French chic
If you're looking to treat a loved one this Valentine's let it be the food of love — French food. Lafayette Gourmet Executive Chef Andrew Joyce has picked his favourites from the gourmet food hall and the best bit is there's no cooking involved — for you, that is.
"These are classic picnic dishes," Joyce says, "dishes that you need to eat basking in the glory of the sunshine. Picnic choices should be light with a lot of salads and fruits."
And just because you're outdoors, doesn't mean that your food shouldn't be gourmet and special. Just make sure they're in small bites rather than a big messy plateful, such as the oysters, which are portable (they come in their own disposable packaging, their shells!) and small finger sandwiches with simple but tasty fillings like roast beef with horseradish or egg and cress. Want to keep it a bit simpler but still totally French chic? Pick up a couple of baguettes, a ripe, buttery brie cheese and some pate (we love duck rillettes, which is pure duck meat, no liver, cooked until it's fork-tender and potted in surprisingly good-for-you duck fat). Team it with grapes and a bakery dessert to finish.
"These are recipes that you can eat in small bites and pack, easy to take anywhere, but still very sophisticated and elegant without compromising the glamour of the meal."
- Country pate with melba toast
- Potted shrimps
- Duck rillette with truffles
- Smoked salmon and grated horseradish cream
- Fresh oysters with vinegar
- Finger rolls with egg and cress, beef with horseradish and shrimps and cocktail sauce
- French Brie with baguette
- Tomato, roquefort and olive salad
- Lemon tart
- Fresh grapes
- Chocolate eclairs
- Price: Dh299 for two, from Lafayette Gourmet, Dubai Mall.
Seasonal vegetrain
There's a wealth of delicious organic produce growing right here in the UAE says Yael Mejia, food consultant at organic café Baker & Spice, so there's no excuse not to have a picnic that's not tasty, healthy and environmentally-conscious. Her dream picnic basket (pictured) contains no meat but you won't miss it, she says. A properly conceived vegetarian salad is easy to eat at a picnic and should be full of complementary flavours. "You need something that is fork food that is easy to manoeuvre around" Mejia says. "Right now, all the herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers and courgettes are in season. When you eat the salads, you'll understand how distinctive the flavours are — each salad has its own character and taste profile. Together they make a wonderful picnic. And don't forget the strawberries."
- Kashkaval cheese and organic tomato and rocket sandwich in a milk knot roll
- Puy lentil with organic cucumber and celery salad
- Organic basmati rice with chickpeas, caramelized onion and coriander
- Organic couscous salad with preserved lemon, beetroot and Lilliput capers
- Carrot and organic courgette with dill quiche
- Parmesan and chilli biscuits
- Oatmeal and raisin scones with butter
- Fresh strawberries
- Price: Dh170 for two. Baker and Spice, Souk Al Bahar and Souk Al Manzil, Old Town.
True Brit
They may not have the weather for it, but on those rare days when the sun shows its face, the British head out to the park or a windswept beach for a picnic. Tom Egerton, executive sous chef at Grosvenor House Hotel in Dubai is a champion of British food, and one classic British outdoors-eating dish jumped to mind when asked about picnic food — Scotch eggs. "They're always a favourite of mine from when I was a child," he says. "Good for all ages, an old British classic. (They're on the menu at his British-themed brunch at the hotel's restaurant Sloane's for the month of February, if you want to try them indoors.) For Egerton, a picnic is about the memories of home, "usually in the rain!". "After thinking about what I like to take, I've realised that it brings back lots of childhood memories — and also that I need to organise a picnic with my friends soon before it starts to get too hot!" Similar to the French offering, he says simple bread, cheese and fruit is a winner — with the Brit version being crusty white bread and strong cheddar — which he says is a great excuse to get messy. "The continental equivalent is a crusty French stick which some oozing brie cheese. This reminds me of holiday in the south of France with the family. Popping into the market for some bread and cheese and then breaking the bread up and eating rustic style. The great thing about picnics is that you don't have to worry about crumbs dropping everywhere."
- Scotch eggs
- Crusty white bread and some strong cheddar cheese
- Sausage rolls: These are always a favourite with everyone. Nice if you can get some freshly cooked ones that are still nice and crispy but if not cold ones are just as good.
- Mini skewers. If you are having a BBQ you can have them hot but if not cook them before and take them cold. Tasty and easy to eat without getting your hands dirty.
- You can't beat some type of cake, cookie or biscuits on a picnic. Chocolate varieties are always a bit tricky, as by the time you get round to eating them they are more often a big ball of mess as they've melted.
- Flapjacks: I've always been a fan of flapjacks on picnics. If they get a little warm, it's not a problem; in fact it makes them even better.
- Fresh fruit such as strawberries, grapes or cherries are always great for picnics. Great to have some nice refreshing fruit to wash down the rest of the picnic.
Don't be a litter bug
The downside of picnicking is litter — left by other people. So please be responsible and make sure you pick up after yourself after you're done with your picnic. Before you walk away and leave rubbish behind, imagine how you'd feel if you turned up at your favourite picnic spot to find litter there.
