Parisian Platter Lunch

I used to live in France. Next to meeting and marrying my husband, and having my two boys, it was the single best experience of my life.
I always try to incorporate something I learned in France into my day-to-day life and their classic picnic lunches are no exception. To begin with, this is a lunch that works in the cold weather as well as for the outdoor eating season. It also works really well for school lunches and is definitely my kids’ most requested midday meal. And when you need to feed a gaggle of children, or unexpected weekend guests, this is the easiest way to do so.

The process is simple—grab a large platter/wooden carving board, or school lunch container, and fill it to the brim with any combination of the following:

Breads – baguette slices, wraps, mini bagels, rye bread, biscuits
Crackers – wheat crackers, rice crackers, crisps, pretzels
Cheeses – brie, goat, assorted cheddar, blue, feta, something unique and interesting that isn’t consumed everyday
Fruits – grapes, apples, strawberries, melon, pineapple, berries, bananas, kiwi, oranges slices
Veggies – broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, green beans, asparagus, celery, olives
Meats/Main – Virginia ham (sliced), quiche, roast chicken, hard boiled eggs, pastrami, salami, roast turkey
Dips/Spreads – hummus, babaganoush, egg salad, tuna salad, tzatziki, butter, preserves and jams, chutneys
Beverages – flat/sparkling water, sparkling juices, lemonade, ice teas
Sweets/Treats – chocolates, dried fruits, dates, nuts, bite-sized cookies and cake