Greek May Picnic – a simple idea for a BBQ and shared table

May picnic is usually that time when we want to eat something delicious, but without spending half a day in the kitchen. Grilling should be a pleasure, not a logistical project. The problem is that very often it ends up with the same flavors, the same side dishes, and a table that looks decent but offers no surprises.

A Greek May picnic is a simple way to do something a little different, but still without complications. You don't have to build an entire menu from scratch. Sometimes, a few well-chosen products are enough to put on the table alongside grilled vegetables, meat, or bread.

In this post, we'll show you how to create a Greek atmosphere for your May picnic, what's truly worth serving, how to combine specific products, and how not to overdo it. At the end, you'll also find a quick cheat sheet that's easy to remember before shopping.

Table of Contents

• What is a Greek May Picnic?
• What makes up a Greek BBQ table?
• Why sides make a bigger difference than you think
• How to serve a Greek-style BBQ set
• What to combine feta, olives, olive oil, and chutney with
• Greek curiosities about May picnics and grilling
• Common mistakes with Greek-style grilling
• Cheat sheet for the end: a quick list for a Greek May picnic

What is a Greek May Picnic?

A Greek May picnic doesn't mean you have to prepare a grand feast or recreate restaurant menus. It's more about the serving style and the selection of flavors.

In practice, this means:

• a few good side dishes instead of ten random ones
• products for sharing
• simple combinations that go well with grilled food
• a Mediterranean character, but without exaggeration or excess

A Greek table works well when you can:

• place everything in the center,
• cut, serve, and mix without instructions,
• combine products depending on what's just come off the grill.

That's why a ready-made BBQ set from Spitiko makes sense: it contains side dishes that can be used in several ways and don't require complicated preparation. The set description includes PDO feta from sheep's milk, a mix of olives, pita, extra virgin olive oil, and onion chutney.

Tip: If you're grilling for 4–6 people, don't try to do everything. It's better to focus on 1–2 items from the grill and 4–5 side dishes that build the whole table.

What makes up a Greek BBQ table?

A good Greek table for a May picnic doesn't have to be large. It's important for it to be coherent. The Spitiko set contains ingredients that naturally complement each other.

1. Feta

Feta PDO Papathanasiou is a cheese with a PDO designation, and the product description states that it is made from sheep's milk and comes from Greece. It crumbles well, is suitable for salads, cheese boards, and serving with olive oil.

2. Olives

Filema Olive Mix combines green and Kalamon olives. It's a ready-to-serve snack that you simply put in a bowl.

3. Extra virgin olive oil

Filema extra virgin olive oil has a simple composition: 100% extra virgin olive oil. It's perfect for salads, bread, marinades, and as a finishing touch for cooked dishes.

4. Onion chutney

Glikaki Onion Chutney is a savory accompaniment for cheeses, burgers, roasted vegetables, and grilled dishes. According to the product description, it is a sugar-free product.

5. Pita

The set description also includes classic pita 17 cm – 10 pieces, which you can heat on the grill or in a dry pan.

Note: A Greek table doesn't need many sauces. Often, good olive oil, cheese, olives, and one stronger condiment, like chutney, are enough.

Why sides make a bigger difference than you think

When grilling, most people focus on the main item: meat, sausage, halloumi, or vegetables. However, it's the side dishes that determine whether the plate is just acceptable or truly delicious.

What do good side dishes do?

• They cut through the richness and heaviness of grilled dishes.
• They provide contrast: salty, fresh, savory, olive-y.
• They allow everyone to assemble their plate to their liking.
• They look good on the table with minimal effort.

Example of a simple arrangement

Let's say you're grilling:

• pork neck or skewers,
• zucchini and bell peppers,
• bread or pita.

To this, you add:

• crumbled feta with olive oil,
• olives in a small bowl,
• onion chutney for meats and vegetables,
• pita warmed on the grill,
• olive oil for drizzling over the finished ingredients.

And suddenly, you don't have a regular BBQ, but a fuller, more refined table.

See the ready-made Spitiko BBQ set – it's a convenient starting point for a Greek-style May picnic, without having to assemble everything separately.

How to serve a Greek-style BBQ set

The best thing about such a set is that you don't have to complicate things. Simplicity is key.

Option 1: Sharing table

This works well for gatherings with friends or family.

Serve:

• feta in a larger piece or crumbled,
• olives in 1–2 small bowls,
• chutney in a small dish,
• pita lightly warmed and cut,
• olive oil in a small bowl or drizzled over the feta.

