Enchanted

Go to Büyükada or some secret island where the guests can reach by a little boat ride while singing Purcell’s Fairest Isle. Light Chinese lanterns in the trees and line the paths with tea lights and candles. (Couldn’t find an island?  Then find somewhere rural and magical, and create your own heaven by rugs, hammocks, cushions…Don’t forget the little ones.)

Now for the feast, which should reflect the summery theme: have violets tossed in the salads; posies as part of the menu and the decoration.  Have elderflower water and pink champagne and roses, as well  as delicate sandwiches, fairy cakes and other simple food.  Mania Gurme (Ihlamuryolu Sok. 20, Topağacı-Teşvikiye.  0212 241 5383) sells great staples from cheese to biscuits; and even can prepare the food.  

Here’s a great recipe for a picnic dessert:
Summer Strawberry Salad
400g strawberries (sliced); few lemon balm leaves (shredded); 125 g redcurrants; caster sugar (to coat)
Champagne Granita
125g sugar; juice of one lemon; 3 tbsp liquid glicose; 250 ml champagne; 250 ml water
Put the sugar, lemon juice and liquid glucose in a pan with water and heat until sugar’s dissolved.  Allow to cool.  Stir the champagne into the syrup and freeze for 2-3 hours forking it every hour to break up ice.  On a large platter, arrange strawberry and the redcurrants dipped into the caster sugar, sprinkled with lemon balm and shavings off the granita.   

Serve the food in a mish-mash of porcelain plates with flower and willow patterns found in bric-a-brac stores (so much better than the horrible paper version).

Kick back and relax, and let the enchanted evening begin.         

Summer solstice is Sat., 21 June.  Recipe from ‘Gordon Ramsay Makes It Easy’ by Gordon Ramsay.