The “picnic” – there is no reliable etymology for the word “picnic”, with the original use of the word lagging about 300 hundred years behind the first description of “alfresco” (open air) dining.  From about 1340 until the very early 1800’s, there are 3 contextual descriptions of picnics… Read what the great food writers say and get the top 75 Picnic recipes  Top 75 Picnic Recipes and Picnic Facts: