Supplies to Help Perfect That Picnic

Dining away gets a boost from these items, which may be available in area stores. The prices listed here do not include shipping.

What a gas: A gas grill gives an outdoor chef maximum cooking control, and now you can take one with you when you leave home.

The Grill to Go can be used as a tabletop grill or a free-standing one when its folding legs are extended. The burner system is stainless steel, and the 310-square-inch grate/griddle cooking surface is Teflon.

A removable grease tray empties easily. The adjustable cooking surface has level and heat indicators, and there’s a built-in igniter for use with a 1- or 20-pound propane tank (not included).

The grill has extending side tables with built-in utensil hooks, and it comes with tongs, spatula and cleaning comb.

Fully extended, the Grill to Go is 35 inches high by 46 inches wide by 17 inches deep. It breaks down to 28 inches wide by 13 inches high by 15 inches deep, weighs 40 pounds and fits in most car trunks.

Grill to Go (10451) is $149.95 from AJ Prindle; (866) 774-8278, www.ajprindle.com.

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Anti-bug beam: This lightweight, battery-operated barbecue light not only illuminates what’s cooking but also repels flying insects. Bug Off, the Mosquito-Repelling BBQ Light, clips onto the side table of the grill, shedding a steady beam when the adjustable arm is extended. (Remove the spring clip and the light sits on any flat surface.) The bug repellent makes a buzzing sound that simulates the sound of a dragonfly, a bug predator.

A three-position switch provides a choice of audible or ultrasonic bug-scaring waves. It sounds strange, but it worked at a cookout I held. The unit is powered by four D batteries.

Bug Off, the Mosquito-Repelling BBQ Light (10602), is $30 at housewares stores; (800) 431-2486, www.zelco.com.

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Cool chair: Cool your heels and food at the same time with Good Hope Bags’ lightweight folding chair, which has a spacious insulated zippered cooler bag on the underside of the seat. A mesh pocket on the outside of the cooler holds sunglasses, lotion and other small items.

Available in two sizes (the small one is more comfortable for a child), the chair is constructed of aluminum tubing with a nylon seat and backrest. Collapsed, the small chair measures 18 by 13 inches and weighs 4 pounds; the large chair folds to 22 by 16 inches and weighs 6 pounds. Both fold to about 2 inches thick.

Small Folding Chair With Cooler (7367) is $23.99; large (7369), $29.99; from 1-800-Luggage; (800) 584-4243, www.1800luggage.com.

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One for the road: Don’t let an absence of electricity keep you from your margaritas. Take the party anywhere with this cordless rechargeable blender from Power-to-Go.

The 44-ounce-capacity heavy-duty plastic blender runs on a removable sealed lead acid 6-volt battery pack. The battery charger (included) comes with a 110-volt AC adapter for a standard wall socket and a 12-volt DC adapter that plugs into a car cigarette lighter, so you can recharge the battery at home or on the go. Never mind the fancy blender settings: Depress the button for on, release for off. Fully charged, the motor runs about 20 minutes.

Cordless Blender (PRB818) is $59.99 from A Trendy Home; (877) 667-4663, www.atrendyhome.com.

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On a roll: Travelers Club’s Rolling Picnic Carriers are roomy thermal coolers on wheels that come with a complete picnic set for two to four people, depending on the style.

The set, which comes in its own zippered compartment attached to the cooler, contains heavy-duty plastic plates, stemware, utensils, salt and pepper shakers, a serrated knife, a corkscrew/bottle opener, a cutting board and checkered napkins, all held in place with elastic straps.

Some models of the picnic set zip off from the main cooler; others are permanently sewn on. I like the detachable kind because it can be carried separately or left behind when not needed. The coolers have external pockets for accessories as well as handles for hoisting. Some models have internal dividers for separating hot and cold foods.

Rolling Coolers with picnic sets are $89.99 to $109.99, including shipping, from Bags & Beyond; (310) 941-3727 (Los Angeles), www.bagsandbeyond.com.

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