The best way to maximise the rarity that is British sunshine is to roll out the picnic blanket and light up the barbecue. There is an abundance of delicious, affordable, seasonal food in June for every occasion from strawberries for Wimbledon to barbecued British beef for Father's Day. For is there a place a Dad would rather be than behind a barbecue weilding his tongs for an awe-struck family?

There is an array of meats that can be sizzled on the charcoal. To ensure that meat is British look for the Quality Standard Mark and the Assured Food Standards logo. To be seasonal, stick some sardines on the barbecue. They are rich in omega 3 and calcium and are also one of the most sustainable fish around they are also as cheap as, well, chips. Fresh is definitely best, so if you can, buy them straight from the boat.  Serve them with vinaigrette or a tomato relish.

Polytunnels aside, it is not the recent spat of sunshine that signifies the start of Summer but the British strawberry which comes into season in June and lasts until August.  If you haven't got round to growing your own this year then pick-your-own farms and country markets are where some of the diverse varieties such as Florence and Honeoye can be found. If you needed another excuse to shop locally, strawberries are most flavoursome when picked and eaten in the sunshine. Currently, 80% of British strawberries sold in UK supermarkets are just one variety, Elsanta. These are indeed delicious but so are other varieties and 'strawberry monoculture' is not good for biodiversity.  If the supermarket is your only option, buy British. Britain has a climate that is suited to growing soft fruits and what is more, by ensuring the strawberries you buy are British, you will have fruits filled with flavour as opposed to ones that have been picked too early and sent long distances.

Whilst strawberries or gooseberries can be piled on a pavlova, Summer Pudding and Gooseberry Fool are the British desserts that really epitomise this time of year.  Don't be fooled into thinking gooseberries are only green. Depending on when they are picked and on the variety, gooseberries come in an array of colours including white and red.  The green gooseberries are abundant in June.  These are the sharpest and make the best fools and preserves.  If you want to eat as you pick, wait a few weeks for other varieties to fully ripen to a golden-yellow or ruby-red colour and they will be much sweeter.

For a delicious barbecue chicken recipe [click here]
For a delicious buttered gooseberry recipe [click here]
To find your local pick-your-own [click here]
For information on summer berries [click here]
For a traditional gooseberry jam recipe [click here]
For a gooseberry fool recipe [click here]
For a summer pudding recipe [click here]
For a selection of strawberry recipes [click here]
For help in finding British meat for the barbecue in supermarkets [click here]