The Perfect Picnic-To-Go

Some say the picnic evolved from 14th century England, and at the time was a mere pre-hunt feast of ham and pastries eaten outdoors. Others believed that a variation of the word “picnic” was first found in French text from the 16th century when it was used to describe a pot-luck supper.

No matter where or how the concept started, everyone has an idea of the ideal picnic, including Claude Monet, who painted “The Picnic” in 1865-1866, and Edouard Manet, who painted “The Luncheon on the Grass” in 1863.

Ask Bruce Nelson, who has more than 15 years of sandwich-making skills at TooJay’s on Miracle Mile, and he’ll say all you need for the perfect picnic “is a TooJay’s box lunch.”

Comprised of a TooJay’s sandwich, coleslaw, a bag of chips and a “treat” from the TooJay’s bakery, Bruce says the box lunches are perfect for those on the go.

“We sell a lot of them,” he adds. “They’re great for people traveling. The presentation is good and it travels well.” Bruce’s personal favorite: “The Dijon chicken salad sandwich,” though, instead of the sandwich, he prefers his rolled up in a tomato-basil wrap.

Known as a “gourmet deli,” TooJay’s employees make everything on site, including their classic black and white cookies. The 25 TooJay restaurants throughout Florida sell more than 60,000 large and 1.5 million mini black and whites a year – more than 83,500 pounds.

Read the entire article in the April 2008 issue