Filipino Food for a Picnic
I remember a picnic years ago — a beautiful day, good company, the kind of British summer afternoon that makes you feel lucky to be outside. We'd done what most people do: popped into the supermarket, filled a bag with sandwiches, sausage rolls, dips, a few bits and pieces.
It looked the part. But when we sat down and started eating, everything tasted a little… flat. Fine. Perfectly fine. But not exciting.
And that's the moment I thought — what if we had something to bring it alive? A sauce, a condiment, something bold and flavourful that could transform those supermarket staples into something worth talking about.
RoniB's Kitchen didn't exist yet. But that picnic was part of the reason it does now.
The Great British Picnic — With a Filipino Twist
Whether you're heading to the park on a sunny afternoon, packing a cool bag for a beach day, or setting up a blanket in the garden, the British picnic is one of summer's great pleasures.
The food, though? It doesn't always match the occasion.
Supermarket picnic food is convenient — and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. But a good sauce or condiment is the difference between food that fuels you and food that actually delights you. Filipino flavours are bold, bright and built for sharing — exactly what a picnic should be.
Here's how to use RoniB's Kitchen to transform your next one.
If You're Buying Ready-Made from the Supermarket
This is the real game changer. You don't need to cook a thing — just pack a jar or two alongside your picnic haul and watch everything improve.
Banana Ketchup Swap out the standard tomato ketchup and bring this instead. Sweet, spiced and deeply satisfying — it works on sausage rolls, sandwiches, cold meats, chicken pieces and anything else you've picked up from the supermarket deli counter. Kids love it. Adults can't stop going back for more. And everyone will ask where it came from.
Labuyo Hot Chilli Sauce For those who like a little heat with their picnic. Drizzle over cold meats, dip your crisps in, splash over a supermarket wrap. Bold, bright and genuinely hot — it's the jar that wakes everything up.
Ihaw Ihaw BBQ Sauce Bought a pack of cold BBQ chicken or ribs from the supermarket? Bring Ihaw Ihaw. Use it as a dipping sauce on the blanket and suddenly those supermarket ribs are something else entirely. Sweet, sticky and smoky — it belongs at every outdoor meal.
Garlic Chilli Oil The most versatile jar in the range. Drizzle over bread, dip into it, pour over cheese, spoon over anything savoury. A little goes a long way — and it turns the simplest picnic food into something genuinely exciting.
If You're Cooking Before You Go
If you're preparing food at home before heading out, the full RoniB's Kitchen range comes into its own.
Ihaw Ihaw BBQ Sauce — Marinate chicken thighs or pork skewers overnight, grill in the morning and pack warm or cold. Filipino BBQ travels beautifully.
Garlic Chilli Paste with Scotch Bonnets — Rub onto meat before grilling for a fiery, garlicky crust. Exceptional cold the next day.
Black Bean Chilli Paste — Stir through noodle salads, toss with roasted vegetables or mix into a cold rice dish. Deep, savoury flavour that holds up brilliantly at picnic temperature.
Tamarind Jam — Stir into dressings for a tangy, complex depth. Brilliant over a grain salad or mixed through a slaw.
Kalamansi Marmalade — Mix with olive oil and a splash of vinegar for a bright, citrusy salad dressing. Pack separately and dress at the blanket for the freshest result.
Garlic Chilli Oil — Toss through pasta salads, drizzle over roasted vegetables, or simply pack a jar and let everyone help themselves.
For the Beach
Beach picnics call for food that's bold enough to hold its own against salt air and sunshine — and easy enough to eat with your hands.
Pack the Ihaw Ihaw BBQ Sauce for dipping. Bring the Banana Ketchup for the kids. Add the Labuyo for anyone who wants heat. Keep it simple, keep it flavourful, and let the setting do the rest.
In the Philippines, beach gatherings have always been about grilling over charcoal, eating with your hands and sharing everything. You don't need a charcoal grill on a British beach — but you can absolutely bring the spirit of it.
Your Picnic Kit
The RoniB's Kitchen jars to pack this summer:
- Banana Ketchup — the crowd-pleasing essential
- Labuyo Hot Chilli Sauce — for the heat seekers
- Ihaw Ihaw BBQ Sauce — the dipping sauce that transforms everything
- Garlic Chilli Oil — goes with absolutely everything
Cooking before you go? Add:
- Black Bean Chilli Paste — for noodle salads and rice dishes
- Garlic Chilli Paste with Scotch Bonnets — for marinades and grilled meats
- Tamarind Jam — for dressings and slaws
- Kalamansi Marmalade — for bright, citrusy dressings
Shop Before You Go
Free UK delivery on orders over £35 at ronibkitchen.co.uk.
Find Us In Store
Stocked in over 80 independent retailers across the UK. Pick up a jar on your way.
Search for a shop near you. Go to our Search Bar and type (example) Shops in London
Find Us This Summer
We're out at markets and food festivals all summer long. Come and taste the range before you buy.