Fancy a Picnic? What to pack where to go, and where to have others pack the basket for you.

Picnic?FANCY A

Who doesn’t love a picnic? Lounging on a blanket with brilliant sunshine overhead … a book in hand or a game of cards at play … slinging a frisbee to your favorite furry friend … it’s always a wonderful way to enjoy peaceful nature and spend a wonderful afternoon. The District has a plethora of perfect picnicking spots. You can enjoy pasta salad in the shadow of the Washington Monument on the National Mall. Or sip a glass of wine near the creek in Rock Creek Park. How about postlunch napping under a pink dogwood tree at the National Arboretum. The list goes on and on. Once you have picked your peaceful spot, now serious thinking comes into play. What will be in your basket? Of course, you can fill it with all sorts of treats from your home kitchen. Sandwiches, salads, and sugary confections are the standard staples. But if you are more of the “no muss, no fuss crowd” – stop by one of these restaurants and they will pack the basket for you.

OFFICINA

What’s in the basket: Pesto pasta salad, olives, cheese, prosciutto and salume, crostini and spreads, along with focaccia Barese. In addition to the $50 basket, picnic-goers can add on items like bottles of wine, extra wedges of cheese, pre-batched cocktails, and, of course, cannoli for dessert. 1120 Maine Avenue SW and 1525 Wisconsin Avenue NW.

Where to picnic: Officina offers basket pickups at both its Georgetown location and its three-level flagship at the Wharf. For monument views, the Tidal Basin and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial are within a 15-minute walk of Officina at the Wharf.

THE IMPERIAL

What’s in the basket: A $22 picnic pack from the Imperial includes the standard fare – cornichons, hummus, crudités and a baguette. They throws in the unexpected, too, such as smoked trout rillette and green goddess dip. 2001 18th Street NW.

Where to picnic: Kalorama Park is less than a 10-minute walk from the Imperial.

XIQUET DL

What’s in the basket: Xiquet DL puts together a splurgeworthy picnic set, which includes two bottles of wine and plenty of Spanish products, including smoky Etxegarai cheese and Iberico chorizo. The picnic set serves two to four people, priced at $80 or $146. 2404 Wisconsin Avenue NW.

Where to picnic: Head down Wisconsin Avenue, then climb the steps at charming Book Hill Park and enjoy the panoramic backdrop of Georgetown and the Potomac.

Whether you pack your basket yourself or stop by one of these restaurants for provisions, you are guaranteed to have a delicious afternoon. Don’t forget the sunscreen!