The Perfect Picnic
I’m sure you can imagine my delight at being selected as one of the bloggers to work with Wayfair this year as part of their Home Experts programme.
Not only does this satisfy my love of all things home and design but I also get to share inspiration and ideas from a company with products that I absolutely love.
You may remember that I turned to Wayfair for some products last year for our new loft bedroom. I always manage to find something just that little bit different.
So when I was tasked with styling a picnic hamper by adding our favourite food and drink to create a perfect picnic experience, I was thrilled.
We love our picnics in the Not Just The 3 of Us household and I’ve always secretly hankered after something a bit more stylish and sophisticated than our usual plastic picnic set and carrier bag scenario.
There is nothing worse than rolling up to the races and sitting next to the family with the full works and not a plastic knife and fork in sight!
Not any more!
I was given the opportunity to choose a picnic basket from the fabulous selection available on the Wayfair website.
Spoilt for choice with the wonderful selection on offer, I narrowed my selection down by practicality, number of covers and good quality tableware. My choice was the Coast 4 Person Picnic Basket (food and drink not included!)
In terms of the fabric, I rather liked the nautical style of this hamper and given that we spend a fair amount of time on Cornish beaches, this blue and white stripe fitted the bill perfectly.
As luck would have it, this years brew of homemade Gin (courtesy of Iron Man’s fair hand) is Strawberry & Lavender. This, of course, works beautifully when added to a nice cold glass of Prosecco. Add a few tasty treats and what could be finer on a lazy hazy British summer day.
Once the picnic hamper arrived, we waited for our moment to surge.
And waited.
And with true British gusto and stoicism, we decided that no one was catching us out on a rainy day. In the spirit of taking our chances where we could, we opted for a late Sunday afternoon picnic in the garden, safe in the knowledge that the sun was shining for us.
We tend to overlook the fact that our own back yard is a fabulous location for a picnic. But given the recent gloomy grey temperatures, I can thoroughly recommend being outside with tasty food and drink and some eye candy in the form of a picnic basket.
This certainly whets the appetite for forthcoming summer picnics further afield.
With our theme being quintessentially British – Strawberry & Lavender Gin, we chose food befitting of our menu. I even my managed to work in a little taster of my home grown Chives.
Our Menu
Goats Cheese, Parma Ham & Balsamic Strawberry Crostini with chopped Chives from the garden
Crostini with Brie & Red Grape
Strawberry & Lavender Gin with Prosecco
Watermelon
-o-o-o-
Our menu needed to be something that worked well with our theme whilst being something that could be easily assembled outdoors.
Like most people, I love to see flowers – at any time of the year. Sometimes the ex-Florist in me will be yearning for a particular colour or type. Generally, when I’m hatching a theme of some kind.
When I came face to face with these deep pink cut Sweet Pea stems, I just knew they would look fabulous against the backdrop of the blue & white stripe of the picnic basket. The fragrance was just divine. These colours together remind me of being in Greece in so far as the pale blue and whitewashed walls are often awash with deep pink Bougainvillea. As we return to Greece for our holiday in the summer, I guess I was subconsciously creating my holiday wish list.
You can’t do that with a cool box and a carrier bag!!!
Sometimes jazzing things up and getting a bit fancy can be just the tonic you need and, quite frankly, we could have have sat in a car park and felt a million dollars with our basket of delights.
The things that I particularly love about this hamper is that the equipment is really smart, the wine glasses are glass and not plastic and the plates are ceramic. Couple this with the smart white handled stainless steel knives and forks and the picnic is looking good.
The glasses are secured individually inside the basket with a strap. Not only does this keep the glasses in place but it also stops them knocking against each other during transit. The plates are also secured with a strap. This leaves ample space inside for some picnic food.
Key to a Not Just The 3 of Us successful picnic is condiments and so the addition of a salt and pepper pot was a real draw here.
And in case your drink of choice has a cork, there is of course the handy waiters friend for safe cork removal – as well as bottle opening. Heaven forbid you should be stuck in the middle of a field with a bottle of wine and no means of opening it!
And look what happens when you stare rain in the face and carry on with a picnic whatever the weather. We get glorious sunshine.
And having whet our appetites during our rehearsal in the back garden, I can certainly see us taking ourselves and the hamper off to a few different locations this year.
And not a carrier bag in sight!
Nicky
Lovely, summery post, Nick. Fab picnic basket and I can almost smell those gorgeous sweet peas! We included a ‘proper’ picnic basket on our wedding list all those years ago. I will admit it does not get an outing as often as it should but for special occasion picnics, it’s great. And the garden is a great place to chill……it’s easy to forget it’s not just a work in progress (or is that just me?!).
