Food News, with Christine Rutter

OVER the decades the humble picnic has been as much a part of English summertime as cricket and afternoon tea.

The Victorians even enjoyed their cakes and sandwiches in the newly built cemeteries of the time!

Now people of all races enjoy dining alfresco. The Italians have 'picnics', the French have 'pique-niques' and the Germans have 'picknicks'.

But the act of eating out-of-doors was based on an English tradition of an open air feast with each of the guests contributing something.

Until the mid 19th century, a customary part of a picnic was to share responsibility for groceries.

And members of The Picnic Society in London, which was formed at the beginning of the 19th century, drew lots as to which part of the meal they would supply for the feast at the Pantheon in Oxford Street.

The building of the rail system through Britain made picnics in rural beauty spots an option for more people and posters advertised day trips for such events.

The picnic was not a casual affair in Victorian times - in fact eating alfresco was second only to dining at a London eaterie.

And the Victorians got a taste for picnicking at home, especially enjoying outdoors afternoon tea of bread, butter, cakes and jellies. Today a picnic is as much the norm as at the turn of the century.

In the middle of the forest, at the seaside, in the grounds of a stately home - the challenge of organising a meal in the open air has lost none of its appeal.

Why not venture into the countryside with luncheon basket and rug during the 3rd National Picnic Weekend on Saturday and Sunday?

The Council for the Protection of Rural England are encouraging everyone to dine outdoors among the beauty of the countryside.

And they have got the help of 14 celebrity chefs from Gary Rhodes to Rick Stein, who have each contributed their favourite picnic recipe to a free cook book to celebrate the weekend.

The recipe book attracted 10,000 requests last year and readers can obtain their free copy by writing to: CPRE National Picnic Weekend Recipe Book, Freepost, Goldthorpe, Rotherham, S63 9BR or by telephoning 01709 890707.

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