Those days are long gone. The superb local fare being produced in all regions; our rich heritage of artisan producers combined with the Irish food revolution of recent years have spawned an abundance of specialist food shops and delis. Today our picnic hampers can be packed with a feast of delicious, fresh, locally produced fare whatever region you are touring in or visiting. Try some of the artisan breads with an award winning native cheese and home made pickle; Brothers Kevin and Seamus Sheridan's cheese shops in Dublin and Galway stock over thirty native cheeses such as Gubbeen, Durrus and Ardrahan. The Farmshop at Aillwee Cave, Co Clare, produce and sell their own award winning Burren Gold cheese alongside local cheeses like St Tola goat's cheese and Cratloe sheep's cheese. Most of the outlets that sell cheese also sell a wide range of pickles and jams.

A staple of any self respecting picnic is good fresh bread; The Yellow Door, Portadown, Co Armagh have an in house bakery and also stock delicious sausages from Moyallon foods, a great addition to any picnic. Ditty's Home Bakery, Magherafelt, focus on traditional handmade breads from Northern Ireland, griddle baked soda and a diverse range of "wee buns". They will even put a hamper together for you!

Smoked meats and fish work well on picnics. The Burren Smokehouse, Lisdoonvarna, sell their own smoked organic salmon as do the Connemara Smokehouse, Co Galway who use traditional smoking methods - no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. Both smokehouses will make up hampers on request.

Shopping for a picnic really can be as much fun as consuming it. I love a buzzy early morning market; the great selection of produce; picking what looks good on the day; taking tips from the stall holders. St George's Market - Belfast City, Co. Antrim was voted one of the UK's best markets in the Observer's Waitrose Food Awards 2004. Over 248 market stalls selling everything from apples to antiques to shark meat. I always make a bee line for Farmgate Café in the Old English Market in Cork. All their food is sourced locally from producers and growers in the area and they have a fantastic selection of freshly made sandwiches and mouth watering cakes.


If you are driving through Tipperary you have to stop in at Mary and Peter Ward's Country Choice shop in Nenagh, home cooked hams, perfectly kept farmhouse cheeses, their own fresh bread and a fantastic range of wines - picnic paradise! On the road from Dublin to Limerick stop off in Portlaoise at Jim Tynan's, Kitchen and Foodhall. Don't miss it! Jim makes all his breads and scones on the premises and there is lots of choice in cold deli meats, patés and terrines. The homemade cakes are sumptuous. For those of you heading North West, Kate's Kitchen in Sligo town is well worth a stop. Kate Pettit's shop is a treasure throve for the best of regional and local food and is perfect to get good food to go.

One of my favourite smells is walking into food halls and inhaling that mixture of coffee, chacuterie and cheese. Andersons Food Hall, Dublin offer a wide selection of Irish and continental cheeses, charcuterie, gourmet sandwiches, soups, patés, homemade breads and cakes. Cavistons Food Emporium, Dun Laoghaire have an impressive range of fresh seafood along with European salamis, farmhouse cheeses, organic vegetables and speciality breads, salads and precooked meals. Dunne & Crescenzi, Dublin stock a wide selection of artisan ingredients including olive oils, pastas and preserved fruits.

If you have a sweet tooth there is a mouth watering selection of chocolates and patisserie to round off your picnic. Murphy's Ice Cream, Dingle and Killarney offer gourmet ice creams, chocolates and desserts in a wide variety of flavours. You can watch Benoit Lorge Chocolates being made from the shop floor - what better way to tempt the public! The gourmet chocolate shop's handmade Irish cream truffle milk and Irish whisky bitter truffle have won seven awards. Try them, you'll see why.

Of course a glass of fine wine is a wonderful accompaniment to a gourmet picnic but if you're steering clear why not try a wonderful cool apple juice? Ballycross Apple Farm in Wexford have a delicious range of apple and blackcurrant juices

What better way to pass a leisurely afternoon than picnicking on delicious Irish fare with good friends, looking out on wonderful scenery. I think any Impressionist painter would be proud to paint it.