Thank you! I hope this serves as a reminder to get it out more and if that means in the garden – well I can think of worse places than your lovely picture perfect garden!
Oh wow! That looks like the perfect picnic! I hope you had a lovely time. #PoCoLo
It was and we did thank you. And the rest of the summer lies in wait for some more! Thanks Kim
what a wonderful basket! that gin sounds delicious I love anything with strawberries in it!
I hope you get lots of enjoyment from it!
best wishes
Ashley
Thank you very much Ashley. It was a lovely picnic and we have the next outing lined up already. Thank you for commenting.
THIS looks incredible! With or without the food! #pocolo
Thank you Carol! Obviously, we will never say no to a bit of food and drink!
What a gorgeous picnic set. I’m looking at getting a nice set for us this year as I too am sick of carrier bags! Thanks for linking to #pocolo
It’s a bit fancy isn’t Morgan – certainly beats the carrier bag!
Wow that’s quite a picnic, love the basket I’d love a proper picnic hamper
It’s fab isn’t it. We shall feel very stylish when we get to take it ‘out out’!
It looks fab – as does the gin! I’ve also secret hankerings for a stylish picnic-ware but MOH refuses to carry it all. And I’m also planning a garden picnic, as once all the work is done I want to sit out there and enjoy it as much as we can! Hope there’s many more sunny picnic-y days for you – thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo
I suppose there’s no such things as a picnic hamper on legs is there?! Thought not! The Gin is a bit of an added bonus I have to say. Preserves and chutneys are also in his repertoire. Here’s to sunny days and tasty, glamourous picnics x
Love the picnic basket. I like the nautical colours, too. Sweet Peas!! They transported my back to Gran’s back garden in an instant. She had sweet peas and pod peas. Happy memories! #HOMEETC
I though you would like it Jane. Isn’t it funny how all of these lovely flowers transport us back. A mixture of old and new memories – and, of course, the Gin is always a good idea.
What a lush picnic set! It looks like you had a great time and the food and drink look scrummy. Xx #HomeEtc
Thanks Becky, it all looked lovely and tasted delicious too. What’s not to like!
That is a great picnic menu and the picnic set is spot on! The gin is right up my street too! #HomeEtc
Thanks Becky. It is a lovely basket and it’s always good when the contents on the inside are good too. The Gin is very good with the Prosecco. I can’t say we regretted including it!
I love that you packed fancy gin, it looks delicious! You can’t beat a good picnic and it looks like you know exactly what to pack!
#HomeEtc
http://www.hellonancy.co.uk/
Well, we all deserve a little treat right Nancy??!! ………
How gorgeous is that picnic basket? I have one that has been packed away for years, just awaiting the perfect opportunity – it needs to have an outing this year! Sim xx #PoCoLo
Sounds like it’s time to get it out Sim. I think this week may be the one – I heard a rumour that hot weather is on the way x
What a lovely picnic set! Very stylish. Love your menu too – especially the strawberry and lavender gin, I like the sound of that! #HomeEtc
It’s nice isn’t it Sian – we felt rather fancy I have to say! I recommend the Gin – highly!
What a lovely post Nicky — to be honest, I had my head turned by the gin more than anything else, but that’s no surprise!! LOL!! I love the idea of picnic baskets but every-time I’ve used one I’ve always thought how heavy they are!! I end up taking the food out and carrying it separately!! Gorgeous post and pics 🙂 #HomeEtc
The man responsible for the Gin shall also be the carrier of the basket! The Gin is lovely – but I probably shouldn’t tease you should I Caro! Thank you for your kind words.
Erm … hello picnic basket of dreams! Now I’m a bit older I am partial to a good picnic and this looks like the perfect accompaniment xxx
A bit like being partial to a garden centre? Yes I’m with you on the glamour of the basket. And it looks as though it may be getting another outing soon Kerry!
What a gorgeous picnic basket and a lovely post, hoorah for picnic weather too x
Isn’t it?! And thank you! Yay to the weather 🍸
There’s nothing more classically British than a picnic is there? Beautiful styling and what a gorgeous picnic basket. Thank you for linking up to #HomeEtc X
Aaah Nicky!! I’m really missing picnic weather at the moment!! I daresay I could still have a picnic outside but it would be blooming cold!!! I love your pics and styling… but not as much as I love the sound of that gin!!!! YUM! Delicious. Thanks so much for sharing lovely! So nice to have you back!! 🙂 #HomeEtc