The great British picnic is an exercise in optimism. It requires faith in the weather, a willingness to carry far more food than anyone could reasonably eat and the ability to ignore the fact that there is almost certainly a perfectly good table at home. Yet every summer, as parks fill up and beaches become standing room only, we do it anyway.
National Picnic Week, running from 15 to 21 June, is as good an excuse as any to pack up a basket and head outdoors. The best picnic food strikes a careful balance: portable but impressive, easy to share and robust enough to survive the journey from kitchen to blanket. Nobody wants a mayonnaise-soaked sandwich or a salad that has wilted before the first sip of rosé.
