Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
Mahjong & Mimosa Mondays
Join us on Monday mornings for guided or expert play in our new location at 524 Front Street with tables hosted by Magnolia Spa & Wellness. Seasoned players to new to the game players, we have a seat for you at our tables!
Mahjong & Mimosa Mondays
Join us on Monday mornings for guided or expert play in our new location at 524 Front Street with tables hosted by Magnolia Spa & Wellness. Seasoned players to new to the game players, we have a seat for you at our tables!
Beneath the Bayou Moon: Bruschetta & Bayou
Join us as elegant Italian meets Southern charm inthis hands-on series of Cajun Italian fusion cooking classes with Chef Brad Haigler.
Class 1 of 3: Bruschetta & Bayou
Starter — Charred Okra and Tomato Bruschetta with Creole Ricotta
Soup — Creamy Roasted Garlic & Corn Bisque
Entrée – Blackened Chicken thighs over Creamy Garlic Cheddar Grits (plus a BONUS recipe)
Dessert — Cannoli with Whipped Sweet Ricotta Filling topped with Pecan Praline Sauce
This event will feature hands-on cooking skills, all ingredients and supplies, family style dining after we cook, wine pairings to compliment each dish, and take home recipes, plus 20% OFF NPC shopping on day of your event.
Literary Lagniappe Morning Book Club
Join fellow Natchitoches readers excited about our morning book club, Literary Lagniappe. August’s book is * Heartwood by Amity Gage with discussion guided by Marné Deranger. Follow her as ReaderByTheWater on Instagram and Facebook. (*This is an affiliate link.)
Join us August 19th 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Natchitoches Picnic Company for our second Literary Lagniappe, featuring, Heartwood by Amity Gaige *.
Literary Lagniappe Evening Book Club
Join fellow Natchitoches readers excited about our new book club, Literary Lagniappe. August’s book is * Heartwood by Amity Gage with discussion guided by Marné Deranger. Follow her as ReaderByTheWater on Instagram and Facebook. (*This is an affiliate link.)
Join us August 19th 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Natchitoches Picnic Company for our second Literary Lagniappe, featuring, Heartwood by Amity Gaige *.
Meet the Artist: Mary Louise Porter
Meet Mary Louise Porter, long time Natchitoches local, now a resident of Ocean Springs, Mississippi and artist of the new book, Where Sea Meets Sky Paintings by Mary Louise Porter. After moving to the Gulf Coast, Mary Louise was captivated and inspired by the “brilliant clouds of color in the sunsets and sunrises” which became her muse for her new collection of paintings found in this beautifully bound book and recently exhibited at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Meet the Author: Jennifer Moorhead
Join us for a meet, greet, and book signing with Shreveport author Jennifer Moorhead! Her first book, BROKEN BAYOU, was an exciting crime thriller set in south Louisiana. Her second book, POISON WOOD, is a “Tana French meets Pretty Little Liars” thriller which publishes on October 28th. Early reviews call it, “Suspenseful, atmospheric, with twists that kept me guessing until the very end. I couldn’t put it down!” (Emma C. Wells, USA Today Bestselling author)
Special Note: This gripping story is set in Natchitoches and Kisatchie National Park!
July 2025 Cookbook Club: At My Italian Table by Laura Vitale
Join us for July’s Cookbook Club gathering with At My Italian Table by Laura Vitale, as we team up with Pied a Terre, located at 746 Front Street to create a memorable summer supper experience.
Literary Lagniappe Evening Book Club
Now offering the same book and same quaint location in the evening with an elevated themed menu.
The only thing better than finding a great book is talking about that book! What’s even better than that? A guided discussion led by a seasoned book reviewer and book club host, with delicious themed food and drink.
Join us July 15th 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm for our first Literary Lagniappe, featuring a 2025 debut novel, THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans. *
Literary Lagniappe Morning Book Club
The only thing better than finding a great book is talking about that book! What’s even better than that? A guided discussion led by a seasoned book reviewer and book club host, with delicious themed food and drink.
Join us July 15th 10:00 am to 12:00 pm for our first Literary Lagniappe, featuring a 2025 debut novel, THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans. *
Mahjong & Mimosa Mondays
Join us on Monday mornings for guided or expert play in our new location at 524 Front Street with tables hosted by Magnolia Spa & Wellness. Seasoned players to new to the game players, we have a seat for you at our tables!
Mahjong & Mimosa Mondays
Join us on Monday mornings for guided or expert play in our new location at 524 Front Street with tables hosted by Magnolia Spa & Wellness. Seasoned players to new to the game players, we have a seat for you at our tables!
Picnic & Painting Kids Art Class with Morgan Lasyone
A sweet treat to beat the heat! Join for PIcnic & Painting with Morgan Lasyone — a kid-friendly art class designed for kids ages 4-10.
