PICNIC PERFECT
ON HOW HER PASSION FOR FOOD LED TO LOVE AND LIFE-CHANGING RECIPES
Tucking into a tasty feast of mouthwatering homemade frittatas and dishes of creamy Eton mess, party organiser Yasmin Mills and her boyfriend, vegetarian eco-chef Justin Horne, indulge in one of their favourite, quintessentially British culinary pastimes: a summer picnic.
Food has always played an important part in the couple’s lives, and it is, Yasmin reveals in this exclusive interview and photoshoot with hello!, the shared passion that brought them together.
“I was searching for a top vegetarian chef for the events I was organising, and then I met Justin,” recalls the former model, whose celebrity clients include Jo Wood, Jade Jagger and Kelly Hoppen. “We got talking about our love of vegetarian food and drive for sustainability, and he prepared the dishes for my next party. We’ve been together ever since.”
The couple are still a recipe for success five and a half years down the line, and Justin – who worked at The Ivy and The Lonsdale before setting up Tiny Leaf, the first zero- waste vegetarian restaurant in London, and his organic food brand Sativa – has collaborated with Yasmin on her exciting new book, How To Eco Picnic.
“I’ve learnt a lot about food from him,” says Yasmin, whose latest offering includes Justin’s delicious vegetarian recipes, as well as styling tips on how to create a vibrant variety of picnics, with themes ranging from the classic summer picnic to picnics for one, urban picnics and the Indianinfluenced “Bhaji on the Beach”.
“In fact, I’m spoilt because he always makes our meals and puts in so much effort. We enjoy our time together, and with three children between us from our previous marriages, a picnic is the ideal excuse to grab quiet time as a couple.
SENSE OF OCCASION
“It’s also the perfect experience to share with friends,” she continues as, right on cue, they are joined by their closest companions, model and actress Camilla Rutherford – who starred in films such as Gosford Park and Vanity Fair – and her partner, tree surgeon Dominic Burns.
As the picnic party of four raise their glasses to the colourfully curated spread, Yasmin adds: “There’s something very special about sharing a picnic with those who are closest to you. Since the pandemic, eating alfresco has become the way to go.
“Whether it’s Covid- 19 or the uncertainty of British summer weather, we all need cheering up. It feels uplifting to create a sense of occasion with a picnic. You can get dressed up, pack a hamper with beautiful tableware and napkins, and enjoy the ceremony of laying places on
the blanket and turning it into a bit of theatre.
“Even if the weather turns, you can still have fun. You can take your picnic indoors, which little ones find equally thrilling, especially if they can bring their friends, siblings, pets and teddy bears. An indoor picnic on a rainy day can be a magical event and entertain the whole family.”
Yasmin tells us how her passion for picnics began when she was a child. “My mother used to take me to the park after school,” she recalls.
“Sitting on a blanket and eating outside felt like such a treat, especially when Mum brought out my favourite chocolate bar for me to nibble.”
In traditional style, her family would always use china crockery, glasses and reusable napkins for their picnics, so Yasmin, who is committed to leading a more sustainable, zero-waste lifestyle, was saddened to notice how single-use plastic cups, polythene bags and cellophane packaging has now become the picnic norm.
BACK TO BASICS
“The throwaway carnage of plastic bags dumped everywhere after outdoor picnics and the typical waste after kids’ parties got me thinking,” says Yasmin, who, after becoming increasingly frustrated by the amount of waste created by events, founded Ecofêtes ethical homeware and TV.
“To reduce it, I’m trying to encourage people to change their mindset. You don’t need disposable napkins or to eat off plastic plates. Use what you already have – china, cutlery and glasses – instead; they look much more attractive and create zero waste.
“Forget paper serviettes, too,” she continues. “Why not make or buy fabric napkins in pretty fabrics, such as the Ecofêtes ones created from recycled saris in my Bhaji on the Beach picnic. It’s a question of going back to basics. My mother and grandmother would have packed those things, not bought new ones.
“People are often rushed for time,” she adds, “but you could have a basket by the door with your favourite plates, folded napkins and a flask packed and ready to go.”
Her advice also extends to the edible contents of the picnic itself, and the easy-to-make recipes created by Justin are shared in her book.
“Rather than grabbing plastic- covered sandwiches and crisps containing E numbers, knock up a few healthy and cost- effective recipes at home,” she says. “Justin’s frittatas are made of leftovers and his eco- Eton mess is a healthier version than the classic recipe. Puddings that are colourful and contain fresh fruit are a far more attractive option than ploughing your way through loads of processed food.”
There’s certainly no sign of this as Yasmin and her friends pile their plates with Justin’s homemade organic treats. Camilla, who is set to star in the TV drama A Very British Scandal and the Mary Quant documentary Quant, tells hello!:
“It’s fun to have a picnic with family or friends, and Yasmin’s book not only shows you how to do this in the most planet-friendly way but is also raising money for an important cause.”
A keen supporter of the Lady Garden Foundation – which funds research into the treatment of gynaecological cancers and is run by her friend Tamara Beckwith, who lost her mother to womb cancer – Yasmin is donating all profits raised through How To Eco Picnic to the charity.
“I’d been planning an event for Lady Garden, but then the pandemic struck,” she says. “Charities were suffering because nobody could fundraise to make donations, and women had become hesitant about getting tested for cancer because they didn’t want to bother medical staff dealing with the Covid.
“Yet, it is as important as ever to catch cancer early and save lives. As a mother I especially feel this,” continues Yasmin, who has two daughters, Lauren, 27, and Madeleine, 22.
“During lockdown, everyone was trying to entertain themselves in their bubbles and that’s when the idea of a book about picnics occurred to me. Picnics are a lovely, fun way for people to go out in their family units, and if this book helps save lives, I will have achieved my aim.” INTERVIEW: SALLY MORGAN PHOTOS: MILLIE PILKINGTON HAIR & MAKE-UP: AMANDA GROSSMAN AT THE ONLY AGENCY
How To Eco Picnic is published by Ecofêtes, priced £18, available to buy from ecofetes.com. With thanks to 10 Castle Street in Dorset, 10castlestreet.com.