An increasingly popular food trend is bringing two of our favourite things – spring flowers and homemade bread – into delicious harmony and we love it. Have you ever seen a focaccia bread decorated like a spring garden before? Fully blossoming with chive stems, onion petals and tomato tulips?
The trend of focaccia art has been building momentum over the last few years and people's creativity is really bursting into life, much like the designs themselves after the raw, adorned dough enjoys 25 mins in the oven.
The floral trend has even seen London's first ever Focaccia Florist bakery open for delivery. You can order a focaccia designed with a single bouquet or a full garden scene.
Recently, an amateur baker posted her focaccia art design to Twitter. The perfectly golden loaf depicted a beautiful spring garden and was hugely popular, garnering over 400k likes and 30k retweets.
All you have to do is head over to the #focacciagarden hashtag on Instagram and you'll see a wealth of floral bread inspiration. Here are a few of our favourites:
How to make focaccia garden art
• Firstly you need a focaccia recipe to make the bread. Here's our simple recipe for cherry tomato focaccia. If using this recipe you can either stop just before putting the cherry tomatoes on top or use them as the starting point for your design.
• Plan your design before you start positioning the vegetables on the dough.
• Use the natural shape of the vegetables you are using. Consider cutting them on a different angle or cross section to get the desired effect.
• Go colourful, remembering that the veg will lose a bit of its brightness once cooked.
• Gently press the vegetables and herbs into the dough and check on it throughout the cooking process to make sure it is not burning. If the veg is starting to look cooked, cover the top with foil while the bread finishes off.
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11 pretty picnic blankets for outdoor dining in style
This M&S foldaway picnic rug leans into the popular 1970s interior trend with its punchy colour combination and retro-inspired chequered print.
Pair it with the matching serving tray and snack bowls for a coordinated dining scheme.
This blanket’s tropical print makes it a fitting choice for summer — mainly as it’s reminiscent of sunny holidays relaxing on the beach.
Earthy tones will complement the green motif, so style it with a woven picnic basket and wooden dinnerware for a rustic look.
This blanket, part of Dunelm’s ongoing collaboration with the National History Museum, is designed to celebrate the wonders of the natural world.
Its vibrant print will create a cheerful and inviting atmosphere for garden gatherings and family picnics. Style it with simple, minimalist tableware so that the eye-catching pattern remains the focal point.
This blanket’s rainbow stripes add a modern twist to the classic Herringbone pattern, making for a stand-out piece.
Mismatched dinnerware in various colours will add to the fun, or stick to neutral accessories to make the multi-coloured print pop.
Mountain Warehouse’s patterned picnic blanket is ideal for camping or hiking — it's lightweight, easy to carry around and folds up compactly.
Its playful puppy print will appeal to dog lovers, whether you’re treating yourself or gifting a fellow pet owner.
This hardy picnic blanket is both stylish and practical, allowing you to set up your meal just about anywhere! It's lightweight and can roll up into a bag meaning it's easy to move around. And it's also waterproof, meaning no one needs to get soggy if you're sat on damp grass or sand.
Helpfully, there's also a hole in the middle for a parasol or umbrella, and best of all, this can be machine washed.
Experts in teatime treats and alfresco dining, Fortnum & Mason knows how to make a quality picnic blanket.
In the luxury department store's signature Eau De Nil colourway, this one is crafted from pure new wool — a durable fabric that can withstand frequent use and is naturally resistant to odours, making it easy to clean and maintain.
Pair it with a famous Fortnum’s food hamper for a fancy picnic.
Beachwear brand BukawaSwim has meticulously considered every detail on this picnic blanket, from using upcycled materials and non-toxic dyes to its citrus design inspired by the French Riveria.
It's also reversible, so you can easily switch between the pretty orange design and a neutral green, while the tasselled border adds some extra texture and interest.
Oliver Bonas is one of our go-to retailers for eclectic, quirky homeware — so, naturally, we can’t resist the brand’s outdoor collection. This picnic rug, complete with a playful checked pattern and contrasting colours, will add a splash of colour to any alfresco setup.
For a fresh and modern look, style it with white or grey dinnerware — or embrace the colourful aesthetic by adding pops of pink and yellow to your picnic arrangement.
At two metres long, this extra large picnic blanket will allow you to spread out food, drinks and other picnic essentials without feeling cramped. Its sand-proof backing makes it suitable for beach days, making it easy to brush off excess sand once you pack up – and it's very affordable, too.
Emma-Louise Pritchard is the Membership Director for Country Living UK & House Beautiful UK, previously Executive Digital Editor for Country Living UK. Emma-Louise is a digital expert specialising in content strategy, social media and newsletters. Her topics include sustainability, homes and interiors, gardening, health and wellbeing, pets, travel and countryside news. She has previously written for Good Housekeeping and Cosmopolitan and has won several awards, from AOP Digital Editor of the Year 2019 to PPA 30 Under 30. Emma-Louise studied at Cardiff University where she completed an MA in Magazine Journalism.
