Recently i was asked to create a picnic for 40 adults with a few children thrown in for good measure. I was excited.

Remember I live in Manchester…Not know for being the sunniest of climates.

Whilst brainstorming for the event it got me thinking about the “Great British Picnic”. You know what it’s like. That one day that comes probably twice or thrice a year… The sun is shining and not a cloud in the sky. We all rush out in a state of hightened hysteria. We buy a desposible bbq, sausages, buns, bread and in my case lots and lots of hoummous! We get out our musty picnic blankets and head for any green and open space. We take a frisbee, bat and balls, the papers and then….we fry our selves silly in the sunshine. We drink too much, we look like lobsters. And before you know it, its over. But we don’t care because we are British and that’s what we are supposed to do?!

Not this time, I wanted something with a little forethought.

After a consultation with my client I created (And then taste tested. See above picture for my “Test” pies) a menu designed specifically for them, they wanted:

Chicken and chorizo stuffing pie. I made a mixture of big hearty ones to serve 10 and also mini ones for one.
Pressed Sandwiches on amazing Barbakan Bakery ciabatta. They chose bacon, cranberry, brie and spinach; and mozerella, roasted pepper, basil and pesto.
Tabouleh salad.

All packaged up, easy for a day in the park

For the kids I made a “Hungry Caterpillar” sandwich board and some fruit skewers.

After making it and packaging it up for them, I was a little nervous about the weather…And you know what Manchester did them proud. Not a cloud in the sky.

Yes This is Manchester!!……Now where’s the sun cream???