There is a particular kind of afternoon that only a British garden party can produce: bunting that may or may not survive the breeze, a table groaning under more food than anyone strictly needs, and a general consensus that this was, in fact, a wonderful idea. At Forman & Field, we think a garden party deserves the same care as any other celebration, just with rather more room to spread out. Canapés that don’t wilt in the sun, a cheeseboard worth lingering over, and a glass of something cold within easy reach. Here is what we believe belongs on the garden party table this summer, and how we intend to lay it all out.
What canapés work best for a garden party?
The best garden party food is the kind guests can eat standing up, glass in hand, without a second thought. Our Smoked Salmon Blini Kit & Kaboodle is exactly that: blinis, salmon and crème fraîche, assembled in moments and gone even quicker. Marinated Anchovies With Olives brings a little more polish for the same effort, while a tin of Cheese Straws offers the sort of crisp, buttery bite that disappears within the first ten minutes. For something more substantial, our Arancini Balls, available in squash and stilton, smoked haddock kedgeree, and wild mushroom & tarragon, and our Smoked Salmon Croquettes anchor the table nicely between the lighter bites.
What should go on a garden party cheeseboard?
A garden party without a cheeseboard feels like an oversight, and there is something rather lovely about cheese eaten outdoors. Build your own with Tunworth, a soft, baked camembert-style cheese that only improves in the sun, Cropwell Bishop Stilton for proper depth, and Montgomery’s Farmhouse Cheddar for something firmer and more traditional. Our full Cheese range has plenty more to choose from, whatever your table needs.
For those who’d rather not curate their own board, we have a curated option for you. Our British Artisan Cheese Box brings together a well-balanced selection of British cheeses in one go, while the Cheese & Chutney Box for Two is a neat, ready-made option for smaller gatherings. Round it out with Seeded Crackers and something to spread alongside, our Radnor Smoky Campfire Marmalade, gold-medal winning and rather good with blue cheese, or the Date, Apple and Ginger Chutney for something a little sweeter, and the cheeseboard becomes the table’s quiet high point.
What charcuteries and salads suit a garden party spread?
The finest garden party spreads balance rich and fresh in equal measure. Our Artisan British Charcuterie Platter, featuring Monmouthshire air-dried ham, fennel salami and duck pastrami, gives guests plenty to graze on, all from free-range, traditional breed livestock. Alongside it, fresh, colourful salads bring balance to the table. Our Celeriac Waldorf Salad offers crunch and freshness that cuts through richer charcuterie beautifully, while the Roasted Heritage Beetroot, Smoked Mozzarella & Caramelised Pear Salad adds colour and a touch of sweetness. For something a little more substantial, the Butternut Squash, Charred Courgettes and Blue Cheese Salad pairs particularly well with cured meats and cold poultry.
What should I drink at a garden party?
A garden party calls for bottles that feel like an occasion without demanding too much ceremony. Our Sparkling Wine range, including the Court Garden Classic Cuvée Brut, suits the first hour rather well. At the same time, our Rosé Wine selection, among them Balfour Nannette’s Rosé, carries the afternoon on into early evening. For those who prefer something with a little more amber to it, our Artisan Beer Selection suits the charcuterie and cheese particularly well, and our Fine English Wines case, personally selected by Lance Forman, takes care of everyone in between.
What desserts belong at a garden party?
Garden party puddings should be easy to pass round and impossible to say no to. Our Macaroons, light, gluten-free and made to order, bring colour and lightness to the table, while our Handmade Petits Fours offer something a little more refined to go with coffee. For a proper finish, the Casspea Hand-Painted Chocolates add an elegant note to close out the afternoon, and our Puddings range has plenty more where that came from, should the party run on, as the best ones tend to.
Because in the end, a garden party isn’t about the garden at all. It’s about good food, good company, and the shared understanding that nobody is going inside until the bottle’s finished.