This isn’t a drill. By the end of this month you will once again be able to meet up to six people in the park for a picnic in London. Blankets. Grass. Conversation. Scotch eggs. Clouds. Sudden rainstorms. Geese. Freak lightning. Panic and fire. All those wonderful things you associate with a classic British picnic.
Now, there are a lot of places that do great hampers. Hampers you have to order to your home. Boring! 2021 is the year we act like debauched emperors. 2021 is the year we have all of our food and drink sent to the park. Here are our top picks for green-space groceries.
SUPPER London
Indisputably the poshest of all the delivery platforms, SUPPER London is getting park-ready for spring. This is big. From March 29 you’ll be able to use the app to get restaurant meals delivered directly to various ‘pick up areas’ across London’s green spaces. The main takeaway here is that, yes, you will be able to order a Fortnum & Mason hamper directly to your blanket. Depraved? Certainly. Tempting? Indubitably. Other top restos taking part include Nobu, Coya, Roka, Hakkasan and loads more. Including the Harrod’s Food Hall.
Choose from a load of highfalutin’ restaurants on the Supper App.
Ombra’s Italian feast
Hackney mainstay Ombra is a restaurant with a truly fabulous vibe. We actually chatted to head chef Mitshel Ibrahim not too long ago, about surviving and thriving under lockdown. Happy days: they’re bringing back their picnic delivery menu from April 12. The hamper costs £30 and you can expect Ombra’s signature house focaccia, mortadella, olives, burrata, ’nduja sausage rolls, pasta salad, beers and Amaretti biscuits. Definitely more fun than your usual plastic bag full of loose crisps and looser ham.
Check the Ombra website for details closer to April 12, including the list of local parks they’ll be delivering to.
Pique’s handmade picnics
Very fancy hampers. Very fancy. Hand-picked, handmade, includes cutlery, plates and napkins and all that sweet jazz. The Ultimate Brunch (£50) features blueberry pancakes, ham-and-cheese croissants, frittatas, mini bagels, smoothies and more. The Freedom Picnic (also £50) serves up coronation chicken, caramelised apple sausage rolls, brie, a baked baguette and orzo pasta with fresh pesto. Oh yeah, and you can add booze to your order. Pique can either deliver to a park at a requested time (which, understandably, costs more) or you can be added to their driver’s delivery route. The latter option requires you to wait around at a pre-agreed location, like a spy.
Natural wine from Top Cuvée
Remember in ‘Terminator’ when Kyle Rees grabs Linda and yells: ‘It can’t be reasoned with… it can’t be bargained with… It doesn’t feel pity, remorse or fear and it absolutely will not stop. Ever!’ You could say the same thing about everyone's favourite north London natural wine bois. Top Cuvée will not stop. Ever! They have ploughed away throughout lockdown, defining themselves as survivors. From April 1 they’re bringing back their famous Park Drops from last year. Pros: they’ll bring your booze (and other bits) to whatever patch of grass you call home. Cons: currently it’s only to Clissold Park and Highbury Fields (although more locations will be announced soon).
Check the Top Cuvée site from April 1 for more information.
Gelato from Gelupo
Started by chef Jacob Kenedy back in 2010, gelato parlour Gelupo is famous for quality, fresh ingredients and next-level produce. Seriously: wouldya look at that. Beautiful. There’s also a colomba flavour, which is apparently similar to a panettone, and a ricotta sour cherry number too. Priced at £11 for a half-litre, Gelupo’s luscious gelato will soon be available for park delivery via Deliveroo.
Cocktails from Swift
Shoreditch bar Swift has launched Park Drop, a cocktail delivery service that caters to only London’s parks. These things are cycled over to whatever patch of grass you've annexed, chilled, within the hour. Planning a trip to Victoria Park, London Fields or Haggerston Park? Swift might be your also-hook up. Drinks available include Spicy Margaritas, Smoky Coconut Old Fashioneds, Elderflower Gimlets and Rhubard and Custard Milk Punches. Cups and ice available on request. Order from right here.
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