How to Recreate Ina Garten’s Parisian Picnic Spread

The Today Show crew are in Paris covering the 2024 Summer Olympic games, and who better to show them around than cookbook author, host and Parisian food enthusiast Ina Garten.

“This is my neighborhood,” Garten shares with Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Craig Melvin. “Fifty years ago, Jeffrey and I were on a four-month camping trip, and this market we came to…I’ve always loved it. It just kind of opened up a world of food to me that I didn’t know existed.”

Here’s what Garten and the Today hosts snagged at the “life-changing” Bastille Market that inspired her to cook French-inspired cuisine, plus some recipes to recreate their mouthwatering picnic this summer.

First up, potato pancakes are a must for Garten’s picnic spread. 

“The smell of it is just incredible,” she exclaims—and we wish we could smell it through the screen. We’re thinking our Crispy Potato Latkes or Mashed Potato Pancakes will provide the same fresh-from-the-market flavors. 

More grabs: fresh tomatoes and soft cheese galore for savory bites. While Kotb and Guthrie taste Garten’s favorite plums and buy a baguette or two, Roker and Melvin snag some croissants and bottles of prosecco. For dessert? Cookies, duh! Bake your own by trying our Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Cookies or Oatmeal-Peanut Butter Cookies with Dates, both recipes will impress your picnic go-ers.

With their French ingredients, Garten and the Today crew head down to Square Boucicaut to enjoy their picnic, and we’re salivating at the bread and cheese spread—it’s like a mini version of our Ultimate Summer Fruit & Cheese Board. Back in the studio reminiscing on their outdoor adventures, Garten plated an array of fruits from the market as well as a hazelnut cake she found at a local bakery. We would love to pair some fresh strawberries with our own Chocolate Hazelnut Tart for a sweet and nutty bite.

Garten left the Today show hosts with some parting advice: “Slow down” and enjoy life when you can. We’ll cheers a glass of prosecco to that!