If you've been experiencing the same weather as us - rain, wind, and more rain - it might seem hard to imagine going for a picnic. But as it's International Picnic Day, we can at least hope for a sunny spell and make the preparations necessary for the ultimate picnic. Great British Chefs, blogger Monica Shaw, has her fingers crossed for good weather & asks what goes into the ultimate picnic?
Blog post for Great British Chefs by Monica Shaw
The Picnic "Basket"
Wicker baskets and fine china may have romantic allure, but they aren't terribly practical. I recommend a good cooler bag - my sister has an insulated picnic "backpack" kitted out with plates, cutlery, little wine glasses - the works. It's brilliant. Disposable plates, cups and cutlery have convenience appeal, but they're not very eco. You can, however, buy hard disposable plates made of palm leaf or bamboo that are biodegradable and much more pleasant to eat off of than their plastic or polystyrene counterparts.
Whatever the inconvenience, I always bring proper cutlery. Good food should be eaten with good tools.
The Picnic Blanket
Here again, the classic woollen blanket has romantic appeal, but if there's any latent water hiding under the grass (a very realistic possibility in the UK) it will soak up into the picnic blanket and make for a very soggy experience. I have a picnic blanket with a waterproof bottom and it's the best thing ever. I can't count how many times I've been glad to have it.
The Food
You need to pack things that travel well and are inherently delicious. Sometimes all it takes is a baguette and some good cheese to make a perfectly satisfying picnic lunch (I enjoyed many such lunches on a recent bike ride in France). In fact, there's something delightful about taking a bunch of bits and pieces and assembling lunch on the fly right on the picnic blanket. In which case, stock up on some good nibbles and sandwich accoutrements like olives, pickles, marinated vegetables, chutney, pate and so on.
Salads are great on a picnic, but opt for salads that do well after sitting around in their dressing for a bit - coleslaw is perfect, as are salads based on good hearty vegetables such as Simon Hulstone's beetroot salad recipe or Martin Wishart's fennel salad.
If you're having a BBQ, leftover grilled veggies make a terrific picnic salad - particularly grilled courgette and aubergine. I tend to avoid salads with a mayonnaise-based dressing as there's something I find unpleasant about a mayo salad that's been left to go warm in the sun.
If you must have a green salad, bring the dressing on the side and toss it when you get to the picnic.
For heartier salads, use pasta, grains and beans to make salad the meal in itself. Tabbouleh is great for picnics, and for that matter, so is pita bread, hummus and veggies.
Tarts and quiches are very handy for picnics as they hold their shape nicely and are low mess. Nathan Outlaw's Crab and Cheddar Tart is a prime contender, as is Shaun Rankin's asparagus tart with blue cheese and caramelised onions.
For sweets, I'm a big fan of simple fair like fresh fruit, especially strawberries and watermelon. But you can always make things ahead like brownies, cake or homemade jaffa cakes for a bit of fun.
In addition to that ice cold bottle of Prosecco, don't forget lots of water and cups to drink everything from. Also, don't forget napkins and bags for your rubbish.
And as with all things in life, always bring good bread.
Blog post for Great British Chefs by Monica Shaw
For more picnic recipes, check out our Great British Chefs' full collection of Summer Recipes. What would you put in the ultimate picnic? Let us know on Great British Chefs Facebook Page.
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