Why the obsession with barbecues, when a mouthwatering Caesar Salad or Ploughmans Lunch with hunks of fresh crusty bread and cheese and a selection of tasty pickles could arguably beat the traditional bbq hands down? Or how about a tasty ploughmans lunch with a delicious apple juice or cider to wash it down?
As the first hint of sunshine hits the Dorset coast, the first instinct is to get out in the sun and get BBQing, but lets be honest, the Great British BBQ is often a stressful saga followed up by some potential rain anxiety.
So whether its grabbing one of Parlourmenary’s in Southbourne Crumbly goats cheeses, or an award-winning pork pie from Lewis & Faulkner, the pick- and – mix freedom of a ploughman’s caters to everyone.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) are encouraging residents to swap barbecue’s for picnics this summer in an effort to protect our open spaces, so we’ve created the perfect ploughman’s lunch list from some of Bournemouth’s finest independent retailers, so picnicking is made easy. ;
Starting off with some French Country Sourdough from M’s Bakery in Pokesdown, the two-time World Bread Awards overall winners are the gold standard for a perfect ploughman’s.
Next of course is cheese, and luckily for you, creating Dorsets greatest cheeseboard is easy when Parlourmentary’s has so much to offer. Fancy an award winning cheese similar to Gouda? Lyburn Gold is the cheese for you! Or how about a blue-veined cheese that provides a sharp but creamy contrast? Try their Isle of Wight Blue. Or are you more of a cheddar fan? The Isle of Mull Cheddar comes highly recommended and pairs beautifully with a chutney.
Speaking of chutney, From Dorset With Love stocks their traditional Red Onion jams in many local farm shops. This chutney is a perfect pairing with some delicious cheese.
And of course, there’s no ploughman’s without meat. Lewis & Faulkner in Tuckton is a top-tier choice for some handmade traditional pork pies, or you could even request a few slices of their local ham to provide a salty aspect of the board.
Next, head over to Roebridge Farm Shop in Winton for some crisp English apples to add an extra element to your ploughman’s. You could even try some of their celery hearts or radishes to level up.
And finally after adding some delicious pickles and pickled onions for an extra fun, don’t forget some salted butter from The Panty to pair with your sourdough.
The verdict? Save Dorset from fires, and for a sophisticated, stress-free, and truly local summer, the ploughman’s takes the win.
But of course with the warmer weather coming, and the risk of accidental or deliberate fires increase, Dorset Fire and rescue advise to keep an eye out for fire risks if out in open spaces:
- Stay alert for signs of fire (smoke, heat or unusual smells) if enjoying open spaces. If you spot anything worrying, call 999 immediately.
- Consider downloading and using What33Words to identify your exact location.
- Avoid using barbecues or having open fires in the countryside. Disposable barbecues and campfires are banned in many parts of Dorset.
- Extinguish smoking materials properly, and don’t throw cigarette ends on the ground or out of car windows. Make sure to take your litter home.
- If you’re out at the beach, don’t set off flares, have campfires or light barbecues as these can easily lead to gorse and foliage on the cliffs catching fire.
- You can help by reporting any anti-social behaviour on behalf of the heaths to CrimeStoppers by calling 0800555111, which is 100% anonymous
The fire and rescue service are also advising any landowners or land managers to be prepared for fires, ensuring that fire breaks are cut and well maintained with any cut grasses and vegetation removed from the site.
For more information on safety visit the website https://www.dwfire.org.uk/safety/safety-outdoors/heath-fires-and-countryside-safety/