Lunch outdoors is not only for summer. In the mountains, a winter picnic can become part of a day of skiing, snowshoeing or walking, especially when there is somewhere sheltered to stop and a fire nearby.

The food can be simple and suited to cold weather. Mountain cheeses, charcuterie, thick slices of bread and pickles travel well and require very little preparation once you arrive. A thermos of soup is useful when something warm is needed, while baked potatoes or sausages can be cooked over a fire where this is permitted.

A wooden board makes an easy serving surface for cheese and cured meats. Add a few smaller dishes with nuts, dried fruit, mustard or chutney and the meal quickly becomes substantial enough for a winter afternoon.

Hot drinks are just as important. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate or warm apple juice can be carried in insulated flasks and served throughout the lunch.

The practical side matters more in winter. Food should be packed so it stays dry, while insulated cushions, blankets and waterproof layers make sitting outside considerably more comfortable. It is also worth choosing a location before setting out rather than trying to build a lunch stop wherever you happen to be.

For a day in the mountains, the combination works particularly well: time outside, something warm from the fire and a table filled with regional food.

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