This post is sponsored by Les Trois Petits Cochons…! Merci for supporting the brands that keep GFY creating!

Copying the French lifestyle has become my complete joie de vivre. I feel like I have mastered their baguette-and-wine diet, the effortless wardrobe and their glamorously undone tresses with a red lip! So it was time to move on to studying the way they do summer. In particular, the way they pique-nique. Jenna and I were both to be in Paris this summer but of course with the virus ruining all 2020 travel, we decided to bring Paris to us! It was one of my very first lady dates too through all this craziness!!!! Staying true to their carefree way of living, Parisians take the fuss-free route with their picnics. I wanted to concentrate on grabbing high-quality food and having a low-key tête-à-tête, the true Parisian way! And partnering with Les Trois Petits Cochons was the décision parfaite!!!

Les Trois Petits Cochons has produced award-winning, all natural pâté and charcuterie since 1975 by crafting small, handmade batches using high-quality ingredients. One of the most awarded specialty food companies in North America, Les Trois Petits Cochons began as a small charcuterie in Greenwich Village, New York City. Today it leads the pâté and charcuterie industry, offering a complete line of artisanal pâtés, mousses, terrines, sausages, saucissons, smoked meats and other French specialties.

Les Trois Petits Cochons is committed to continuing the tradition of making delicious, authentic and quality pâté and charcuterie for its customers. By combining time-honored recipes, choice ingredients, innovative cooking methods and strict quality control they are able to create consistent, handcrafted products. All of this, together with dedicated customer service and a passion for good food, have allowed them to stay true to the small charcuterie where they started over 40 years ago.

Many of their suppliers come from within 100 miles of the production facilities, but sometimes to find that special ingredient they need to go further afield, including to France where they source many of their ingredients like their wild mushrooms or espelette pepper.

As you would expect the French take picnics very seriously. So here is what to pack in your hamper so you can enjoy a traditional French picnic too!

Bread

The key to a French pique-nique is of course a good choice of bread. Choose a freshly baked baguette, picked up that morning from the “boulangerie” in your neighborhood! In Tulsa, I recommend Saint Amon! Or you can also do what I do and just bake your own!

Charcuterie

Pack plenty of cured meats – which make tasty sandwiches, and some pâté to spread on slices of bread. The French love to crunch cornichons (gherkins) with those.

I recommend ordering the following from Les Trois petits Cochons…..

Pâté de Canard à l’Orange

Pork & Duck Pâté with Orange Peel- Duck and pork mixed with pistachio and a dash of Grand Marnier.

DETAILS:

All Natural, no artificial ingredients, minimally processed
Keep refrigerated
8 oz. size topped with aspic

PAIRING:

Pair with a light to medium-bodied red wine with a hint of earthy aromas balanced by a fruit-forward bouquet or a full-bodied dry red wine with rustic and earthy tones.

Mousse du Périgord

Chicken Liver & Turkey Liver Mousse with Black Truffles: Duck, chicken, truffles and sherry blended to perfection.

DETAILS:

Fresh, keep refrigerated at 38 degrees or below
No added antibiotics or artificial growth stimulants
Pork free
No colorings
8 oz. size topped with aspic

PAIRING:

Pair with a light to medium-bodied white wine with citrus and tropical flavor notes or a full-bodied dry red wine with rustic and earthy tones.

Organic Pâté de Campagne

Organic Country Pork Pâté

DETAILS:

Organic Non-GMO Gluten Free Artisanal Handcrafted No Preservatives No Colorings PAIRING: A full-bodied red wine, robust and fruity with minimal influence of oak or a light to medium-bodied red wine with a hint of earthy aromas balanced by a fruit-forward bouquet.

PAIRING:

A full-bodied red wine, robust and fruity with minimal influence of oak or a light to medium-bodied red wine with a hint of earthy aromas balanced by a fruit-forward bouquet.

Sliced Jambon Sec

Sliced French-style Dry Cured Ham

Made from the rear haunches of the pig, it is carefully cured over 14 months with just enough salt to preserve it while also allowing the meat to remain tender and sweet to the taste.

DETAILS:

All natural
Gluten free
No nitrates or nitrites added

PAIRING:

A light-bodied dry white wine with a light, crisp, refreshing taste or a light to medium-bodied red wine with a hint of earthy aromas balanced by a fruit-forward bouquet.

SERVING:

Enjoy at room temperature on its own or serve on a charcuterie board with saucisson, cheese, melon and baguette.

Smoked Duck Breast

All natural smoked duck breast - no preservatives.

DETAILS:

All natural, no artificial ingredients, minimally processed
Keep refrigerated
Fully cooked

PAIRING:

Pair with a full-bodied red wine, robust and fruity with minimal influence of oak or a light to medium-bodied red wine with a hint of earthy aromas balanced by a fruit-forward bouquet.

I made a delicious duck breast salad that I am going to share the recipe for towards the bottom of this post!

Cheese

Cheese always makes excellent picnic supplies. Either break off chunks of hard cheese like Comté, Cantal, Abondance or Tome de Savoie to nibble on, or take a creamy, soft type to spread, like a chèvre frais (fresh goat’s cheese) or a blue cheese.

And don’t forget the Organic Petits Toasts from Les Trois Petits Cochons

PAIRING:

Ideal for Canapés, pair well with Pâté, Mousses, Foie Gras...

SERVING:

Serve on a charcuterie board with coarse Pâté, Jambon de Paris, and other charcuterie, along with Whole Grain Mustard & Cornichons ! I also like to add fruit to my board too-fresh apricots and strawberries are so lovely with all of this.

What do you think!? In case you haven’t noticed, the pace of life in France is a very relaxed one, especially when it comes to meal time. Take a cue from the locals and and take your sweet time, savor the moment, and enjoy the surroundings. There’s nowhere in the world like Paris! And we cannot wait to get there!

Now here is the smoked duck breast salad recipe!

Try the Les Trois Petit Cochons Smoked Duck Breast over a bed of greens with apples! It is a healthy and delicious way to eat vegetables. And of course after you get your order from 3pigs.com, there is not much left to do! Just place some mixed greens on a plate. Top with celery, apples, purple onions, cherry tomatoes and drizzle with a herbes de provence salad dressing before serving. Add a tiny bit of salt and pepper too!

That’s it!

Now who is ready for a Parisian outing at the park?!