Picnic for a good cause at Mandarin Oriental New York

As the days get longer and more temperate in the Big Apple, there's hardly a finer dining room than Central Park – coincidentally located right outside of the Mandarin Oriental – and guests who would like to take their meals on its lawns and benches can choose from two exclusively designed 'Edible Schoolyard' picnic menus. The Gourmet Picnic, created by Chef Waters, highlights local flavours with casual sophistication in dishes like 'Four Story Hill Grilled Quail with Thyme' and 'Pizza Bianca and Fresh Summer Fruit', whereas the Mandarin Oriental Classic Picnic was designed by the hotel's head chef Toni Robertson, touting an Asian twist in 'Bah Mi Rolls with Roasted Pork' and 'Green Tea Mascarpone Cake with Fresh Berries', among others. The baskets, available to guests through the In-Room Dining Menu or the A La Carte services webpage, come with environmentally friendly tableware and, when possible, ingredients from the region.