There's something simply magical about dining outdoors on a beautiful summer day or night. Whether you're planning a romantic date night, a family outing at the park, a concert under the stars, or a relaxing afternoon at the beach, a thoughtfully packed picnic transforms an ordinary meal into a memorable experience. The best part? You don't have to spend hours in the kitchen. At Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace, you'll find everything you need—from artisan cheeses and freshly prepared salads to premium meats, seasonal produce, bakery favorites, and decadent desserts—to create a picnic that's as effortless as it is delicious.

The Essentials for Every Picnic

A successful picnic starts with a few simple basics:

• A large picnic blanket or portable table
• Insulated cooler or picnic basket with ice packs
• Plates, napkins, cups, and reusable utensils
• Wine opener or bottle opener
• Cutting board and small knife
• Hand wipes and paper towels
• Trash bag for easy cleanup
• Sunscreen and bug spray
• Portable speaker (optional for music)
• A cozy throw for cooler evenings

Safety First: Food Safety Tips for Picnics

Summer temperatures can rise quickly, so keeping food safe is essential.

• Keep cold foods below 40°F using ice packs or a well-insulated cooler.
• Pack meats, dairy, and salads closest to the ice.
• Keep the cooler closed as much as possible.
• Store raw foods separately from ready-to-eat items.
• Discard perishable foods that have been sitting out for more than two hours—or just one hour if temperatures exceed 90°F.

Nino Salvaggio’s Picnic Ideas for Every Occasion

The Family Picnic at the Park

For this outing, keep things simple, colorful, portable, and kid-friendly.

What to Pack:

• Fresh deli sandwiches or wraps from our Grab & Go selections 
• Pasta salad or potato salad
• Fresh Michigan sweet corn (when in season)

Check out our recent blog post: Why Michigan Sweet Corn Is The Taste of Summer 

• Fresh fruit like grapes, watermelon, berries, and peaches or assorted fruit trays 
• Veggie cups with ranch dip
• Better Made Potato Chips 
• Lemonade or sparkling water
• Fresh-baked cookies or brownies

Make it playtime: Bring a football, cornhole, frisbee, bubbles, or card games to keep everyone entertained after lunch.

Romantic Picnic for Two

Turn a romantic evening in the park into an unforgettable date and let us help you! Add cloth napkins, real wine glasses, candles (battery-operated for safety), and fresh flowers  from our floral department for an elegant touch. Celebrating a special occasion? Let our floral department create a special floral arrangement for your picnic.  

What to Pack:

• Artisan cheeses
• Charcuterie meats
• Fresh baguette or rustic crackers
• Marinated olives
• Fresh figs or seasonal berries
• Burrata with heirloom tomatoes and basil
• Chocolate-covered strawberries
• A bottle of chilled rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, or sparkling wine

Beach Picnic

Let’s hit the beach! Choose foods for the beach that stay fresh and travel well. Don’t forget your cooler…and definitely don't get sand in it! Bring extra towels and keep the cooler in the shade whenever possible.

What to Pack:

• Italian sub sandwiches
• Fresh fruit salad
• Pasta salad
• Pickles
• Individual hummus cups with vegetables
• Trail mix
• Plenty of cold water
• Frozen grapes (they double as ice packs!)
• Potato Chips & Pretzels 

Concert or Outdoor Movie Night

Finger foods make entertaining easy for movie night in the park or an outdoor concert. Whether you are hitting Pine Knob, Meadowbrook or any other outdoor venue in the metro Detroit area, get your pre-game ready for your picnic. Be sure to pack everything in individual containers so everyone can easily grab what they want.

What to Pack:

• Cheese and cracker assortment
• Salami and prosciutto
• Fresh fruit
• Mixed nuts
• Chocolate bark
• Sparkling beverages
• Mini desserts from the Nino’s bakery

Build the Ultimate Charcuterie Picnic

A charcuterie board is one of the easiest—and most impressive picnic meals. We like charcuterie so much here at Nino’s we dedicated an entire blog post to Building the Ultimate Summer Charcuterie Board. Check it out and take your charcuterie picnic to the next level! 

Step 1: Start with Cheese

Choose three to five varieties with different textures and flavors:

• Creamy Brie
• Aged Cheddar
• Fresh mozzarella
• Gouda
• Goat cheese
• Manchego
• Parmesan wedges

Step 2: Add Premium Meats

• Prosciutto
• Genoa salami
• Soppressata
• Capicola
• Pepperoni

Step 3: Fresh Seasonal Produce

Summer produce shines on any picnic board.

Include:

• Michigan peaches 
• Cherries
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Grapes
• Blackberries
• Fresh figs
• Cucumber slices
• Cherry tomatoes

Step 4: Crunchy Additions

• Artisan crackers
• Crostini
• Fresh baguette
• Breadsticks
• Pretzels

Step 5: Sweet & Savory Extras

• Marcona almonds
• Pistachios
• Candied pecans
• Honey
• Fig jam
• Fruit preserves
• Cornichons
• Mixed olives
• Roasted peppers

Fresh Picnic Salads

No picnic is complete without a few colorful salad sides. Add your favorite protein such as grilled chicken, salmon, shrimp or tofu and these salads can be the star of your picnic. 

What to Pack: 

• Classic Italian pasta salad
• Caprese salad
• Greek salad
• Fresh fruit salad
• Potato salad
• Cucumber salad
• Watermelon and feta salad
• Broccoli salad
• Quinoa salad

Looking to really spice up your picnic salads? Then experiment with some of our favorite Founder’s Daughter Salad recipes to impress your picnic pals. 

Here are some of the Founder’s Daughter, Andrea Nicolella’s staple salads that make for great additions to your picnic: 

Arugula, Summer Berry & Avocado Salad 

Green Bean Potato Salad with Egg & Tuna 

Marinated Tomatoes & Mozzarella Salad 

Greek Potato Salad

Sweet Summer Finishes

Treat yourself to something special regardless of your picnic occasion. Celebrating summer is a holiday within itself! Here are some of our favorite treats to bring on a picnic to seal your summer as sweet as you can. 

What to Pack:

• Fresh fruit tarts
• Mini cheesecakes
• Mini Cannoli
• Brownies
• Lemon bars
• Chocolate chip cookies
• Fresh-cut watermelon
• Chocolate-covered pretzels

Picnic Beverage Pairings

Whether you are taking your Yeti, your soft cooler or anything in between, don't forget to pack plenty of ice to keep beverages chilled throughout the day. Be sure to pack plastic cups, glasses or reusable water bottles for a full day of hydration. 

Keep everyone refreshed with:

• Sparkling Italian sodas
• Fresh lemonade
• Iced tea
• Sparkling water with citrus
• Rosé
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Pinot Grigio
• Prosecco

Make It Easy with Nino's

Whether you're heading to a neighborhood park, planning a sunset date, gathering with family, or enjoying an outdoor concert, Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace has everything you need to create a memorable summer picnic.From premium cheeses and charcuterie to fresh bakery breads, chef-prepared salads, seasonal Michigan produce, gourmet desserts, and an outstanding selection of wine and specialty beverages, you can build an impressive spread without spending hours in the kitchen.

This summer, skip the ordinary lunch or dinner and take it outdoors. Gather your favorite people, find a beautiful spot, and let Nino's help you create a picnic that's filled with great food, great conversation, and unforgettable summer memories.

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