Sips, snacks and sun: Eager’s perfected picnic basket pairings

Summer is here (don’t hold us to that), and if we’re still going with this heatwave, then eating outdoors is in our British summer DNA. If you’re going to dine al fresco, you have to do it right. 

But everyone’s version of right is certainly different. That trusty blue cool box might be the choice for some, whereas others opt for the picnic basket, woven and bowed to picture perfection. One thing that all picnics have in common is the stuff you pack it with because, after all, nobody wants their belly rumbling over a glass of fizz!

PSA: going for style? We’d recommend an ice pack for that woven basket, to keep your Eager juice extra chilled.

But let’s move from the topic of how it looks, and dive into Eager’s top juice pairings for each snack you pack. We’ve done the list, so all you need to worry about is if the heatwave is still fully flowing, and if the heavens stay closed (fingers crossed)...

1) Picnic loaf

Starting off strong, we have everyone’s favourite filler, the sandwich. Not just any sandwich, it’s a ‘picnic sandwich’. This stuffed loaf is as impressive as it looks. Fully adaptable, it’s loaded with layers of Italian meats, cheese, peppers, and rocket. The perfect pairing? Well, a classic calls for an OG. We’d opt for our original orange juice. Simple and refreshing for the kids, yet easily topped up with some Prosecco for the adults — sounds good to us. Pack that OJ.

2) Summer vegetarian pasta salad 

Not everyone wants a loaded meat sandwich, and that’s okay. This pasta salad recipe, again, is fully adaptable, but it’s loaded with all the goodness. Mint, feta, and olive oil? You may as well be dining on the edge of the Aegean Sea with this one. Sprinkled with pomegranate seeds to finish, it would be wrong not to pair it with our deliciously standard pomegranate juice, or perhaps even a pomegranate margarita? We don’t judge.

3) Summer herb & feta filo pies 

These bite-sized filo pies are the perfect pairing for any picnic. Packed with cheese, basil, mint and watercress, they’re an ideal salty treat for any savoury lover. They’re so easy to make but look beautiful on a platter, or packed in your favourite Tupperware. These pies are just calling out for an extra spicy bloody mary on the side — our Eager tomato juice will do the job.

4) Fruit salad

It would be wrong basking in the sun without something fruit-filled in your basket, and a fruit salad is for everyone. Now, we aren’t going to teach you how to make a fruit salad, but this one that we’ve picked out is an extra goodie. Balancing flavour, with texture, and the ideal mix of zest, it’s one to keep in the picnic basket to devour in the heat. A pairing for this? Well, it has to be our Eager pineapple juice. Swap out the lime dressing for an extra pineapple treat in this, or serve on the side.

5) Mini victoria sponge

It wouldn’t be a great British summertime, without a classic victoria sponge — but this time they’re mini. Call it a space-saving hack, if you will. A super easy, and last-minute take on a classic, this one takes only 20 minutes to bake, and you can layer it up as much as you like. Some may choose an afternoon tea for this, but we’d opt for an Apple Bellini with Eager apple juice. Who needs the Ritz, when you’ve got a basket full of Eager and heaps of delicious food.

Whether you’re going for the full spread and feeding a dozen, or choosing a romantic picnic for two, these picnic pairings are perfect for the summer sun, dining al fresco, drinking good juice and enjoying each other's company.