Sunday Dining: The picnic that didn't quite make it
Sunday night and a full moon meant champagne in the park as the moon came up, and then nibbles and tunes on the deck.
A postcard-perfect autumnal Sunday afternoon inspired a picnic in New Farm park. While the end result was a few beers and ball-throwing in the park (due to a languid Sunday morning after a large Saturday night, and having to wait for the provisions to be finalised), the post-picnic banquet was enjoyed just as much back on the safe decks of home base.
Some of the picnic trappings…
Sushi rice cake (comprising sushi rice, smoked salmon, Japanese mayo, sesame seeds and other features from the landing of the rising sun), Lupini beans, rockmelon wrapped in proscuitto, olives, salami/ general cured meats, artichoke and butter bean dip, salsa (the result of a glut of tomatoes in our kitchen), pickles and pickled onions, various cheeses (obscenely pungent blue, sharp vintage cheddar, and creamy camembert)roasted eggplant and roasted zucchini with olive oil and mint (see the BC cookbook for recipes!)
Some nibbles that featured.. (apologies for the atrocious photo – we had some settings issues on the camera) rockmelon in proscuitto, smoked salmon, capers, Jindi Cheddar, picked onions, polski olgerki pickles, semi-dried tomatoes, green olives (seeds IN), and most recent platter phenomenon Lupini beans!
“Hoyts Lupini beans in brine, a perfect niblle to go with cocktails and pre-dinner snacks. Simply delicious with just enough of a salty taste to make them the perfect partner for all types of liquid refreshments, just pop the Lupini bean out of its skin and enjoy!”
These are our favourite pickled goods
And, in an unprecedented moment of wavering from hummous (possibly due to over-consumption of late) we concocted a different dip:
Artichoke & white bean dip 
1 tin white beans (eg. cannelini or butter beans), drained
1 small jar marinated artichoke hearts (approximately 6 segments)
1 clove garlic
1 tblsp olive oil (we used the oil from the artichoke heart jar, otherwise olive oil)
Salt & pepper
Blend all ingredients together and pour into a bowl. Drizzle with oil and serve with crackers and/or carrot sticks depending on your guests and frame of mind.
Some tunes that featured….
Venetian Snares – Öngyilkos vasárnap
Lee Perry – Black belt jones
Quiet Village – Pacific rhythm
Chico Mann – who you runnin from
Fourtet – Untangle
Bootsy Collins – I’d rather be with you
Herbie Hancock – Steppin in it
Dabrye feat. Jay Dee & Phat kat – Magic says
Gregory Isaacs – Put a smile on your face
Zion Train and Rob Smith – blessed it he (steppas mix)
Bullion – Here today
Mum – we have a map of the piano
A few champagnes later….