Create a festive painting to celebrate summer and enjoy a picnic and a sweet treat afterwards! All art supplies and a themed picnic of pinwheels, fresh fruit, chips, and popsicles provided! Just bring your imagination and a smile!
Spaces are limited — reserve your spot today!
June 2025 Cookbook Club: The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
Join us for our inaugural Cookbook Club Meeting where we start at the beginning — well, the beginning for Ina Garten and my love for simple, no fuss, picnic-y foods — with Ina Garten’s first cookbook, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook. These are the recipes Ina Garten became known for by serving them in her specialty food store in the Hamptons. Let’s try our hand at some of Ina’s best recipes — and decide if any of them need to make it to the NPC menu!
What’s included: We will provide a summer recipe from the cookbook — Grilled Tuna Nicoise Salad and a signature mocktail.
What’s your role: You get to share or hone your own cooking skills and love of good food by preparing and sharing a recipe from the book that will compliment the summer picnic-y menu with an appetizer, side, additional main entree, dessert, or beverage from the book. BYOB if desired (hint: prosecco or your fave white wine will pair well with this summer meal).
Attire: Your best Ina Garten impersonation is encouraged. Think chambray shirt and a summer scarf. There will be a $25 NPC gift card for the best costume!
Your Price: $25
THERE ARE ONLY 25 SPOTS OPEN! GET YOUR TICKET TODAY
To register for the class, click Attend > Continue to Cart > Checkout. You will then be prompt for a payment method.
*Please see our Classes & Events Cancellation & No Show Policy before booking your spot.
📖 NEED THE BOOK? Get your copy of The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook HERE!
This is an affiliate link. If you purchase through this link, our bookish friend @readerbythewater earns a tiny amount of money at no extra cost to you.
*Classes & Events Cancellation & No Show Policy
We understand that life happens and plans can change. To ensure the best experience for all guests and to respect the time and preparation required for each class, we kindly ask that you review our cancellation and no-show policy:
🔸 Cancellations
More than 72 hours before class: You may receive 100% credit towards a future class at Natchitoches Picnic Company, or transfer your ticket to another guest.
Less than 72 hours before class: You may receive 50% credit towards a future class at Natchitoches Picnic Company, or transfer your ticket to another guest.
Same-day cancellations are considered a no-show.
🔸 No Shows
If you do not attend your reserved class and have not contacted us in advance, your reservation will be forfeited, and no refund or credit will be issued.
🔸 Minimum Enrollment & Weather Cancellations
We reserve the right to cancel a class if minimum enrollment is not met or in the case of severe weather. In this case, you will receive 100% credit towards a future class at Natchitoches Picnic Company.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Our classes are carefully planned, and your reservation helps us create the best experience possible for all attendees.
📚 Interested in a regular book club? Not necessarily a cookbook club? Good news! A morning book club is coming soon to NPC — watch your emails and our social for updates! Our first gathering will be in July. We are already lining up author visits and book signings. Get excited!
Mahjong & Mimosa Mondays
Join us on Monday mornings for guided or expert play in our new location at 524 Front Street with tables hosted by Magnolia Spa & Wellness. Seasoned players to new to the game players, we have a seat for you at our tables!
Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon Made Simple
Chef Shelley Elizabeth is back to bring you one of Julia Child's classic recipes in a simple, hands-on format where you not only learn the art of boeuf bourguignon (beef stew), you will also gain knife skills while cutting fresh vegetables and how to enhance this dish using fresh herbs. This effortless elegant beef stew will quickly become your go-to meal for your autumn entertaining.
In the words of Julia Child, "You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces—just good food from fresh ingredients."
Game Day Eats with Ashley Madden Rowton
Elevate your pre-game table with quick hearty dips everyone will love.
Ashley Madden Rowton, cookbook author and blog writer from Minden, Louisiana will be here to instruct you on how to prepare three different game day appetizers from her new cookbook entitled, The Copper Whisk. You will whip up one of the appetizers to take home to share with your own tailgate crew.
If you would like to purchase a cookbook, Natalie Ducote of Brick and Row Merci Beaucoup Interiors & Gifts will be on hand to sell cookbooks the day of the event.
Sushi Rolling Class
Our Sushi Rolling Class with Chef Shelley Mims of Shelley Elizabeth Catering was so popular this past April we have decided to offer it again this month!
In this hands-on interactive class, Shelley instructs as you learn the art of Japanese Sushi Rolling. You will get to make your own California and Spicy Tuna Rolls. Once you have made your rolls, enjoy a sushi dinner of your hand-made rolls, choice of mango avocado salad with honey ginger dressing or house salad with honey balsamic dressing and green tea ice cream for dessert.
BYOB if desired. Bottled water and tea provided.
*NOTE: There is a 50% non-refundable fee if cancelling within 48 hours of class.
