Our favorite day of the year is finally here! It's National Picnic Day. The pop-up picnic business has boomed since the start of the pandemic and now the word “picnic” is becoming more associated with luxury than ever before. But where did the picnic tradition come from? And how did we go from the hot dogs and mac & cheese of our childhood to the fancy charcuterie board platters we see today? In this blog post, we’ll explore the history of the picnic and receive advice from food blogger Kailey Daniels on how to create the perfect picnic in San Diego to celebrate this wonderful day. 

When we think of picnics from our childhood we think of summertime, a red and white checkered blanket, and a tray of cold cuts. Picnics were a casual time for the family to enjoy food in the warmer months. Now, picnics are a luxury service you can pay for with styled setups and detailed platters of meats and cheeses in some of the country’s most beautiful parks, beaches, and deserts. Thanks to the pandemic, we’ve moved back to the Victorian Era where picnics have become a grand occasion to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and engagements. So what’s the secret to the perfect picnic? Is it the food, the setup, or the location? We sat down with Kailey Daniels to find out. 

So Kailey, tell us a little bit about yourself.

I'm originally from the Bay Area but I have been kind of all over. I went to Boston University and then spent some time abroad living in London, then New Orleans before ending up here in San Diego. I don’t come from a foodie family. My mom actually hated cooking so we would usually eat a meal on Sunday and then have it for leftovers for the rest of the week. But I think that really sparked my interest in cooking. I like watching shows on the Food Network like Iron Chef, Chopped, and Diners Drive-Ins and Dives. I’ve also taken some courses in French and Italian cooking but what I really love is eating out with people and finding out where the best places to eat in San Diego are. 

Do you have any fond picnic memories?

I mean I've definitely gone to picnics and probably more so just because I live in San Diego. But growing up my grandparents had a membership at the local REC pool. And I remember, they had a barbecue and a bunch of picnic tables and we would eat bratwurst or barbecue chicken. And as a kid you know you're all day in the sun swimming in the pool or running around and you're so hot and hungry when you’re drying off. And I remember my mom and grandma would come with food and it's such a good memory; it's one of those feel-good moments from my youth.

Have any favorite picnic foods?

I love the macaroni salad my mom makes. That's the one thing she made really well, so I’ll give her that. We did bratwurst more than hot dogs but I do enjoy German hotdogs with cheese or broccoli stuffed inside. We'd also usually make this Asian cabbage salad and break up ramen noodles on top like croutons. Fruit salad is also one of my favorites, especially in the summertime and of course lemonade. 

And then one of my favorite places in San Diego is the bakery Girard Gourmet in La Jolla. It’s almost like a deli. They make sandwiches and have items that they can warm up in the oven for you. You can get items like salmon and lasagna or cookies and croissants. I’m not afraid of mayo so I would grab chicken salad, tuna salad, and egg salad sandwiches which are very typical for traditional picnics. 

I think Kailey said right. It doesn’t matter how fancy your food might be, or how extravagant your setup is, a picnic can be a casual day at the park or a fancy occasion with a loved one. All that matters is that you enjoy the company you’re with and truly live in the moment. 

So how are you spending #nationalpicnicday? Are you grabbing wine and cheese from Trader Joe's, ordering sandwiches from Girard Gourmet, or filling your basket with pastries from Azucar?

Comment down below and check out Kailey's blog for more recommendations on the best places to eat in San Diego!