An Easy Lunch Under Blue Skies

 

Enjoy an easy open-air lunch

A clear, refreshing day makes you want to head outside. Why not enjoy a small, simple picnic?

Start with a little preparation.

A picnic can sound like a lot of preparation the night before or early in the morning. This time, pack a few rice balls and simple side dishes, then set off as if going for a walk. It could also be a lovely chance for a father and children to prepare something for Mum. Here are a few ways to make a simple outing feel special.

Give simple rice balls a lift with a special furikake.

Rice balls are a picnic staple. Line a bowl with food wrap, add rice mixed with furikake, then shape it through the wrap. With adult help as needed, children can enjoy making them too. The trick is a generous helping of a special furikake. This time we used Norikake made by nori producers from the Ariake Sea. Crisp nori, sea bream flavor and crunchy rice-cracker pieces bring plenty of character to the rice. Add your favorite fruit and side dishes, and you're ready to go.

Take a leisurely walk to the park.

Today we have come to Kiyosumi Park, a short walk from POTPURRI. First, spread out a picnic sheet and get lunch ready.

Let your everyday tableware come along too.

Bring favorite tableware and cutlery to a nearby park for a more considered picnic. Wrap each piece securely in a kitchen cloth to help prevent breakage. Stackable pieces are easier to keep steady. Choose thin but sturdy cloths. Stone-washed LINEN TALES towels look relaxed even after wrapping, and their colors work beautifully as placemats or napkins. They are also practical for wrapping cutlery and washing afterward.

A lunch break that feels a little more special.

Plate up the food and you're ready. Let's eat!

Pick up a treat from a neighborhood café or bakery.

Don't forget a treat after lunch or a good play. Kiyosumi-Shirakawa has cafés, bakeries and sweet shops throughout the neighborhood. Stop along the way and pick up a pastry or sweet you have been curious to try. May brings more days of summer-like sunshine. Add a few new favorite objects and enjoy an open, relaxed day off as summer approaches. Here are the neighborhood shops we stopped at on this walk near POTPURRI. The details below are from the original article; check with each shop before visiting. TEAPOND — specialty tea shop 1-1-11 Shirakawa, Koto-ku, Tokyo Hours listed in the original article: 11:00–19:00 Closed Mondays, or the following day when Monday is a public holiday Panta Rhei — bakery Yogo Building 102, 1-6-7 Miyoshi, Koto-ku, Tokyo Hours listed in the original article: 9:00–17:00, or until sold out Closed Tuesdays; Mondays and Tuesdays from June of that year ALL — home goods 1F, 1-4-16 Shirakawa, Koto-ku, Tokyo Hours listed in the original article: 10:00–19:00 Closed Sundays and Mondays