Anybody fancy a picnic?
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There is no denying that us Brits love a picnic, why wouldn’t we? Idyllic summers day, wild flower meadow, lazy feet paddling in a stream as we sip chilled fizz & nibble on canapes… this is what we aim for....
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Reality, a soggy s/w & a pack of Walkers in the park, a predictable light drizzle, sun pops out… so do the wasps, someone always gets stung or nettled; but we go home happy, full to brimming with nostalgic memories & Greggs sausage rolls; https://www.greggs.co.uk our hampers - read plastic carrier bag - stuffed with empty wrappers & cans & a checked picnic blanket with some dubious looking stains on…
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height="50px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid"][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text]National Picnic Week - https://www.nationalpicnicweek.co.uk - 18th– 26th June, coincides with the summer solstice, 21st June, the longest day for the northern hemisphere & the official start of British summer time. A recent YouGov poll discovered that picnicking is the 3rd most popular of ‘activities undertaken in green & natural spaces’, so where do we like to picnic? Research carried out by Hello Fresh in 2021 analysed the number of Instagram posts for 22 of the most popular picnic spots in Britain, discovering over half were located in the south of England (Via You Magazine).[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="20px"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2" css=".vc_custom_1653575613146{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: #168679 !important;}"][vc_column_text]
Overall top spot was not green & pleasant but instead beige & stony: Brighton Beach achieved 834,000 posts, Little Venice, London was next followed by Seven Sisters Cliffs in East Sussex, Hampstead Heath & Primrose Hill. We also love Chatsworth, New Forest National Park, the Fairy Pools on Isle of Skye, Wye Valley, Tatton Park & Corfe Castle to name just a few.
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Over recent years our picnic food choices have really upped their game, hummus, falafel & sushi are as likely to be found in our picnic hampers alongside the more traditional fare of sandwiches, sausage rolls & Scotch eggs (One Poll survey, commissioned by Warburtons). However 58% believe that sandwiches will always be included as a picnic staple.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=".vc_custom_1653579904489{background-color: #168679 !important;}"][vc_column_inner width="5/6" css=".vc_custom_1653576377791{padding-top: 20px !important;}"][vc_empty_space height="40px"][vc_column_text]with statistics from a Censuswide survey in 2020 citing tuna mayo as the favoured filling followed by cheese & ham & egg mayo. Crisps are also considered a must-have along with fresh fruit. Sweet treats such as brownies, cookies & doughnuts have replaced traditional desserts items such as fruit cake, jellies & lollies. When it comes to a picnic, Eton Mess always springs to mind, the glorious combination of crushed meringue & strawberries bound with whipped cream, hurray to Baileys this year, https://www.baileys.com/en-gb/ for giving us its very own liquid version, saves all that ‘mess’ing about & squashing things![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/6"][vc_single_image image="6941" img_size="medium" alignment="center" css=".vc_custom_1656340838197{padding-top: 15px !important;padding-right: 15px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;padding-left: 15px !important;}"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height="50px"][vc_column_text]
When in Eton… fancy a posh picnic made to order? What better place to head than the Runnymede Hotel, on the bank of the river Thames. With a choice of 3 picnic baskets: smoked salmon, lemon & dill crème fraiche finger s/w’s, watermelon, feta & mint salad, Gala Pie & salted caramel & passion fruit macaroons, sparkling water or champagne; not such a difficult choice!
https://www.runnymedehotel.com/food-drink/picnics/
Down in Dorset? Head to the King’s Arms (Harbour Hotels), Christchurch, where you’ll be offered either a luxury full sized hamper or a picnic back pack suitable if you’re walking or cycling, great idea!
https://www.harbourhotels.co.uk/kings-arms/see-and-do/have-a-luxury-picnic
Sustainably packed into a hessian bag, full of locally sourced goodies? Thank you to Chef Jake Lawrence of the Crown & Castle, nr Oxford who is offering a ‘Taste of Orford Picnic Hamper’
https://crownandcastle.co.uk/dine/share-a-taste-of-orford/
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Ready-Made Retail Picnic Platters
Pret - https://www.pret.co.uk/en-GB - Pret has launched 3 brand new picnic platters this summer, including a humous & crudités platter, a ploughman’s platter & a smoked salmon & avocado platter, available to be ordered for delivery from selected shops via Deliveroo, Just Eat & Uber Eats. They have also launched a variety of lunch bundles: the classic for 8 includes 4 baguettes, 2 sandwiches, 2 salads, 8 bags of crisps & fruit, £60.