Option 2: Sides for a grilled plate

This works if everyone takes their food separately.

On the plate:

• grilled vegetables,
• a piece of meat or cheese,
• a spoonful of chutney,
• some feta,
• a few olives,
• pita on the side,
• a few drops of olive oil at the end.

Option 3: Quick mezze before the BBQ

Good for when guests have arrived but the grill is still heating up.

To start:

• olives,
• feta,
• pita,
• olive oil,
• chutney.

This is enough to bring the table to life before the grilled items arrive.

Tip: Pita should be heated briefly, just for a moment. It should be warm and flexible, not dry.

What to combine feta, olives, olive oil, and chutney with

This is the most important part, because many people buy good products but then don't use them to their full potential.

Feta

PDO Feta goes well with:

• tomatoes and cucumber,
• roasted peppers,
• pita,
• olives,
• a few drops of extra virgin olive oil.

Olives

Filema Olive Mix can be served:

• as a ready snack,
• alongside feta and bread,
• in a salad,
• on a platter of BBQ sides.

Olive oil

Filema extra virgin olive oil is good for:

• drizzling over cooked vegetables,
• salads,
• bread,
• simple marinades with lemon and herbs.

Onion chutney

Glikaki Chutney is worth combining with:

• grilled meat,
• roasted potatoes,
• burgers,
• cheeses,
• pita and appetizer platter.

3 simple combinations for a May picnic

1. Classic

feta + olives + pita + olive oil

2. For meat

grilled meat + onion chutney + pita + olives

3. Lighter

grilled zucchini and bell pepper + feta + olive oil + a few olives

Note: Don't drown everything in olive oil and don't add too many flavors at once. In Greek style, the rule usually is: less, but meaningful.

Greek curiosities about May picnics and grilling

Here it's worth separating two things: May picnic as the beginning of May and grilling as an element of Greek food culture.

May 1st in Greece is not just a holiday

In Greece, May 1st is Protomagia – a holiday associated with both the beginning of spring and International Workers' Day. On this day, trips out of town, picnics, and weaving flower wreaths to hang on doors are popular.

This is an interesting lead for your May picnic: the Greek atmosphere is not just about grilling itself, but also about a relaxed table, fresh air, simple food, and sharing it with others. This is quite similar to a Polish May picnic.

Greece also has its own very "grilling" holiday

In Greek tradition, there is Tsiknopempti, a day associated with grilling meat before Lent. The name itself comes from the smell of smoke and grilled food, and the custom has a very communal character.

This is not a May holiday, so it's not worth confusing it with Protomagia. But as a curiosity, it shows that grilling and shared meals are natural and deeply rooted culturally in Greece.

What can you take from this?

• a shared table,
• simple ingredients,
• good side dishes,
• food that can be taken in small portions,
• less stress, more freedom.

Common mistakes with Greek-style grilling

• Too many products at once – the table becomes chaotic.
• Lack of flavor contrast – just meat and bread is not enough.
• Drying out the pita – it just needs to be warmed.
• Serving everything straight from the packaging – even good products lose their effect.
• Too many sauces – chutney and olive oil are often truly sufficient.
• Lack of freshness – it's good to add at least a tomato, cucumber, or lemon.
• Buying sides separately without a plan – then it's easy to overpay and end up with random items.

Cheat sheet for the end: a quick list for a Greek May picnic

If you want to have a Greek May picnic without chaos, remember this simple arrangement:

Base

• something from the grill: meat, vegetables, or cheese

Side dishes

• feta
• olives
• pita
• extra virgin olive oil
• chutney

Optional

• tomatoes
• cucumber
• lemon
• oregano

Serving method

• 2–3 small bowls
• 1 board or larger plate
• products for sharing
• minimum cooking, maximum assembling as you go

Mental checklist before the May picnic

• Do I have something salty?
• Do I have something to drizzle?
• Do I have something to break up the flavor?
• Do I have something to "scoop up" sides from the plate?

If you answer "yes" to these four questions, your table will most likely work.

Summary

A Greek May picnic is not about a complicated menu, but about a good selection of products and a simple serving style. Instead of making ten side dishes, it's better to choose a few things that really complement each other: feta, olives, olive oil, pita, and chutney. This arrangement works well with meat, vegetables, and a casual gathering around the table.

To start, a ready-made base and a touch of your own style are enough. If you want to do it quickly and coherently, check out the Spitiko BBQ set and build your version of a Greek May picnic from it.