I lived in Australia for several years and attended many a picnic or BBQ (and, no, there is no "shrimp on the barbie" because they eat prawns!). I noticed that at every outdoor meal, platters and plates of food were covered with mesh domes or tents to keep the pesky flies away.
These food covers are not common in America (on the East Coast, anyway). I find it interesting that in America, the world's most germophobic country (much to the detriment of our collective immunity!), we are pretty cavalier about flies! Of course, exposure to germs and bacteria is essential to building up one's immune system. But flies are downright nasty little critters: they not only transport harmful bacteria but they contaminate your food with eggs and maggots (ewww). So, I say it is time we Americans embrace the mesh food tent for all outdoor eating. These things are so great because they keep out the nasty pests, but you can still see the food underneath. And they are (usually) cheap and portable.
FIRST ROW
1. Mesa Home dome food cover with flip ring from Hayneedle, $59.99
2. Zen Deluxe net plate covers made in Bali. Amazon, $14.35.
3. Inexpensive version from Amazon, costing only $2.79 for a set of 2 (plus shipping).
4. Vintage Shoo Fly screen food cover from early 1900s from Antique Chasers on Ruby Lane, $47.
5. Large Market Umbrella food tent from Sur La Table, $12.99. This one is much bigger than the usual at 24" length x 20" width x 12" height.
SECOND ROW
6 Ming's Mark set of 7 pop-up collapsible mesh food covers plus 4 cup covers (so bigs don't get into your drinks! Pretty cool. Amazon, $25.99.
7 Party America colorful 3-pack from Amazon, $12.99.
8 This one is huge at 4 ft. x 2 ft. it covers an entire picnic table to keep flies, bees, and falling leaves off food. Big enough for large salad bowls, tall pitchers, trays, and all the fixings. Pops open for use, folds for storage. Harriet Carter, $6.50.
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In Africa, they don't have tents, but most people have little mesh doilies that they put on top of the food to discourage flies. I love them! Never bought any, though, because I didn't seem to be able to avoid the "white tax." These are much cheaper!
I remember my mom having these for picnic/bbq foods in the 1960s and 1970s (here in Canada)! I've got to get some of these, 'cause we were invited to a bbq at a friend's house on Canada Day (July 1) and I felt like I spent half my time shooing flies away from the appetizers/snacks. Could have used some of these food covers then!
I need one of these for my entire kitchen. Stupid fruit flies.
Citygirlsf, have you tried drowning them? Leave an open bottle of apple cider vinegar sitting out for a few days; first pour out enough so that there's an inch or two of room at the top. The little buggers love the scent, will fly in and be unable to fly out. It takes a couple days for them all to find it; in the meantime, some of them will be sitting on the neck of the bottle, aparently getting high, but eventually they all succumb. I've used this method several times. When all the fruit flies are floating in the bottle, instead of hovering around it, I pour the vinegar down the garbage disposal while it's running. (This also works with red wine and fruit juice, as I found out the hard way by leaving open bottles sitting on the counter.)
These are pretty common in northern California, and have been for ages. I even bought a nice set at a Target years ago. They are also useful if you want to sun dry fruit, and as covers for baked goods that aren't completely cooled.
Juliska & CityGirlSF -
I pour a tiny bit of red wine into a small bowl or wine glass, cover with cling film, and poke some small holes in the film. The fruit flies are attracted by the smell, and can find there way in, but not get out.
And for those of you with compost service (SF), spray out your compost bin with the hose every week or two. This will help dramatically.
Actually, they're pretty common on the East Coast too. Got a couple of rigid metal mesh domes similar to #1 which date back to my earliest memories (a very long time ago). The dollar stores here usually have the cheapie version (#3) every year.Snagged several a few yrs ago when a huge family gathering was 'relocated' to my house at the last minute. They saved the day but I now consider them *disposable*. Great in a pinch, but if this is something you'll use frequently, invest in something that will stand the test of time. These did not.
I live in Australia and these are an essential! Flies are huge and constant for 6 months of the year (at least!) and they aren't fooled by bowls of red wine ha ha thanks for the post, I really like the hard dome covers
@JULISKA - good tip thanks.
Absolutely essential for both indoors and outdoors! They may not look pretty but damned if I'm going to be a human swatter. Another thing is, buy small round doilies at the thrift store, sew on heavy beads on the outside and you have a weighted doily cover over your drinks - except alcoholic drinks.
Love these (and yes, I'm Australian so am well familiar). But you've missed my favourite type - the balinese bamboo ones. It's not just Aussies that have addressed the need. I bought a beautiful set of 3 on ebay, with a 'plate' of woven bamboo, then a fold out net that comes over the top. They're stylish enough to leave on the counter, or to wow at a 'barbie' (as we call it).
These are similar:
http://lifeisfull.wordpress.com/tag/balinese-food-trays/