After a busy weekend moving house, a stress-free picnic by the lake was exactly what my partner and I needed to relax and unwind. Enter Schmicnics.
Schmicnics is Canberra’s first gourmet picnic hamper and outdoor party provider, run by the team behind The Boat House and Pod Food.
With menus catering for two people or larger hampers designed for groups of four or more, Schmicnics aim to take the stress out of planning a picnic or outdoor party.
We pre-booked our two person hamper via the Schmicnics website two days prior to our planned picnic. The most difficult part of the ordering process was deciding what hamper we wanted. They all sound so good!
Ultimately it was the herb waffles with tiger prawns, salt-baked salmon and avruga caviar that steered us toward the ‘Duet’ hamper. It did not disappoint.
We collected our hamper from The Boat House in Barton and it was packed in a reusable Schmicnics tote bag for easy transportation.
The food is prepared in the kitchen at the The Boat House and is exactly what you would expect from a restaurant of this calibre.
The ingredients were fresh and the portions generous. The baby burrata and heirloom tomato salad with pumpkin, leek and haloumi tart was a standout.
Each dish had been carefully packed into a disposable (biodegradable) container. It was clear that a great deal of thought had gone into the presentation to ensure that it was not compromised by packaging or transportation.
Hampers for two come with a picnic rug, disposable cutlery, napkins, mineral water and biodegradable straws meaning that all you have to do is choose your picnic location, unpack and enjoy.
You can also add champagne, beer or wine to your hamper for an additional cost or bring your own. Menus can be tailored to accommodate special dietary requirements, including vegetarian and gluten free. Value for money is also fantastic and we enjoyed the leftovers at home later that evening.
A Schmicnic is the perfect solution if you are looking for a laid-back birthday, anniversary or Mother’s Day dining experience. The flexibility afforded by a portable gourmet hamper is particularly great for couples with young children. It means you can sit back and enjoy a restaurant-quality meal while the kids run around on the grass.
Schmicnics have also designed special children and adult hampers for Mother’s Day.
Eat Canberra received a complimentary Schmicnics hamper to review but all opinions are the author’s own.
Kate is a Canberra local with a passion for good food, wine and coffee. Her banking app consistently tells her that she spends too much money on dining out. Kate has recently completed her masters in marketing communication and enjoys spending her newfound spare time reading trashy novels, scuba diving and watching TV shows about murder. She is almost always planning her next holiday.Amelia Bidgood
Amelia is the Founder and Editor of Eat Canberra and the Founder and Managing Director of Eat Canberra Food Tours. She's a qualified journalist, presenter, freelance writer and also runs a boutique communications agency working with small business owners on all things social media, content creation and marketing. She's taught cheesemaking classes, judged hospitality and tourism awards, completed the WSET Level 1 Award In Wines, loves to cook and has travelled to 23 countries. She's also passionate about mental health and has recently started studying to become a Counsellor.