The right stuff helps with picnic

By KARALEE MILLER

FORT WORTH, Texas — Give your next picnic a dash of panache with dining essentials that are anything but basic.

From contemporary flatware and melamine dishware to stylish wine totes and earth-friendly finds, we’ve rounded up everything you’ll need to ensure that you and your loved ones have a fabulous day outdoors.

DIG IN

Picnic plates have long moved beyond paper and Styrofoam (much to the delight of our environment). Fresh, lightweight and reusable melamine plates are the new essential. Round red plates, $1.25-$2 each, from Pier 1 Imports. Bongenre’s vibrant “Anya Susani” melamine plates are dishwasher-safe; $11 each.

For eating tools, we also love these simple wooden utensils, which come 10 per pack. Spoons, forks and knives sold separately. $2 per pack, at Pier 1 Imports. Light My Fire’s spoon-fork-knife combos are heat-resistant and dishwasher-safe. Available in yellow, red, blue and green. $2.50 each.

FUNCTIONALLY FAB

Protect your food from bugs (and hungry neighbors) with these beautifully crafted food domes. Handmade by Balinese craftsmen, the bamboo domes traditionally were used to keep food such as cakes and breads. $5.99 for small domes; $7.99 for medium domes; large sizes also available. All at World Market. Give your food a lil’ dash with some perky shaker sets made for travel. The Recycled Melamine Salt and Pepper Shaker Set features a multicolored confetti look and is made of scraps from the production of other melamine products. Dishwasher-safe. $5.95, Crate and Barrel.

ON THE COVER

For a true dining experience, this Table in a Bag features a collapsible hardwood table that unrolls in seconds. Stow it in its red cotton bag for easy transport. $39.95, Crate and Barrel.

Every picnic has to have a blanket. This 100 percent cotton striped multicolored blanket has a cloth handle for easy carrying and measures 60 inches by 60 inches. $19.99, at World Market.

The “Ava” picnic basket is a stylish yet functional option for toting your picnic treats. The dual-flap top opening makes reaching inside easy, and the rear open slot perfectly fits a wine bottle. $14.99, at World Market. Or go for a different shape, and opt for a semicircular basket, left. It holds utensils, plates and wine glasses for two. Salt and pepper shakers and wine opener included. At 17 inches deep and 14 inches wide, there’s plenty of room for food. $70, at Pier 1 Imports.

Veranda acrylic wine glasses, $2.95 each, Crate Barrel.

Food domes with netting, $5.99-$7.99 each, World Market.

Sea to Summit X Bowl folds flat for compact packing and has a rigid base that can be used as a cutting board, $15.50.

Red and blue round melamine plates and white seashell plate, $1.25-$4 each, Pier 1 Imports.

Wooden utensils, $2 per pack, Pier 1 Imports.

Light My Fire’s spoon-fork-knife combos, $2.50, each.

Bongenre’s patterned “Anya Susani” melamine plates, $11 each.

KEEP YOUR COOL

Carry your canned drinks in this easy-to-tote nine-can insulated cooler. The bag is insulated with PVC lining and is made of durable nylon fabric. A roomy exterior pocket is great for stashing napkins or flatware. $16.99, The Container Store. Also available in larger sizes.

BAMBOO BASICS

Go green with this eco-friendly picnic box, featuring products all made of organically grown bamboo. The “Green Party Gift Box” includes eight sets of SnapSticks (chopsticks), 16 sets of eating utensils, 16 seven-inch plates and 16 nine-inch plates. The box is made from papier-mache and is recyclable. $49.99 from www.joannehudson.com.

WINE AND DINE

For a more luxurious look, check out Toss Designs’ brown patent croc wine carrier. The tote easily holds one bottle of wine and also comes with two wine glasses, a corkscrew, a wine bottle stopper and two cloth napkins. The adjustable strap allows you to carry it as a tote or shoulder bag. $69.

Keep your wine from wavering with these Steady Stick Wine Bottle and Glass Holders. Simply stick them in the ground and let them do the work. Bottle holder, $11.95; set of two glass holders, $9.95; both from Crate and Barrel.

BUG OFF

Keep those pesky insects at bay with scented garden torches and incense by Ashleigh Burwood. Both are scented with rosemary, citronella and thyme. The torch burns for up to 18 hours and the incense pack includes 12 sticks. $15 each.

Don’t forget the bug spray. Avon’s Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus combines insect repellent and sunscreen in one product. $12 for 4 ounces, at www.avon.com. We also like Repel’s plant-based insect repellent, made from oil of lemon eucalyptus. It lasts up to six hours. $9.95 for 4 ounces.

MEET THE BEETLES

No one wants bugs to visit their picnic, but these lil’ guys are a welcome addition. Beetle Spoons and Sporks make eating fun, regardless of the diner’s age. The wings unfold to form a handle, making them an ideal size for packing and transport. Each comes in its own compact travel case (not shown). $9.99 each, The Container Store.