Megan Geall
Grazing charcuterie boards, themed dinner parties with friends, and sweet, baked goods platters. These are all the latest food-related activities that have kept us entertained post-lockdown. Now it has come to Summer 2022 and we are about to see a new trend emerge—‘blanqueting’.
What is ‘Blanqueting’?
No, it is not a spelling mistake. ‘Blanqueting’ is a concept that combines the humble picnic blanket with the grandeur of a royal banquet.
The term ‘blanqueting’ was coined by BLOOM Gin last summer when they released a giant picnic blanket to replicate the grand size of a normal banquet table. Measuring an impressive 6.5 metres by 1.5 metres, the picnic blanket was capable of seating 20 people; turning your average picnic into a whole group event.
“Using our grazing board and baking skills, group picnics with friends are taking on a whole new meaning.”
The picnic is undergoing a wondrous transformation and will take on a new level in 2022. We have spent lockdown perfecting our baking skills with copious amounts of banana bread; spending time getting creative; as well as adapting our socialising skills to zoom calls rather than face-to-face conversations. Now lockdowns are a thing of the past, ‘blanqueting’ is challenging us to bring those skills into the (outside) light and share them with the large groups the pandemic kept us from.
What does ‘blanqueting’ involve?
Using our grazing board and baking skills, group picnics with friends are taking on a whole new meaning. You will need to gather a large blanket, or lay multiple together, as well as make the blanket stylish and comfortable for you and your friends to laze around on in the gorgeous British sunshine (hopefully!).
“Bake some brownies, bring some homemade cheese scones, prep a delicious summery cocktail or mocktail!”
Pick an aesthetic— floral, bright colours, gingham— and go all-out with the style. Grab all your friends and bring your favourite picnic foods.
Now is the time to show off your lockdown skills: bake some brownies, bring some homemade cheese scones, prep a delicious summery cocktail or mocktail! Finally, you’ll need some music to create the most relaxing atmosphere for you and your friends so get compiling the ultimate Spotify playlist. Read on for all the best ‘blanquet’ inspo…
Creating the Aesthetic
A cute theme is crucial to making your ‘blanquet’ Insta-worthy so it is worth planning out your picnic’s essentials first.
Choose a suitable blanket: It needs to be large, waterproof and, of course, pretty! Try this blanket from Amazon; measuring 200cm x 200cm, this blanket will give you plenty of space to set out your picnic food and it comes in a gorgeous, classic gingham print.
“This is no average picnic so have a think about the little touches that will make it special.”
Ask your friends to bring a cushion: Cushions will be essential for comfort throughout your ‘blanquet’ so asking your friends to bring their own will ensure there are plenty to go around! I personally love the Flower Velvet Cushion from Dunelm. The flower shape is adorable and it comes in a fantastic range of colours, from a gorgeous emerald green to a bright, sunny yellow.
Display your picnic food: This is no average picnic so have a think about the little touches that will make it special. You could use serving boards and wicker baskets, or even add flowers and decorations to the blanket. My item of choice would be these gorgeous, rustic, wooden serving boards from MH Woodland. As a result, you’ll have a truly beautiful centrepiece.
Eat with pretty plates: Don’t go to all of this effort just to eat off of plain, white, paper plates. It may be over-the-top, but isn’t that what ‘blanqueting’ is really all about? Try these pretty, floral paper plates from Sainsbury’s to add that extra flare.
Prepping the Picnic
Show off your skills: I’m talking banana bread, family recipes and grazing board selections.
Make it colourful: What’s better for summer than a colourful arrangement? Try and aim for a full rainbow of food from strawberries, to carrots and hummus, to olives, to watermelon, and who could forget cheese!
Cover all bases: You need to aim for lots of different flavours and textures. Start savoury with some meats and cheeses and add some crunch with some crackers, breadsticks and carrot sticks. Next, move onto sweet with both a selection of pastries and cakes as well as a selection of fresh fruit— or combine both with a lemon drizzle cake? For more picnic inspo, check out some recent food reviews of new summer products in your local supermarkets!
Hosting the ‘blanquet’
All of the hard work has been done and it’s now time to enjoy the event with all your friends.
“It’s time to sit down, relax and enjoy a picnic fit for royalty.”
Organise some games to play. To break up your amazing feast, come prepared with some entertainment. This may simply include a bat and ball, a football or you may be more organised and bring a board game to play. Read our list of great group games from Christmas for some fab ideas.
Remember a speaker: Set the atmosphere; are you going for some hot summer hits, a cheesy pop vibe or a relaxed, calming jazz playlist?
Finally, be prepared for all weathers: Let’s be real— it’s the UK. You may need SPF and sun cream at the beginning but an umbrella by the end of your picnic so come prepped for all weathers and consider where you set up your picnic. If it’s hot, maybe consider placing your blanket under a tree so you can get some shade. Then it’s time to sit down, relax and enjoy a picnic fit for royalty with your friends. What better way is there to spend a summer’s day?
Featured image courtesy of Mariah Hewines on Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.
Megan Geall
Megan is a 23-year-old recent English and American Literature graduate and aspiring journalist. Her interests include food, fitness, lifestyle writing and dance!