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…
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? ;)
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
Photography and styling by Jojotastic, assisted by Gwen McKenzie.
