Grilled burgers and potato chips make for an easy beach picnic as you gaze at the sun setting on the gorgeous Gulf. But what if you want to up the ante?

Think dream picnic and add some magic with a few quick preparations along the way:

1. Name the place
Where should you spread the blanket? On Longboat Key, snag one of the parking spots in the 3200 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive and prepare to be totally enthralled. This stretch of beach is an absolute jewel in the midst of many beach gems in Sarasota.

On Casey Key, Nokomis Beach is a diamond-quality spot inviting folks to set their picnic baskets and brightly colored coolers in the sand. On my last trip, a woman exclaimed, "You must meet us down here!" into her cell phone as she walked, talked and carted two beach chairs one early evening. Her husband wheeled along a

Grab some take-out from a nearby deli or restaurant like Café L'Europe on St. Armands Circle

huge blue cooler while a teenage son multi-tasked, carrying two Whole Foods bags while listening to his iPod. Other folks in their group followed, carrying plastic bags, duffel bags, soft-sided coolers and several tiki torches. It looked like they had enough to feed several armies of friends - troops prepared for "battle" with some fabulous food.

2. Create the menu
You might take a cue from one couple I observed who planned a romantic sunset nosh with take-out from Café L'Europe on St. Armands Circle. Chicken kavalla (stuffed with crab meat, spinach and feta cheese), Caesar salad and crème brulées for dessert melded beautifully with the notes of Diana Krall sounding from their portable CD player.

Harry's Continental Kitchen is another winner with its take-out deli. Try the gazpacho; it's sublime. So are the bleu cheese-stuffed olives at the Longboat Key Publix and the grocer's wonderful array of cheeses (the Irish Dubliner is first rate).

I equate Whole

The public beach at Siesta Key makes a perfect picnic spot

Foods to "picnic central." Scour the deli cases for all sorts of goodies to take along: Sonoma chicken salad, cabbage crunch, medium-rare beef tenderloin (just add fresh French bread and pesto mayonnaise), Pad Thai, shrimp tempura skewers (they're delicious cold!)… And for dessert? The individual tarts, cookies and chocolate croissants are scrumptious.

On Siesta Key, stop in at Anna's (two locations) to pick up ham, turkey, Swiss cheese and cucumber "Surfer" sandwiches (their top seller). Anna's coleslaw is a step above the rest, so make sure you've got a cooler to keep it chilled. And don't even try and resist the brownies.

In Venice, Steve's Super SubShop on Main Street is a super spot to stock up before hitting the beach, as are the Publix Supermarkets in Englewood and Venice.

3. Add finishing touches
Food, of course, is important, but don't forget the touches that make dream picnics pop. A few candles in clay pots, wicker tiki torches (available at hardware stores), a portable CD player, and you're set. Candles placed in old glass jugs filled with a few inches of sand will add to the ambience as you toast the sunset.

Bon appétit!

Originally posted 6/20/06