Lazy Food : The Eclectic Picnic

You don’t have to go to the Bowl or to the beach to indulge in a picnic. You don’t even have to spend the day in the kitchen frying chicken and baking cake. If you really want a wonderful outdoor meal, climb into your car and start collecting; there are places all over town that will be happy to provide everything you need to make a picnic perfect.

You could, of course, stick to an All-American theme. But in an area as ethnically diverse as Southern California, that would be a shame. We are living in the midst of a movable feast, and our picnic features the best of everything.

Rizogalo, Greek rice pudding, 95 cents per serving--Astroburger, 5601 Melrose Ave., Hollywood, (213) 469-1924.

Antipasto tray, $25, and biscotti, five for $4.75--Angeli, 7274 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (213) 936-9086.

Fried chicken, $8.95 per pound--Mary’s Lamb, 10820 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, (818) 505-6120.

Baba ghannouj with pita, $6 an order--Marouch, 4905 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, (213) 662-9325.

Goi Cuon, Vietnamese fresh shrimp and pork rolls, two to an order, $2.82--Pho 79, 727 N. Broadway, Chinatown, (213) 625-7026.

Chinese roasted duck, $9.50 for a whole duck--Sam Woo Barbecue, 727 N. Broadway, Chinatown, (213) 687-3763. Other locations.

Mini kebabs, 3 quart tray, about 25 kebabs, $22.95; fresh fruit plattters with fruits in season, 16-inch platter, about 40 servings, $62.95; cannoli Italian pastries, $1.25 each--Old World Delicatessens Catering, 2648, E. Workman, West Covina, near Eastland shopping center, (818) 967-6307, 967-6308.

Black bean dip, $1.99 for 16-ounce container; black bean salad Azteca, $1.89 for 10-ounce container; Santa Fe blue corn tortilla chips, $1.19 per bag; Trader Joe’s spiced tortilla chips, $1.49 per bag--Trader Joe’s, 613 Mission St., South Pasadena, (818) 441-6263. Other locations.

Chinese seaweed salad, $1.95 per order--Mandarin Deli, 356 E. 2nd St., Los Angeles, (213) 617-0231.

Vietnamese beef jerky, $2.50 per bag; sweet sticky rice in banana leaf, $1.25 for two--Viet Huong, 927 N. Broadway, Chinatown, (213) 626-0764.

Almond-rum, $1.95 each, and chocolate, $1.50 each, croissants--L’Opera French Bread & Pastry Bakery & Cafe, 8223 W. Third St., Los Angeles, (213) 852-7000.