|  |  | The Perfect Picnic shouldn’t travel miles |
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This weeks featureAs Autumn approaches and summer wanes there will still be some glorious days ahead, and what better than a picnic?
The North West Farm Tourism Initiative says the perfect picnic is based on locally sourced food and drink and that picnickers should make sure their outdoor feast doesn’t travel as many miles as they do.
Picnic food is best sourced from the local area in which the event will take place, allowing the party to experience the regional tastes, cultural twists and culinary delights served up in that neck of the woods. It can be ordered prior to arrival from a local picnic specialist, such as Savin Hill, in Cumbria, (www.savinhill.co.uk) or put together on location by visiting a farm shop or local farmers market.
Doing away with pizza, processed meats and insecticide treated fruit immediately creates a nutritious, fresh-tasting picnic. The next step is to seek out unique local dishes and treats that draw their inspiration from the farm animals, fields and orchards of your chosen picnic area. |
Make a picnic better... |
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Savin Hill, for example, will always offer something delightful and out of the ordinary, be that a pie filled with steak and damson or pork and gooseberry, sausages based upon the farm’s own award-winning meats, or exquisite bottled damsons.
This certainly beats sweaty cheese, warm yogurts and curled up sandwiches that have not travelled well in a hot and steamy boot. It is also a refreshing reminder that finger-food can still be enjoyed without succumbing to artificial flavourings and additive packed fast food.
80% of consumers have told the NWFTI they believe farm food beats fast food all hands down and there is no better time to demonstrate this than whilst on a picnic, as Savin Hill’s testimonials and a
nomination as a Local Food Hero 2006 show. |
Buy local... |
If sausages are your passion, go for those produced by local farmers who can trace the ingredients from field to finger. At Fairfield Farm, in Clayton-le-Dale, over forty varieties of sausage are available, from traditional pork, to Gunk-free (just pork, salt and pepper). More exotic choices include semi-cured Toulouse, an Italian variety with fennel seed inspired by an Italian neighbour, and Boerwars - a sausage incorporating cloves and roasted coriander seeds, created for a South African customer.
Little touches also make all the difference with pickles and spreads being literally something to relish whilst dining al fresco. UK Farm Retailer of the Year (2005), Low Sizergh Barn, based near Kendal, offers a wide selection of wonderful condiments that perfectly accompany meats, fish and fruit. |
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Hawkshead Relish is always a winner, as are Demels unique chutneys, but a visit to the cheese counter will also not disappoint. This boasts such delights as Organic Kendal Crumbly with Red Onion, a golden brie called Keldthwaite Told, an annatto-coloured soft blue cheese named Blacksticks Blue and Katy’s Lavender – a ewe’s mild cheese with a delicate hint of lavender. All of these will certainly add a kick to your outdoor feast. |
Keeping it simple and not overcomplicating the flavours within the picnic basket is good advice, which is why it can be advantageous to have your hamper prepared for you by experts. If you do wish to do it yourself, tap into local knowledge. The beauty of farm shops and farmers markets is that the food is reared by the people behind the counter, so nobody is better served to give you advice on what foods will complement each other. |
Buy fresh... |
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most refreshing... |
It’s then just a case of picking your spot and following a few ground rules which are:
• Remember the ground may be damp or uneven. Take along a good rug or groundsheet.
• Ask the farmer to recommend good picnic spots, whilst you are buying your food.
• Respect the countryside and take all rubbish home. Close farm gates and do not trespass.
• Bear in mind that summer drink driving is a no-no and a few innocent glasses of wine enjoyed in the sunshine can soon push you over the limit. Spoil yourself instead with a delight such as home-made lemonade, or fresh fruit juices squeezed from fruits grown on the farm. |
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