Yup, we know. When you think Aubergine (also known as Eggplant), you conjure up warmer, more exotic lands. But this purple-skinned beauty is widely cultivated in Britain too.

Picture the scene – sitting outside in a park on a beautiful summer’s evening, surrounded by friends, and listening to your favourite tunes into the night. That’s the buzz of British summer time, and this year the team at Finlandia Vodka want to make it even better! Working with leading Finnish chef Sara la Fountain, Finlandia Vodka brings you delicious and inspiring picnic ideas combining its range of vodkas with refreshing and tasty dishes.

Working with leading Finnish chef Sara la Fountain, Finlandia Vodka has created some inspiring picnic ideas combining its range of vodkas with refreshing and tasty dishes. These are recipes that are simple to create as part of an outdoors picnic. So why not cook in advance and store to share with friends and family later?

Now is the perfect time to serve up some fresh summery salads. Filippo Berio, olive oil specialists, have created an appetising and nutritious ‘White Bean and Tuna Salad’.

For the height of summer, nothing beats an Italian style salad. And there is nothing quite like thin slices of Parma Ham produced via a long and painstaking process.