Subway - https://www.subway.com/en-gb - The s/w artists will create freshly prepared platters of their iconic subs, 16 of them! Plus salads, crisps, sweet treats & drinks can also be ordered. Available for delivery or collection, starting from £20.
Morrisons - https://my.morrisons.com/foodtoorder/product/morrisons-adult-picnic-platter-for-two/111291672 - Have an Adult Picnic Platter for Two @ £10.00 Includes hand prepared jam & cream scones, ham & tuna, sweetcorn sandwiches, mini pork pies, cherry Bakewell, fresh strawberries, quiche Lorraine & fresh Salad; available from 18th June.
At M&S it’s not just any picnic it’s M&S Picnic Perfection…
https://www.marksandspencer.com/c/food-to-order/adventures-in-food/picnic-planning
As ever M&S have come up with everything we might need for the ‘tastiest picnic ever’. One Poll told us that Scotch eggs are still a thing, M&S have vamped up there’s with a Coronation chicken version & a Spanish inspired one with chorizo & red onion chutney; continuing the worldwide theme they also have a middle-eastern inspired lamb shawarma hummus delicious served with aromatic flatbreads or a Provencal veggie tart, as well as a vibrantly colourful selection of bento boxes with sweet chilli chicken & sesame prawns, & sushi style wraps including a veggie miso-roasted sweet potato with pickled red cabbage.
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Things we might like to find in our picnic basket…
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The Pret A Manger pole & line caught tuna mayo & cucumber baguette for starters. Something ‘crispy’? @wearehipchips
‘re-inventing the crisp & dip concept’, using only British grown heritage potatoes sourced from LEAF Marque certified farms & cooked in small batches, sound pretty good.
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Perhaps a pack or two of Cheesies, winner of Great Taste awards @snackcheesies.
Cheesies turn a block of cheese into an outrageously tasty, crunchy snack just by baking it. Literally made from 100% cheese with nothing else added at all!Both available from selected Sainsbury’s.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="20px"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="6946" img_size="medium" alignment="center"][vc_empty_space height="20px"][vc_column_text]
Sausage roll anyone? Tesco Finest Chorizo & pork sausage roll or a Higgidy porcini mushroom & spinach vegan roll. Crudités with a tub of Leon ‘velvet hummus’ & a pot of Aldi’s specially selected Nocellara olives at £1.59.
Something sweet, a taste of summer? Gu’s strawberry & clotted cream cheesecake looks pretty delicious!
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Or maybe a whole hamper full of HappyMallows! @happymallows
In an excerpt from their website "The aim was, is and simply always will be to deliver a marshmallow experience truly like no other for our Happy Mallowers to enjoy. We do 'Gourmet' in a fun way!"
Who doesn't love food that makes you happy?[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="20px"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="6948" img_size="medium" alignment="center"][vc_empty_space height="20px"][vc_column_text]
To wash it all down? The drink with a ZING! All natural, low calorie, vegan with refreshingly different flavours that lift the spirit. No added sugar, great taste, Nix & Kix @nixandkix sparkling watermelon & hibiscus will quench your thirst, available from Holland & Barrett.
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Or a chilled, if possible, please (fishing net propped in the stream works!) can of Savylls G&T. Whether a wicker hamper, cool box or carrier bag; beach or park, s/w’s or mini kebabs, our one last top tip… pack an umbrella… & maybe the sting spray too!
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We asked our good friends at Good Sense Research to do a poll on what people’s favourite food item to pack at a picnic was and here’s what people said:
| Item | Percentage |
| Sandwiches | 45% |
| Crisps | 16% |
| Sausage Rolls | 9% |
| Fruit | 7% |
| Quiche | 7% |
| Scotch Eggs | 5% |
| Pork Pie | 5% |
| Cakes | 5% |
| Jelly | 1% |
| Biscuits | 1% |
| Total - 367 | |
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Need inspiration developing your alfresco offerings? Get in touch we’d love to help you out & can offer years of experience & expertise in menu planning & development from our talented NPD team here at Food Innovation Solutions, coupled with both qualitative & quantitative research conducted by our Sister Company, Good Sense.
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