A Perfect Picnic for Date Night + Columbus Craft Meats

This post is sponsored by Columbus Craft Meats. All opinions are my own and always will be! Thanks for supporting content that keeps Jojotastic going.

Thanks to #thejoysofhomeownership, we’ve been on a bit of a budget, but that’s no excuse to eschew date night. Instead, Sean and I have been thinking up ways to spend time together that are budget-friendly, but still enjoyable. One of our latest favorites is packing a picnic and heading to a local park to watch the sunset, so when Columbus Craft Meats reached out to partner I was totally stoked.

Keep reading for my favorite picnic pairings and essentials…

need an affordable date night idea?? how about a sunset picnic with lots of yummy @columbusmeats paired with cheeses, fruit, nuts, and more toppings! see my picnic + charcuterie essentials on jojotastic.com #salami #craftmeat #nobaloney

Without hyperbole, I was over the moon when Columbus reached out to partner. Every time Sean and I head to the mountains for climbing and camping, we bring lots of snacks and always include Columbus’s sopressata. It’s sort of become a habit at this point. Isn’t it awesome when life and work collide like that? ;)

need an affordable date night idea?? how about a sunset picnic with lots of yummy @columbusmeats paired with cheeses, fruit, nuts, and more toppings! see my picnic + charcuterie essentials on jojotastic.com #salami #craftmeat #nobaloney
need an affordable date night idea?? how about a sunset picnic with lots of yummy @columbusmeats paired with cheeses, fruit, nuts, and more toppings! see my picnic + charcuterie essentials on jojotastic.com #salami #craftmeat #nobaloney

For this particular picnic, we went to Sunset Hill Park in Seattle. It’s just a few minutes away from my house and boasts some of the best sunsets in Seattle. It’s quite a hidden gem, too. Not too busy and with super-close parking, so we didn’t have to haul the picnic basket too far.

need an affordable date night idea?? how about a sunset picnic with lots of yummy @columbusmeats paired with cheeses, fruit, nuts, and more toppings! see my picnic + charcuterie essentials on jojotastic.com #salami #craftmeat #nobaloney

When it comes to picnicking, I’m all about LOTS of options. We packed a good array of meats, such as:

  • Dry Coppa
  • Hot Sopressata
  • Crespone
  • A charcuterie sampler of Calabrese, Genoa Salame, Italian Dry Salame, and Sopressata
need an affordable date night idea?? how about a sunset picnic with lots of yummy @columbusmeats paired with cheeses, fruit, nuts, and more toppings! see my picnic + charcuterie essentials on jojotastic.com #salami #craftmeat #nobaloney

And then these cheeses, toppings, and pairings:

  • herbed goat cheese
  • truffle semi-hard cheese
  • burrata
  • a variety of crackers
  • sliced baguette
  • olives
  • cornichons
  • tapenade
  • almonds
  • strawberries
  • blackberries
  • grapes
  • cantaloupe (this is especially yummy paired with the dry coppa!)
  • dried apricots

The result of all this yumminess is a simple, slowly enjoyed meal with my favorite human.

need an affordable date night idea?? how about a sunset picnic with lots of yummy @columbusmeats paired with cheeses, fruit, nuts, and more toppings! see my picnic + charcuterie essentials on jojotastic.com #salami #craftmeat #nobaloney

There are many reasons why we prefer Columbus Craft Meats, aside from the great flavor of the meats. For starters, these charcuterie essentials are totally genuine and comprised of the best, premium ingredients. They take the time necessary to to slow-age and cure the meats, meaning that each meat develops deeper, better flavor. Plus, as a San Francisco-based company, I can’t help but feel a bit partial after calling the foggy city my home last year.

need an affordable date night idea?? how about a sunset picnic with lots of yummy @columbusmeats paired with cheeses, fruit, nuts, and more toppings! see my picnic + charcuterie essentials on jojotastic.com #salami #craftmeat #nobaloney

With so many savory pairings, I made sure to pack some sweet additions that I picked up at the local farmers’ market. The berries have been so amazing this year. I can’t get enough.

Oh, and don’t forget the rosé and homemade limoncello!

need an affordable date night idea?? how about a sunset picnic with lots of yummy @columbusmeats paired with cheeses, fruit, nuts, and more toppings! see my picnic + charcuterie essentials on jojotastic.com #salami #craftmeat #nobaloney

Photography and styling by Jojotastic, assisted by Gwen McKenzie.

Behind The Blog

Joanna Hawley-McBride is a Pacific Northwest-based social media strategist, content creator, and former textile designer. Joanna is the founder and editor-in-chief of Jojotastic, a lifestyle blog focused on Joanna’s work-in-progress cabin, finding the best pair of underwear through #UnderwearThesis, and empowering women to explore nature — all in her signature unfiltered style. Her work has been featured in Domino, CNBC, and Eating Well.

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Please note that I use affiliate links at times here, as well as on my social media accounts. This means that if you click on a link to a product and purchase that product, I may receive a commission based on your purchase. I only feature products that truly inspire me. Any products that have been gifted to Jojotastic for review are noted at the bottom of the post. Sponsored posts are noted as such. All opinions are my own and always will be! Thanks for supporting content that keeps Jojotastic going.

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