Belgian chocolatier Pierre Marcolini, who was named Best Pastry Chef in the World in 2020, has brought out a new, citrus-themed picnic box set. ‘Tea time in the Citrus Garden’ contains candied grapefruit, lemon and ginger pieces, an apricot-rosemary jam, milk and dark chocolate squares and a bag of lemon amaretti biscuits. Oranges from Valencia, Calabrian bergamot and lemons from Nice enhance the flavour of these deliciously sweet yet tangy treats.
How much meat is enough? How much is too much? These are the perennial questions facing anyone attempting to organise a BBQ or picnic, and they are almost impossible to answer. This generous pack from 44 Foods, however, offers the best of both worlds - priced as if it is going to be too little, but well and truly heaving with enough food to fell even the greediest of BBQ attendees. The meat on offer is also top notch, from superb Angus beef burgers, to delicious thick pork sausages, minted lamb kebabs, chicken kebabs, pork ribs and steaks. Plus a generous portion of marinated chicken wings. All the meat is ethically produced and sustainable. And at £45 it is a genuine steal.
If you are planning something slightly grander than just a picnic, like a weekend getaway to a self-catering cottage or Airbnb, then this box may be the perfect thing to order just before you leave. The Weekend Staycation box is filled with a range of foundational elements for delicious breakfasts, dinners and lunches. Add some potatoes and a simple salad to the fennel and lemon spatchcock chicken for a quick and easy lunch, for example. Or boil up some swede and broccoli to pop on the side of the included chicken, leek and bacon pie. And the corned beef and streaky bacon only need some eggs and toast to make for a brilliant breakfast fry-up. Plus, the included bone-marrow burgers and flat iron steaks are BBQ ready. A summer getaway in a box.
Provisions Wine & Cheese in north London has launched its new picnic hampers which are full of artisan produce as well as organic and natural wines. Available for nationwide delivery, the hamper includes goodies such as organic houmous from Variette in France, organic black olive tapenade from Puglia in Italy, Crottin de Chavignol goats cheese, Comté cheese, smoked ham from Trentino in Italy, pate de campagne from France, a tin of gordal olives, salted Catalan almonds, and bread or crackers. The hamper also includes a bottle of organic wine, with options ranging from Chateau Fontvert rosé, prosecco by Le Spinee, the orange 2016 Mogul by Mas Théo, or red Mas Theo - Ptit Gaby. A hamper for three to four people costs £49 with wine or £35 without wine, and a hamper for four to six people costs £79 with wine or £45 without wine.
5. Ibérica x Estrella Galicia Spanish picnic hamper
Nationwide
Restaurant group Ibérica and beer brand Estrella Galicia are putting on a Spanish fiesta. Available for nationwide delivery and carefully curated by Ibérica’s Michelin-starred chef Nacho Manzano, this picnic hamper is packed full of traditional regional food and celebrates the very best of Spain. Picnickers can indulge in jamon domecq, five carefully selected cheeses, a trio of chorizos, reganas (wafer bread), and four bottles of Estrella Galicia World Lager. The Spanish picnic also includes two Estrella Galicia glasses, a handy bottle opener, beer bottle coolers to keep your drinks fresh and Ibérica’s picnic Jute bag to easily transport your feast.
6. Mandira’s Kitchen Indian picnic in a box for two
Nationwide
The Mandira’s Kitchen Indian picnic box is available for free delivery to anywhere on the UK mainland. Choices include chicken biriyani or vegetable biriyani, plus there’s a selection of veg, lamb and pizza samosas, raita mix (which you need to add to a mini pot of yoghurt), chai mix (to add to boiling water), spiced crackers and mini chutney, mini white chocolate samosas, and mango and cardamom gelato. An Indian tiffin carrier, thermos, serving plates and cutlery are also provided.
There are three options for the Little Picnic Company’s afternoon tea for two: The Classic, The Classic Deluxe, and The Champagne. All picnics include finger sandwiches, savoury and sweet options, and beverages. The Champagne also comes with a bottle of Grand Cru Reserve Brut Champagne Lallier. Each picnic is delivered in a disposable box which also contains quality wooden plates, knives and forks and Duni linen napkins.
This hamper by Not-Another-Bill is perfect for a picnic in the park and can be delivered directly to your home. Customers can choose what to include in their hamper with items such as drinks, cocktails, snacks, sweet treats or savoury delights on offer. It can be packaged in a chic wicker hamper, personalised hessian tote, cute gingham lined basket or a HAY market crate.
If egg and cress sandwiches, uninspiring quiche and a handful of lacklustre crisps leave you cold, then this new genre of picnic fayre from Noble House Prepared can add some finesse to your outside feast. Picnic selections include the savoury picnic box (£75, serves four), the sweet picnic box (£40, serves four) or a deluxe combination of the two (£115, serves four). Please note that the hamper basket is not included in the package.
10. Sofitel London St James luxury picnic and cycling experience
London
Sofitel London St James is offering a luxury picnic experience in St James’s Park prepared by a private butler with the option to use the hotel bicycles for a tour around Hyde Park. The butler will select a private picnic spot in St James’s Park and set up the picnic hamper, which includes a selection of sandwiches, Piedmont salami, English and French cheeses, scones and pastries. A bottle of Baron de Marck champagne complements the picnic. Available until mid-October, booking is required 24 hours in advance through the hotel. Call 02077472200 or email H3144@sofitel.com
The Gail’s picnic selection will bring together some of the bakery’s most popular products, from freshly made sausage rolls and crusty baguettes, to pre-made sandwiches and delicious salad pots. Ensuring that picnic-goers have everything they need for an indulgent day in the park, staples include Cobble Lane cured meats, Goldstein smoked salmon, sausage rolls, parmesan chicken buns, and sweet treats including madeleines, honey cakes and cookies. London collection only.
Panzer’s, London’s original Jewish deli, has a delicious range of hampers for picnic-goers in the capital. Available for delivery within London or for collection from the store in St John’s Wood, the picnic hampers include two deluxe options, hand-sliced smoked salmon (£85) or charcuterie (£85), as well as the classic (£65) and vegetarian (£65). All hampers can be made bespoke.
Supper London is delivering food directly to 13 of the capital’s most popular parks and green spaces. Working with specialist location app, What3Words, precise and easy-to-find pick up points will be available in: Regents Park, Hyde Park, Holland Park, Kensington Gardens, St James’s Park, Green Park, Russell Square, Lincoln Inn Fields, Ranelagh Gardens, Battersea Park, Parsons Green, Shoreditch Park and Primrose Hill. Customers can enjoy food from quality restaurants and food halls including Fortnum & Mason, Nobu and Coya.
Gin fans can enjoy an alfresco tipple (or two) with Pinkster Gin’s three-litre portable gin in a box. The Pinkster on Tap makes more than 100 serves of raspberry-infused gin and is equivalent to just over four regular bottles. The box is made from 100% recyclable packaging.
Recipe: gnocchi di spinaci (spinach gnocchi)
Recipe: chickpea, cavolo nero and harissa stew
Recipe: nasi goreng spicy fried rice
Recipe: pistachio, lemon and coriander seed cake
Recipe: potato & leek soup with garlic croutons by Ian Bursnall
Recipe: cauliflower and potato coconut curry by Ryan Riley
Recipe: muhammara chickpeas by Amelia Christie-Miller
Recipe: root vegetable gratin by Blanche Vaughan
