George streets, city, 9264 6321. Picnic at Ascot, 9999 0674.
The Picnic Backpack
A funky backpack ($71.75), equipped with a setting for four - plates, glasses and cutlery (plastic) - and which leaves plenty of room for a couple of salad containers, some pre-cut meat, bread rolls and a bottle of wine. Made in China, it's a sturdy bag with strong zippers and adjustable straps that are well-padded for comfort. The bag is made from a waterproof, synthetic fabric (handy, especially after it has been flung about or had accidental spillage), while inside it's insulated so cold drinks or hot chicken maintain their temperatures through a concert, movie or lunch in the park. Comes in city-slicker black with splashes of blue, red or yellow.
The Essential Ingredient, 4 Australia Street, Camperdown, 9550 5477.
Picnic Hamper
These solid wicker baskets are not for the faint-hearted - actually, they're more for the muscle-bound. The lid ties down with leather straps and steel buckles, and the hamper is lifted by thick rope handles. Sizes range from 48cm x 36cm x 35cm ($95) to the almost metre-long version ($329) - which can easily double as a blanket box, coffee table or toy chest when you're not carting it outdoors. The advantage of all this space is that you can fit all but the kitchen sink in there - go ahead and take cricket bats and stumps, kites, footballs, blankets, pillows, fold-up chairs. But, says a salesperson, "you need a couple of strong blokes to carry it."
Orson & Blake, 83-85 Queen Street, Woollahra, 9326 1155.
Tupperware Impressions
Picnic Set
This 45-litre, insulated cooler bag ($194.95) has two zip-down sides that allow you to squeeze a lot more into it than you'd think. And as you might have guessed, it comes chock-a-block with all the Tupperware essentials: as well as four plates, tumblers and cutlery, you get the whole kit - a "junior season server" (airtight container especially for marinated meat); a "sweet keeper" (keeps lettuce, cakes or muffins fresh); a "pack & store" (lunchbox-sized container handy for sliced bread); two "junior square rounds" (small boxes perfect for bite-sized morsels such as cheese, crackers or strawberries); and four round containers ideal for coffee, sugar, sauces or mayonnaise. All these bits and pieces come in a rainbow of colours - Delta blue, sunlight yellow, Bermuda green and orange cream. It two sturdy handles velcro together to form a strong shoulder bag.
Distributors in Prospect, Lidcombe, Thornleigh, Kogarah and East Hills, 1800 805 396.
Sundowner Backpack
The traditional wicker basket still plays an important role in Aussie picnics - inside its slick, lacquered exterior are tidy compartments, straps and implements for a civilised gourmet outing. Undo the leather straps of the suitcase-like Flinders ($99.95) picnic basket to find the checkered lining filled with plates, cups and cutlery for four, plus a dividing basket on top, meant to ensure that softer food arrives at the picnic still intact. The Stradbroke Basket ($119-$169) opens in two sections: it has the cutlery and accessories strapped to the inside of its lid, while the front section opens like a trapdoor to reveal well-secured porcelain plates. Those on the go might also want to check Sundowner's self-contained insulated backpacks ($89.95).
David Jones, Market Street, city, 9266 5544.
© 2002 Sydney Morning Herald
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