The Albright Picnic Baskets

You know it's summer in Santa Monica when there's live music playing on the pier and thousands picnicking beside it. Santa Monica's Twilight concert series kicked off this past week with Morris Day & the Time bringing their funk to the beach, and unearthing memories of Prince's 80's pop movie, Purple Rain.

A large crowd of westsiders gathered to enjoy some socializing on the beach with a side of music. Some people bring elaborate food spreads, others just drink, though you'll see many a sign that says no alcohol on the beach. Many don't see that sign, or choose to pay attention to it.

I got to christen the first pier concert by sampling a tricked out picnic basket from The Albright. The Albright is a seafood restaurant with a prime pier location, right next to the band and the action. They're now offering two turnkey picnic baskets to enjoy a pier concert or just to have some easy summer fun.

You'll get a full-on wicker picnic basket, along with a Mexican blanket, stemware, water and your choice of some tasty food options, all designed to serve two people quite well. You can go with the Summer Harvest basket and Mary's farm fried chicken, potato salad, corn and pie - pretty all American. Or there's the Pier Provisions Basket with brown rice and a choice of protein. The salmon was well cooked and served with an addicting arugula pesto. There's also a citrus kale salad, BLT and seasonal panna cotta. The almond butter and homemade fig jam sandwich is finger licking good, but just be sure to eat it first before it loses its luster. S'mores are also a fun way to end the meal sans fire, which also isn't allowed on the beach.

The complete picnic baskets for two are $90, and you do need to return the basket and blanket, but less laundry and storage issues for you later. They'll even deliver to you for an additional cost of $15. Summer picnicking doesn't get much easier than that!

The Albright provided me with a picnic basket for review, but all opinions are always my own.