The summer is winding down, and school will be starting soon. It’s a great time to take advantage of a slower summer evening to picnic with the family. Chef Justin Brunson—of Masterpiece Delicatessen and Old Major restaurant in Denver—created his ideal picnic sandwich, with options to customize for kiddos and more refined palates. It’s also a great way to use up some of those ripe Palisade peaches hitting the farmers’ market.

“Kids will love the soft, creamy cheese and fruit in this sandwich. The baguette will hold up better than traditional sliced bread. Parents can cut the sandwiches into smaller portions, or make a big one and cut portions throughout the picnic. Bonus: this sandwich pairs equally well with mom and dad’s picnic white wine and kid’s apple juice.” —Justin Brunson

Peachy Picnic Ham & Camembert Sandwich

Courtesy of Justin Brunson

Ingredients:

  • Good quality baguette (Brunson prefers the baguette at Marczyk in Denver, “They make the best in town, but any fresh, crunchy baguette will do.”)
  • MouCo Camembert cheese (or any soft cheese)
  • Sliced deli ham
  • Sliced Colorado peaches (“You can substitute another fruit if you prefer; plums or apples would be another good option.”)
  • PRiMO preserves of any variety (“Although they have spicy ingredients, they are very balanced and don’t come off as “spicy” to the younger palate,” says Brunson)

Instructions:

  • Halve baguette. Layer slices of Camembert on bottom portion of bread. Layer sliced ham on top of cheese. Smear preserves on top half of bread. Layer sliced fruit over preserves. Fold sandwich together, wrap in foil.

Options to Customize

For adults:

  • Add arugula for a peppery kick.
  • Substitute prosciutto instead of ham.

For kids:

  • Substitute PRiMO preserves for a simpler jam.
  • Build the sandwich on a softer bread, like a potato roll.

Megan Forgey

Megan Forgey is a Denver-based freelance writer.