There’s a particular satisfaction in peering inside someone else’s picnic basket, especially when that someone happens to know rather a lot about good food. Lance Forman has spent a lifetime around a smokehouse, and it shows in what he packs for an afternoon outdoors. Nothing here requires a plate, a knife, or much patience, just a rug, some good company, and a basket worth unpacking slowly. Here is what we found inside.
What spreads belong in a proper picnic basket?
Every good picnic begins with something to gather around. Lance’s favourites are the crisp Mel-bagel Toasts, essentially a Brick Lane bagel transformed into a light, crisp melba toast, piled high with the Whitefish Salad, made with hot-smoked Wild River Tweed sea trout in the New York deli tradition. Alongside it, the Tuna Salad Sandwich Filling, made from sustainably caught yellow-fin tuna with capers and a sherry vinegar tang, offers something wonderfully fresh. The rich Smoked Salmon Pâté delivers exactly the sort of indulgence that encourages guests to linger long after the gathering was supposed to end. Add a chilled bottle and good company, and the picnic is already off to an excellent start.
What finger food should go in the basket?
No proper British picnic would be complete without a Scotch egg, and Lance firmly believes one variety is never enough. The Homemade Scotch Eggs come in several guises, including a fish and lobster version that brings a distinctly luxurious twist to the classic. For something equally moreish, Arancini Balls, made in three styles including a wild mushroom and tarragon variety, add a little variety to the basket. They are the sort of picnic food designed to be passed around casually and reached for repeatedly.
What should you finish the picnic with?
A picnic should always end on a sweet note, preferably one that requires nothing more than a spoon. The Sherry Trifle in a Pot, layered with raspberries, cream and sponge in its own glass jar, feels wonderfully British in the very best way. If you tend to lean more towards the indulgent, the Valrhona Chocolate & Salted Caramel Pots, with their gooey parfait core and peanut brittle topping, are the safest bet. However, if the aim is a dessert that simply can’t be skipped, the Luxurious Chocolate Brownie Loaf, made gluten-free with 55% cocoa dark chocolate, is perfect. Easy to transport, and even easier to enjoy.