Setting the scene for an idyllic summer outing, The RHS Show at Tatton Park made a triumphant return after a three-year hiatus. As the sun finally shone, visitors were met with a carpet of flowers bursting with colour alongside endless stretches of lush grass just waiting for picnic blankets. The atmosphere was vibrant, with attendees eagerly exploring the beautifully arranged gardens, pausing to admire the intricate floral displays, and savouring the fresh, fragrant air.
When Dianne Bourne, from the Manchester Evening News , found herself caught up in the splendour of it all, her trip to the debut of what has been dubbed the 'garden party of the north' ended up costing her a little more than she expected. READ MORE: The UK paradise island with white sands that you can only get to by boat In a bout of sun-drenched enthusiasm, Dianne found herself unable to walk past a stall set up just by the entrance, splurging an eye-watering £120 on a two-person picnic basket from the upscale Fortnum and Mason department store. Notorious for its opulent London food hall and fancy wicker hampers, Fortnum and Mason are dishing out these special picnic bags at Tatton, brimming with a four-course meal presented in their iconic "eau de nil" green-blue packaging.
She said: "At Tatton, they're cashing in on the high-end hampers mine wasn't even the priciest, as you could opt for a champagne-laden version for £195." Despite the hefty price tag, Dianne discovered that these posh picnic baskets were the talk of the RHS Show, with plenty of happy punters lounging on their checkered blankets. They tucked into indulgent luxury spreads from their F&M cool bags, whilst clinking wine glasses under the warm sunshine of the members-only day on Wednesday.
Dianne had no shame in admitting that she wanted to join the upscale throng, she said: "When I first approached the stall to buy one I was told they'd all sold out. Turns out the savvy RHS ticket holders had reserved their picnics online before they ventured out." Luckily for Dianna, her fortuitously timed trip to the F&M stall saw somebody cancel their order, meaning that she was able to secure her Fortnum's picnic bag after all.
Dianne said: "I duly took the bag, with much excitement, back to my colleagues who had been working hard all morning covering the opening event here at Tatton, and together we shared the food it contained. "The tag on the side gives you a QR code to click through to find out what you're getting, and the first message trills: 'A picnic of delicious proportions awaits'." Eager to see what was inside, here's what Dianne discovered The FandM picnic menu.
Starter: Smoked trout with creme fraiche and soda bread. Main: Grilled chicken escalope with lemon caper sauce rocket and shaved Parmesan. Sides: Celeriac remoulade and Pink fir potato salad.
Dessert: Botanical jelly with summer berries. Cheese course: British cheese plate with fig and fennel chutney, grapes and crackers. Wine: FandM Sauvignon Blanc from Chile.
She also found "two sets of reusable wooden cutlery, wrapped in a napkin and a rather Fortnum and Mason branded cuff. There were two wine tumblers, and two spare recyclable plates." Having begun her culinary journey with the smoked trout and soda bread, Dianne described it as "absolutely delightful and a refreshing treat on the scorching day we found ourselves in".
Next, she divided the two portions of chicken escalope and salad among herself and her two companions, sharing that there was "an abundance of food here that could easily serve four, as it was accompanied by additional dishes of a celeriac coleslaw-like concoction and a crunchy potato salad". As someone with a penchant for sweets, Dianne found herself slightly disappointed that there were no "cake-like items in the bag". Instead, it contained a 'Botanical jelly'.
Speaking about this unusual sweet treat, Dianne said: "I never knew jelly could taste so divine - it was packed with a variety of fresh summer berries and the jelly itself had a hint of something special." Shying away from day drinking while working, Dianne stowed the bottle of wine back in the picnic bag to enjoy later. She said: "What a delight this wine was when I finally got home.
"I'm not always partial to Sauvignon Blanc, but this FandM branded version from Chile was almost the perfect summer white - fruity and crisp - and the ideal picnic bottle for those fortunate enough to be spending a leisurely day at the Tatton Flower Show. "I savoured it with the remaining cheese plate where, once again, the quality of the produce was evident with superb blue, cheddar and soft cheeses paired with an almost perfect fig chutney that I made a mental note to purchase." So, was it worth the £120 p rice tag? Diane concluded that "you're shelling out for a luxury picnic bag here, so it was never going to be a bargain.
You can reuse the cutlery, wine tumblers and of course the bag itself, so at least you've got something to hold onto from it all. "There's no denying the food inside was of excellent quality - there wasn't a single disappointing dish in there, and the freshness of the seasonal produce used was palpable. It could easily serve four people, which would bring the cost per person down to £30 each.
"For a summer indulgence on a sunny day, at the 25th anniversary of The RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park, I'd say it was worth splashing out for.".
