Real-Looking Glasses

On picnics, you’ve always had to decide whether to take crummy plastic or paper cups or risk real glasses, which can break rather dangerously. But these big, unbreakable plastic glasses, holding 10 ounces each, make the compromise unnecessary. They’re heavy and solid and even look like glass.

Strahl Unbreakable Tableware old-fashioned glasses, $26.95 for set of four, from Sur la Table, Pasadena.

The Happy Hamper

Just a nice, capacious wicker basket with napkins, tableware for four and a checked tablecloth.

Picnic basket, $59.99, Bristol Kitchens, South Pasadena.

The Back Basket

Here’s a “basket” suitable even for a rather remote picnic spot: It’s the traditional picnic hamper redesigned as a backpack. It includes shatterproof plates and plastic stemware, stainless tableware, a bread knife, a tablecloth and napkins, a cutting board and an insulated bottle holder. The ripstock nylon storage compartments keep food warm or cold up to six hours.

Gourmet’s Backpack, $79.95 plus tax and $13.95 shipping, from Harry and David, (800) 547-3033.

Wine, Bread, Cheese and Thou

If wine and cheese is the extent of your picnic, here’s the answer. This tote bag includes a knife, board and corkscrew along with the insulated bag for cheese, wine and bread. The straps are long enough to go over your shoulder.

Wine and Cheese Tote, $24.95, from Sur la Table, Pasadena.

Slick Spray

A wise griller cleans up the grill promptly after using it. A really crafty griller would have sprayed it with no-stick spray to start with. Pam for the Grill is a special formula designed just for high-temperature uses. It also helps cleanup to spray your utensils before using them.

Pam for the Grill, $3.19, at supermarkets.