Murray’s Picnic Essentials

As always, let’s start with cheese. For a spread that’s got a little bit of something for everyone, we’re a fan of our Best of France Cheese Sampler. Featuring French favorites like Brie, Comte, and Ossau Iraty, this collection of snackable cheeses ranges from firm to spreadable and from sweet to savory, so your picnic is guaranteed to be packed with a whole lot of delicious variety. Even better? It comes in a stylish tin that makes for easy traveling.

And when it comes to crowd-pleasers, you can’t go wrong with a cheddar. For something timeless and traditional, we love Bleu Mont Dairy Bandaged Cheddar, a clothbound selection that’s milky and smooth. And to bring a little something extra, try Mystic Cheese Co. Cachalot, a firm and tasty cheddar-style cheese that has fruity notes of fermented grapes and a buttery profile.

No picnic basket would be complete without charcuterie, so we’ve selected a pre-sliced package that makes snacking a breeze. Charlito’s Cocina Campo Seco is a dry-cured salami that’s robust and rustic, with a mouthwatering savor that’s infused with complex mineral notes from hand-harvested fleur de sel. Sliced to perfection, these juicy rounds are perfect on a cracker or wrapped around a slice of hard cheese.

Want something a little zestier? Turn up the heat with Brooklyn Cured Sliced Spicy Beef Salami, a similarly savory charcuterie selection that’s flavored with garlic, black pepper, and paprika, and then naturally smoked to infuse it with a depth of flavor. These bold slices are guaranteed to spice up any spread.

Now it’s time for snacks–every spread needs at least two accompaniments: crackers for pairing and something bright and crunchy to cut through all that luscious cheese. For crackers, we love Z Crackers Everything Good crackers, which are topped off with all the seasoning you’d find on a classic everything bagel. When paired with a cheddar and some jam, it tastes just like your favorite breakfast sandwich from the local deli.

And our favorite bright and crunchy bites? Pickles in all shapes and sizes. For easy on-the-go eating, our top pick is Trois Petits Cochons Cornichons, which are small enough to snack on in one bite with some cheese and meat and add a tangy, briny acidity that pairs well with rich cheeses.

Finally, you’ll need a vessel to hold all these tasty eats, and we can’t think of a better one than our insulated Picnic Cooler. Perfect for keeping cheese, meats, and treats at the ideal temperature, this handy carrier is an instant to-go bag. Stock it up with our suggestions or some of your Murray’s favorites and tote it to the park, beach, backyard, or wherever you like to picnic.