Aubergine Caviar
Great Ideas For Summer Picnics
Despite the unpredictability of the British summertime, it remains one of the best loved times of the year in the whole country. And whether you’re watching Wimbledon from a crowded Henman Hill or you’re nestled in the seclusion of your back garden, summer picnics are almost guaranteed to feature on your list of things to do over the season.
But what do you do once you’ve grown tired of cucumber sandwiches and Pimms with lemonade? However much you might love traditional British picnic food, it’s important to vary your al fresco menu to ensure that your picnics remain fresh and exciting. Here are few ideas on how to diversify your picnic basket.
Look Overseas For Inspiration
Britain isn’t the only country that loves a good picnic, so rest assured that you’ll find plenty of inspiration on what to put in your basket from other nations. For instance, why not try an Italian themed picnic? Italian cuisine might be best known for its hearty pastas and delicious pizzas, but its cured meats, cheeses and breads make the ideal picnic menu. Fill your empty hamper up with ciabatta, focaccia, prosciutto, Parma ham, gorgonzola, mozzarella and some grated parmigiana and let everyone make up their own Italian sandwiches. If you want to feature something a bit more substantial, try slices of cold pizza or arancini, delicious fried rice balls filled with ragu, tomato sauce and mozzarella.
Alternatively, add some spice to your picnics with a Middle Eastern-themed outdoor dining experience. Pack up some pita and flat breads along with a range of dips like hummus, tahini, baba ghanoush (roasted aubergine dip) or garlic yoghurt sauce. And if you’ve got children, a fun picnic idea might be to let them make their own kebabs. All you need for this will be flat breads, a selection of salad and shredded lettuce, leftover chicken or lamb and some chilli sauce. You and your kids will have a great time putting them together, they’ll taste delicious and you won’t even need to pack cutlery.
Go Gourmet For A Day
Most picnics tend to be homely, down-to-earth affairs but that doesn’t always have to be the case. If you’re holding a picnic for a special occasion, why not up scale and go gourmet? Possible options for a gourmet picnic basket include smoked salmon, caviar, blinis and most importantly a bottle of champagne.
If you want to be truly extravagant, you don’t even have to make your picnic basket yourself. Many Gourmet Shops, boutiques and websites let you buy hampers for picnics that are chocked full of upper-class treats, so all you’ll need are plates, glasses, knives and forks. These ready-made baskets make great gift hampers too, so could be the ideal birthday or wedding present if you’re stuck for ideas over summer.
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Gordon Ramsay – Aubergine caviar
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