Nut-Free Chinese Menu for a Picnic

Overview

A nut-free chinese picnic is a specific brief with specific answers. Nut-free entertaining matters when there is a genuine allergy in the room — not a preference. That means reading labels on every product, keeping surfaces clean, and avoiding "may contain nuts" packaging entirely. Combined with a chinese approach, you get a menu that: family-style scales perfectly; dim sum format for cocktail parties.

What to Avoid

• tree nuts
• peanuts
• traces

Menu Ideas

The following dishes from chinese cooking work well for this combination:

• har gow — Note: avoid tree nuts and peanuts in preparation.
• char siu — Naturally compatible with nut-free requirements.
• mapo tofu — Naturally compatible with nut-free requirements.

Drinks Pairing

Rosé, lemonade, sparkling water. For nut-free guests, verify all drinks are compatible — particularly wines (some contain dairy-based fining agents) and cocktails with cream liqueurs.

Quantity Guide

For a picnic of 4–20 people: plan $12–$35 per head for food, which should comfortably cover a two-course meal or a substantial buffet. For exact piece counts, use the Portion Calculator.

Make-Ahead Notes

Chinese food for a picnic responds well to advance preparation. I would schedule two cooking sessions: one 2–3 days before the event for any braises, sauces, or baked elements; one the morning of the event for final seasoning, garnishes, and anything that needs a fresh component.