English Picnic buffet dish that can be made in advance

loobyloo2

I am going to an international picnic in Switzerland, I will be driving there, and have to provide a traditional dish to put on the buffet table.

As it is a long drive, I need something that can travel well, and also that can be made one day, survive the journey, then be served the following day, so about 3 days in all. I wont have fridge when I get there, so that makes another problem.

I was thinking of a selection of teabreads, but that is as far as my imagination goes.

Anybody with any great ideas? I am not particularly bothered about it being strictly MS, but would love to provide a fab dish, especially as alot of French will be there.

I know you clever lot will have loads of ideas,

sunflower76

I made picnic pie last weekend from this months Delicious magazine. Its sausage meat, onion, apple, cheese and boiled eggs wrapped in a puff pastry shell. It was lovely.

I'm sure a scout round the Delicious website would bring it up.

Fen1

You could always order some stuff from Harrods or Fortnum & Masons and take that.
A packet of Scottish shortbread from the above? Might as well play to the stereotype....:rolleyes:

Mutantk

What about taking the ingredients and assembling on arrival - would that work? I was thinking Eton Mess - take the strawberries, box of meringues, cream - suppose that would be the problem - could you maybe buy that when you get there? Very traditional, English and straightforward if you can figure out the cream problem...

thriftlady_2

Pie is the way to go here. Especially a hot water crust pie (like pork pie) as the pastry is so robust.

Pork pie
Sausage rolls
Sausage and apple plate pie
Cornish pasties

Delia's website is sure to have recipes for all these;)

Or consider buying a whole Cheddar or Stilton if you have lots to feed, although I'm not sure if the French will approve of English cheese.

vixtress

i like the eton mess idea, surely they must have cream somewhere.

you could also make or buy some really good cornish pasties or pork pies and chutney.

hth

vix

skiTTish

What about scones ?
You could take the scones and a jar of preserve/jam and get the cream there?

buxtonrabbitgreen

Could you borrow one of those little fridges that plug into your cigarette lighter socket. That would widen the possibilities a bit.
Otherwise I think you are right maybe tea breads, shorbread, choc chip cookies?

THIRZAH

A good fruit cake like a Dundee cake would travel well, not need refridgeration and would be very traditional.

loobyloo2

Mutantk wrote: »

What about taking the ingredients and assembling on arrival - would that work? I was thinking Eton Mess - take the strawberries, box of meringues, cream - suppose that would be the problem - could you maybe buy that when you get there? Very traditional, English and straightforward if you can figure out the cream problem...

:T:T:T:T:T:T
Oooh, I like this idea, the cream may be a problem to find, i don't think they use double cream over there, but there must be something similar.
Sounds very English too.

Like the idea of a nice bit of shortbread to go with it too. I'm going into town early next week, so could look in Fortnums (dont like Harrods after meeting a certain Egyptian at a social function back in the eighties:o),and see if they have a nice tin.

I am not too sure about making anything with meat, as the time involved without any refridgeration would probaly lead to me giving everyone a dodgy tummy, and I don't want to help increase the poor reputation for English food by the French:rotfl:

Thanks everyone, for all the wonderful ideas so far, If anybody wants to add to the list please keep them coming, all ideas gratefully received

maman

The French love custard so you could do a trifle. Take a fancy glass dish, use ready made custard and put it together when you arrive. Unless you're arriving on a Sunday then you shouldn't have a problem finding cream.