Take Home Sushi Rolling Kit: sushi rolling mat, chop sticks, rice paddle, rice spreader, and printed instructions, tips, and recipe ideas.
Make & Take Charcuterie Workshop
We see beautiful charcuterie boards EVERYWHERE, we enjoy them at events and other people’s homes, but somehow buying all the ingredients, assembling the perfect board, (and pronouncing it correctly) seems out of reach. Join us for a charcuterie workshop where we teach you how to curate your own intentionally designed board.
Olive Oil + Balsamic Vinegar Tasting Class
Grab your best friend, your co-workers, or make it a date night as you join us for Olive Oil + Balsamic Vinegar Tasting Class. This class will explore the basics of what high quality olive oil is all about, how to choose a good olive oil, the health benefits, PLUS balsamic vinegar history, production process, and pairing suggestions, as well as guided tastings, and recipes.
Presented by Bella Nonna's Olive Oils & Vinegars and Natchitoches Picnic Company. Class includes pairings with cheeses and cured meats, fresh baked focaccia bread, caprese salad, and vanilla ice cream with a strawberry balsamic drizzle.
BYOB if desired. Hint: a splash of peach white balsamic or Cara Cara orange white balsamic in a glass of Prosecco is delish!
CLASS SIZE IS LIMITED! REGISTER TODAY!
Pizza Making Class
Learn how to make your own artisan pizza with Chef Gene Cain!
In this hands-on interactive class you will learn how to make pizza dough from scratch, then handcraft it into your own personal artisan-grade margherita or pepperoni pizza topped with the highest quality ingredients such as Yo Mama Pizza Sauce, Bella Nonna’s Olive Oil, mozzarella cheese, garlic, basil, and more!
Make & Take Charcuterie Workshop
We see beautiful charcuterie boards EVERYWHERE, we enjoy them at events and other people’s homes, but somehow buying all the ingredients, assembling the perfect board, (and pronouncing it correctly) seems out of reach. Join us for a charcuterie workshop where we teach you how to curate your own intentionally designed board.
Sushi Making Class
Join us, as Shelley Mims of Shelley Elizabeth Catering instructs as you learn the art of Japanese Sushi Rolling. In this hands on class you will get to make your own California Roll and Spicy Tuna Roll. Also included in your meal is our mango avocado salad with honey ginger dressing or house salad with honey balsamic dressing and green tea ice cream for dessert.
BYOB if desired. Bottled water and tea provided.
*There is a $39 per person non-refundable fee once you have booked your spot.
Take Home Sushi Rolling Kit: sushi rolling mat, chop sticks, rice paddle, rice spreader, and printed instructions, tips, and recipe ideas.
Olive Oil 101 Class
Grab your best friend, your co-workers, or make it a date night as you join us for Olive Oil 101. This class will explore the basics of what high quality olive oil is all about, how to choose a good olive oil, the health benefits, olive oil and balsamic vinegar pairing suggestions, guided tastings, and recipes.
Second Saturday Sip & Stroll
Join us Saturday, November 13 from 6-10 pm in collaboration with Olivier Woodworks for food and drinks as you peruse the gallery and nearby shops. We will be showcasing Chalon Olivier Ahbol’s beautiful charcuterie boards, candle holders, and ice cream caddies, as well as our custom board creations for you to taste.
Meet the Maker: Sweet Southern Heat Jams & Jellies Cynthia Johnson
Natchitoches’ own Pepper Jelly Specialist, Cynthia Johnson, will be at Natchitoches Picnic Company demonstrating all the ways we can use and serve her delicious specialty pepper jellies and jams. There will be coffee and food samples from 10am - 2pm. Come meet Cindy and learn new recipes using Sweet Southern Heat jams and jellies.
Second Saturday Sip & Stroll
Join us Saturday, October 9 from 6-10pm in collaboration with Olivier Woodworks for food and drinks as you peruse the gallery and nearby shops. We will be showcasing Chalon Olivier Ahbol’s beautiful charcuterie boards, candle holders, and ice cream caddies, as well as our custom board creations.
Meet the Maker: Special Reserve Coffee Roaster Donna Anderson
Stop by Natchitoches Picnic Company to meet small batch coffee roaster, Donna Anderson, from Elm Grove, Louisiana. Donna will be giving demonstrations on how to make both cold and hot coffee drinks using coffee concentrate she developed using any of her single origin coffee beans, how to use an AeroPress for an outstanding cup of coffee, and answering any questions you have about these small batch coffees we carry in the Specialty Food Gifts store. There will be plenty of coffee samples and desserts while you shop.
Suzy B Designs Fall Trunk Show
Join us Saturday, August 28 from 2-6pm for Suzy B Designs Fall Trunk Show at Natchitoches Picnic Company. There will be a variety of small bites from our menu for you to taste, drinks, and Suzy B Designs Fall Collection of beautiful handmade custom jewelry.