Un-hampered bonding

Could picnics replace Sunday brunches and Saturday movie outings as the favourite weekend pastime of families? A unique picnic hosted at the sprawling Olympia Reflection near Kovalam, East Coast Road, could signal the beginning of such a trend.

The event began with each family curating its own picnic basket from a selection of counters. The delicious options included cheeses, fresh fruit, dips and preserves, khow suey, pasta, desserts, beer and wine. They then settled down for a leisurely meal, interspersed with games, creative activities such as zentangles and face painting, and live music.

Deciding together what the picnic basket would contain and choosing the perfect spot to spread out the blanket and set out the goodies is a fun bonding experience. It encourages talking, unlike a cinema outing. It also offers a fresh setting that takes weekend dining out of crowded hotels and restaurants.
Family bonding increases through community dining concepts. “Picnics bring everyone together to sit down and nurture conversations and it’s so much nicer than a fancy brunch,” says IT expert Vikneswaran.

Chennai’s perennially sunny skies create opportunities for picnics around the year, but the ideal picnic site should have shade, greenery and quietness. “The Reflection campus, which was thoughtfully designed to be in harmony with the natural lagoon, lush green cover and coastal birdlife of the East Coast Road, is the perfect place,” said Supriya the picnic curator.

Gaurav Sanghvi says “We created Reflection as an ideal place for family bonding and nurturing relationships. We highlight the green cover and clean air and kid-friendly zones. Picnics promote a greater sense of family and food is a great way to gather memories.” Elaborating on the ambience, he adds, “Our landscaped terraces, sky gardens, plunge pools and other features add to the natural elements of this serene seaside location.”

The picnic featured lovely story telling sessions for kids, a dip in the pool and an array of cuisines that taught children about other cultures.