Level Up Your Park Date With These Supermarket Must-Try Picnic Foods
Now that we’re finally allowed out to meet up with friends, family and potential suitors, it’s time to level up the outdoor experience with the best picnic essentials that money can buy and that means heading to the supermarket. To help you out, we’ve scoured the supermarket shelves and have picked out the best offerings available.
From Fortnum’s fancy cheese selections to Colin the Caterpillar cake jars from M&S, here’s what to get your hands on this picnic season. After all, it is the summer of alfresco dining so you might as well go all out…
Fortnum & Mason
It’s got to be Fortnum’s for the finest picnic delicacies. Head in store to see what their fresh food selection offers or order online and fill your picnic hamper with the poshest of picnic foods. In our wicker, you’ll find us munching through a selection of cheeses – we love their truffled cheddar wedge that’s both creamy and a little indulgent thanks to the essence of truffle that lingers through.
A cracker slathered in thick salmon pâté is a must. They recommend serving this alongside a glass of crisp white wine, which is just perfect for picnic season. They’ve also recently launched a scotch egg selection, with our favourite being the black pudding box of four. Think a crisp homemade breadcrumb coating filled with black pudding and a runny free-range egg.
Or, take the hassle out of collating your picnic essentials and let Fortnum & Mason take charge with their picnic hamper line-up. These are all picked, packed and ready-to-go.
M&S
This isn’t just any picnic food, it’s M&S picnic food. Let’s face it, Marks & Spencer always raises the game when it comes to foodie occasions and their picnic offering is no different.
Head in store and uncover their three for £7 deli deal and munch through everything from Goan-style veggie bites to tandoori king prawns, marinated grilled peppers to chorizo and diablo cheddar rolitos. These can all be enjoyed via their partnership with Ocado too, bringing the fresh, deli delights straight to your door.
They’ve levelled up the typical sausage roll with their ‘best ever’ one, made with pork from British Select Farms and seasoned with caramelised onion, sage and coriander. Expect buttery puff pastry and a crisp, yet soft flaky bite in every mouthful.
Of course we can’t ignore the introduction of their ever-expanding Colin the Caterpillar range, including the all-new Colin the Caterpillar cake jars… Perfect for picnicking, these are filled with layers of chocolatey deliciousness and topped with a mini Colin face too. These are great for the kids and any big kids out there too.
Waitrose
Pimp up your picnic with a little help from Waitrose and their delicious deli-to-go selection. Opt for an alfresco charcuterie board and order in a selection of Waitrose’s fresh meats from Italian Milano Salami and Italian Prosciutto Crudo to French Saucisson Sec.
To fulfil your pastry cravings, it’s gotta be a selection of Higgidy’s veggie rolls. Our favourite are the butternut, spinach and feta veggie rolls topped with a cheddar and parsley crumb. They are sweet from the butternut and salty from the feta.
Don’t overlook Waitrose’s sushi counter either as there’s a bountiful selection of options to choose from. Go simple with some avocado rolls or dress to impress your park date with the Taiko sushi komachi set, packed with California rolls, spicy salmon rolls, salmon nigiri, inari nigiri and king prawn nigiri.
Sainsburys
Sainsburys is on a mission to help you change the way you do your picnics thanks to their Food to Order service. All you have to do is preorder your favourites from their selection and collect it when it’s prepared – this usually takes two-three days so it’s best to be prepared.
Our picnic favourites include the wrap platter, which comes with twelve bite size pieces, with an array of chicken caesar, falafel and houmous, duck and hoisin, and chicken fajita. There are a whole host of salad options too, including their sweet chilli noodle salad that’s zingy, fresh and sweet. Finish off the occasion with their afternoon tea profiteroles. These come in a pack of twelve with three topping variants. Think chocolate fondant with cocoa bins, lemon flavoured fondant with white chocolate decorations and raspberry flavoured fondant with red lustred decoration.
So good you could pass them off as your own.
Tesco
Say what you will about Tesco meal deals but they helped pave the way for picnics back in the day. But if you’re looking to mix it up, scroll through their selection of deli and fresh food offerings so you know what to hunt for next time you’re headed out for a picnic.
You can’t go wrong with a classic cheese and onion roll at a picnic and Tesco Finest are made with the finest vintage cheddar and British pork, dry cured bacon. You can enjoy these warm too to really elevate the garden picnic experience or if you live close enough to the park to wow your date.
For vegan options, look to Squeaky Bean and their deli chicken-style meat selection. Made from wheat and pea protein, the BBQ pack is loaded with flavour and deliciousness you won’t even be able to tell the difference.
For dessert, finish with a tasty egg custard tart or try one of their ready-to-eat cheesecake slices.
The products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however, The Handbook may make a small commission on some products purchased through affiliate links.
