In the opinion of our experts, in the summer any outdoor activity – camping, backpacking, gathering around a grill in a public park – can turn into an opportunity to eat something really delicious. And when it comes to BYO food, there are two routes you can take. Either aggressively and relentlessly pack your cooler to the gills, or…just take out. If the latter sounds more speedy to you, Eater editors can help you find the perfect takeout food for all kinds of outdoor dining.
Best food to bring: Beach
In my mind I have a snapshot of a perfect summer moment. My friends gathered under my cabana at Reese Beach, dressed in all shades of clothing, and jumped out of an NYPD helicopter that kept buzzing around to harass and glare at the crowd. By the way. The group that usually sets up their sound system at 8 a.m. is blasting Britney in the distance. And we piled up snacks in the center of our circle. Most of it usually consists of cut fruit in plastic containers from the corner store. Beach snacks are the only way to replenish lost sugar and fluids and feel the cool juice wake up your mouth. We grab watermelon, grapes, strawberries, and pineapple slices with sandy hands, not caring who brought what or who we owe. In some ways, it feels like what we’re supposed to be: hot, naked and eating fruit. — Jaya Saxena, Eater.com correspondent
Best Foods to Bring to MLB Ballparks
It started with a few pies from a quarter seat at Dodger Stadium. Until then, I didn’t know you could bring food into most MLB stadiums as long as you played by some Byzantine restrictions regarding clear bags and sealed bottles (check with your local stadium) please). I keep paying big bucks for Dodger Dogs and soft serve ice cream in little helmets, but I’m the cheesy type who gets excited about packing my own snacks. (I’m also the type of person who hates pitch clocks shortening games and refuses to leave my seat to stand in concession lines for hours.) This summer, I’ve been eating some of my favorite snacks. I’ll bring (Salty) Sweet Party Mix, Furikake Chex Mix) and sandwiches (Zaatar Chicken Katsu, Kimchi Tuna Salad). But I’m even more excited about the takeout possibilities. I’m already planning on going to Flushing for some chashu bao before the Mets game at Citi Field, and I’m thinking about how I’ll get my favorite Philadelphia cheesesteak (Chubby’s) across town to the Phillies game. I’m having trouble deciding what to make for an Italian sandwich with salumi. Mariners game when visiting Seattle. — Nick Mancall-Bitel, Eater.com Senior Editor
The best foods to bring to an outdoor concert
What could make the magic of a warm, starlit summer outdoor concert even better? Turn it into a meal. But there are serious logistical issues to deal with. You’re often combining the already tricky mobile acrobatics of a picnic with the concert-specific obstacles of security restrictions, noise, low lighting, and (unless you’ve paid for a box seat) nowhere to actually eat. Don’t let that stop you. Choose low-maintenance foods. Now is not the time for multiple small containers or elaborate setups. And you want to be able to eat with your eyes on the show, not squinting to point crackers into a tub of sour cream dip. Try a compact hoagie, like a banh mi or mortadella, pre-cut flatbread at room temperature, or popcorn chicken in a thermos. Check the liquor regulations, but opt for canned wine instead of a large bottle. After all, your goal is to keep rumbling to a minimum so as not to distract other concert-goers. Or, if you want something more elaborate in the evening, arrive an hour early and hit the town. — Leslie Suter, Director of Special Projects
The best food to bring to an outdoor picnic
Summer for me means going to the park and laying down a blanket. Picnics in the park can be spontaneous and you can take advantage of any opportunity if the weather is nice. For this reason, the best food is not homemade potato salad (which can be delicious, but requires advance planning), but takeout. I once went to a park picnic with Popeyes fried chicken and biscuits and champagne, a loose fried chicken and bubbles themed picnic. I recall park dinners during the peak of the pandemic where we shared takeout pasta and salad. But more often, I’ve bought tamales on Greenmarket day outside Fort Greene Park, or banh mi or boba on the way to Prospect Park. Since the need for utensils is preferably kept to a minimum, sandwiches are ideal, especially those purchased at Court Street Grocers. While beach sandwiches can pose a risk of blowing up sand and may have to endure hours in a cooler, park sandwiches have all the benefits of eating outdoors without getting wet and sandy. Once you’re done eating and the ground is uncomfortable, it’s important to determine a walking route home that includes the nearest ice cream truck. — Monica Barton, Deputy Editor, Eater.com
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