VIRTUAL BIG LUNCH: TV chef Ainsley Harriott on the lockdown community event
WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO RESTAURANTS RIGHT NOW BUT WE CAN STILL DO LUNCH
WE MAY still be in lockdown but we can still meet up for a virtual Big Lunch. That’s the message from TV chef Ainsley Harriott, who is an ambassador for the community event.
“So many things feel uncertain right now,” says Ainsley.
“We don’t know what we will be doing next week, let alone next month. But we do know one thing for certain – we will definitely be having lunch, so let’s have lunch together… even if we have to be apart.”
Every year, more than six million people take to their streets, gardens and neighbourhoods to join in The Big Lunch, made possible by the National Lottery.
This year’s event is being celebrated as the UK’s thanksgiving weekend for neighbours and communities
As people can’t come together this year in the way they normally would with street parties, they can invite neighbours to socialise online, on the phone or on their doorstep instead.
Whether it’s a digital dinner or a virtual vino – we are all finding ways to stay connected during this health crisis.
The event is on June
6-7, and former Great British Bake Off contestants Manon Lagreve, Alice
Fevronia and Priya O’Shea have got involved with some recipe ideas.
Priya reveals she has been busy baking in lockdown.
“These chocolate chip cookies are a real favourite of ours – the kids and I have made countless batches over the last few weeks in lockdown,” she says.
“You can be done (and washed up!) from start to finish in less than an hour leaving you plenty of time to organise your Big Virtual Lunch.”
French baker Manon has a delicious family recipe for you to try.
She says: “Le Gateau au yaourt (or French yoghurt cake) is probably the cake I have baked the most in my life.
“Every mum in France has made this cake. It’s so simple and is really quick to make. If you slice it up you can make it last for a full weekend of online meets and eats.”
And Alice has offered a summer tart recipe.
She says: “If, like me, you’ve been eating a lot of cake in lockdown, you might be craving something savoury. I don’t bake savoury dishes very often but this is a nice simple tart that is perfect for a summer lunch.”
■ To get involved in The Big ‘Virtual’ Lunch go to thebiglunch.com for ideas, invitations, and recipe cards. ■ Recipes from Alice Fevronia at alicefevronia.com, Manon Lagreve at manonlagreve.com and from Priya O’Shea on Twitter/Insta @priyaoshea