In Gear: An Outdoor Dining Indulgence: Portable Blenders
For most of us, Memorial Day weekend marks the launch of the outdoor dining season, marshalling in a summer of picnics, barbecues, and pool and beach parties. As I find the standard gear marketed specifically for such occasions (folding picnic tables, special baskets and packs for tableware and flatware, enormous tong/spatula/fork sets, etc.) to be flimsy, fussy and/or cumbersome, I turn to camping suppliers when I’m looking for tools to get my outdoor eat on. There I tend to find equipment that is robust enough to withstand the elements and a good bit of jostling, lightweight and compact enough to be easily transported on foot, and just plain sensible for outdoor/remote usage.
Now, I appreciate the simplicity necessitated by al fresco dining—unfussy meats and vegetables grilled to order or foods prepared in advance and served out of coolers—all of it eaten off of plastic or disposable plates. I’m good with all of that, but I do appreciate my gadgets, and in the heat of summer, especially in areas removed from ready access to such creature comforts as running water and electricity, I can think of nothing quite so satisfyingly decadent as a slushy beverage. Enter my latest camp-supply find: the Coleman portable blender.
