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Tuesday 6 July 2010

Picnic At Henley Royal Regatta With Ryvita

We are still pinching ourselves to see if we would wake up! Not really sure why we are on such a lucky star. We were asked to host a picnic at Henley Royal Regatta (at the Semi Finals) for Ryvita who also had a stand there that day.
Ryvita and picnics and Henley – all fits together like a glove- all we were hoping for was the sun to shine and it did not fail us, shining brightly without doubt. Wonderful. We were allowed to invite six bloggers and they were the lovelies all dressed to Henley codes: (girls had to wear dresses below the knee and boys had to wear blazers). The London Foodie, Meemalee’s Kitchen, Greedy Diva, Tamarind & Thyme, Feast On Scraps & Violets Curd

Considering that we could not do any cooking at the picnic, this event was also quite a challenge (but a lovely one) – with prepping and getting everything packed to be traveled all the way to Oxfordshire. This event was about making great toppings for Ryvita and for a picnic fit for royalty. It meant that we cold source really fine ingredients, have a mega feast and enjoy a lovely British day out.

We had hampers and rugs and Laurent Perrier champagne and six other picnic-ers all on trains and automobiles reaching us and it was such an excitement all around.
In the many cool bags, we had great French cheeses such as Manchego,  Brebis Blue, Fribourg D'alpage, Picos Blue etc from La Bouche Broadway Market – a selection of fantastic hams from Uneathed, pate and rillette. We had Donald Russell Smoked Salmon, a selection of Tracklements and a whole hamper of strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, grapes, peaches, apricots and plums.What better than to eat them all off Cornishware crockery - (as a girl - these are the things you plot for a great day out!)
We tried a lot of things with Ryvita. They have a new range of cracker-breads and I really love the shallot one – goes really well with cream cheese and salmon! As for Rillette – goes well with anything – like an original Ryvita.
Simon roasted figs with mustard for our selection of cooked, parma, salami hams and poached the most beautiful pears in champagne and vanilla pods. I was quite nerved by the thought of him boiling champagne but I have to say, he does get it right! (most of the times).
 
My special request was Simon’s amazing Russian salad with potatoes, peas, carrots, egg, olives, mayo and sweet roasted peppers. The combination of sweet, salt and sour in a creamy texture of maris pipers cooked to the point of fluffyness is outrageously delicious.
And when people thought that was it, we bought out the samphire from Cornwall, the Sri Lankan Yellow Fin short line caught tuna sashimi, Pacific oysters, the biggest Wild Madagascan Tiger Prawns we have all ever seen – all from The Fin & Flounder – an independent fish mongers on Broadway Market that specializes in line caught and ethical fishing. This was utterly delightful! We were really happy with the quality and freshness of the fish.
We dressed the tuna in our special marinade of soy, ginger, mirin and orange with spring onions. We had the beautiful creamy, sweet and huge oysters with Tabasco and lemon. Mimi and I were offering them around, hoping people would refuse so that we could have them all. Heh! We can not recommend these oysters enough.
As for the massive prawns, we bought a portable gas stove but due to health & safety reasons, we couldn’t use them so we pinched a barbeque off a stall along to boil some water and then they were just blanched for 45 seconds. We served these with beautiful, fresh, crisp samphire in Extra Virgin Olive Oil and lemon.
For dessert, we had lemon curd cupcakes from VioletsCurd from the soon to be The Hatcham Supper Club and I made a trifle with strawberries and blueberries soaked in Cointreau. I made the sponge from Mich Turner’s fairy cake recipe – I sliced them in half and made two layers with some custard to top it off.
Then of course, we were trying to convince everyone to polish off the fruits and cheeses with flowing Laurent Perrier Champagne as we tried to see races and soak in the lovely British summer sun.

We’ve been extremely lucky to work with WildCard, who have introduced us to new levels of happiness and making our project really enjoyable. Having a picnic like this is something we all love to do and be part of. Everyone who walked by our picnic was amazed. One guard about 200 yards down said– ‘you’re the ones with the mental picnic.’
It certainly was mental – we could never normally have such an extravaganza. Thank you to Ryvita and Wild Card.

13 comments:

  1. Rose - (Blogger didn't publish your comment?! So we have copied it here for you)

    "this looks completely fabulous! dahhllinnggss!
    I normally go to Henley but couldn't make it this year- it was the best weather for it though- nothing so good as messing about on boats and eating"

    @Rose - thank you it was such a lovely day out with great weather. Water makes all the difference too x

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  2. It was brilliant - thank you so much!

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  3. this looks like it was really brilliant! What a spread...Well done chaps X

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  4. What a great day, thank you and Simon for working so hard and providing us with such amazing food and company! I think I prefer the picture of the back of my head as opposed to the front one! Lx

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  5. Thanks again for such a great day. What a terrific feast! I've just posted a blurb on my blog too, although your photos leave mine for dead! x

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  6. unbelievable guys - really fantastic - looks like you could have kept most of Henley fed for the day!

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  7. I have never seen Simon look so smart... I wish I had been there to see it.

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  8. @meemalee
    It was great to finally meet you and swing those oysters back together xxx

    @gastrogeek
    Thanks Rejina!

    @Elizabeth
    Ours too - looking back. We still have loads of cheeses : )

    @The London Foodie
    Really glad you enjoyed. We really did make a 'picnic' of it didn't we? Shame you didn't wear your pink blazer! But you looked just the part nevertheless - from behind and in front!

    @Greedy Diva
    You were so happy - !! And your post is really great! Thank you x

    @TheWellingtons
    Thanks Ian, we still have loads of cheeses left - cheese for the next 2 weeks for dinner!

    @Tom
    He was very smart! You would have been impressed

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  9. That was the most amazing picnic ever - thank you so much, Uyen and Simon!

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  10. OH MY GOD. I have never seen a picnic like it! Looks incredible - gutted to have missed it!!!

    Sasha

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  11. I am just so sad I couldn't make this. It looks incredible. That ceviche! I am sad not to meet you both too; hopefully soon.

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  12. @Su-Lin
    The best thing was you with your pretty smiley face getting everyone to eat the poor salad! Its so nice to see so much pleasure in all your faces!

    @Sasha - The Happiness Project
    @Helen
    Thank you so much - we've been back to Fin & Flounder many times to get the many wonderful selection of fish & seafood. Summer is about samphire and prawns! yums!

    You were both really missed at our picnic and we would have loved it if you both could have been there. But we are certain that there will be many more opportunities for good food and company to come in the near future.

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