REVIEW: Nicholas James Deli x SUP Safari

You can't beat a spot of Paddle Boarding followed by a picnic, especially on one of Poole's glorious beaches, so we sent some of our local foodie and lifestyle bloggers across to combine the best of both!

They collected a luxury food hamper from Nicolas James Deli in Ashley Cross and headed to SUP Safari in Sandbanks. Find out what they thought of the experience by reading on...

I always like visiting Ashley Cross with its peaceful green square surrounded by so many lovely independent businesses around it.

On this occasion we were invited to Nicholas James Delicatessen & Stores where we were greeted by Mark (Manager).

The store looks very prestigious as you approach it decorated in Deep Dark Navy with Gold accents reminding me of the Grand Art Deco Delicatessens to be found in New York during the roaring twenties.

Mark immediately welcomed us into his store which you can tell from his enthusiasm that he is extremely proud of & went on to give us a tour of his delightful Deli. The shelves are kept immaculate and the colours from all the produce and products stocked are a feast for the eyes.

The vegetables sourced locally and freshly delivered look like they have all just been polished the colours are so vibrant.

There is an amazing collection of wines and beverages which with a little direction and advice from Mark can be perfectly paired to a fine selection of charcuterie award winning meats, cheeses & breads sauced from the best local artisan producers.

The fish counter boasts an incredible seafood collection which can be presented whole or filleted on request. Do keep an eye out for the fish of the day and feel free to ask for expert suggestions of how best to serve it.

If you are casually passing you can pop in for a finest coffee and specially prepared sandwich or like us on this occasion indulge yourself in a Picnic Hamper to take to Sandbanks Harbour and enjoy at the SUPSafari picnic table before being kitted out with SUPs by their resident expert Lily.

The SUPSafari Van & Hip Horse Trailer Office are conveniently located on the South Side of Sandbanks Harbour with their own little beach and picnic spot.

It’s a stunning setting to indulge in the Nicholas James Deli Picnic Hampers with uninterrupted views across to Brownsea Island & Castle.

The Nicholas James Deli Picnic Hampers can be filled with a selection of your own favourite foods and tipples or the kids can choose to fill them with naughty treats and nibbles of their choice, alternatively they can come beautifully pre designed, prepared and presented. We thought it would be fun to have a mystery picnic hamper and let Mark edit a suitable selection for the perfect beach day.

Marks choice was exquisite and came with a mix of some of the finest local products and fresh to market cool indie brands.

Karma Drinks Lemony, New Forest Fruit Co Ltd Strawberry’s, The Dorset Diary Co Butter, Torres’s Potato Chips, Dirty Dog Dorset Fennel & Garlic, From Dorset with Love Pear & Walnut Chutney, Conker Gin & Juice to name a few…

The picnic was deeelicious, a variety of bread, meats, cheeses, butter, pickles, crisps and refreshing drinks for main course followed up by strawberry’s and gin & juice for dessert.

Now it was time to try my hand at SUP (Stand Up PaddleBoarding)

Lily (SUPSafari) joined us after our picnic and gave us a run through of the SUPSafari Health & Safety procedures.

We were then handed our life jackets and were invited to pick a SUP, Paddle & Bag. The SUP are supplied by BeachBum and really do stand out from the crowd. The BeachBum Paddle Board is a perfect all-rounder, offering excellent stability and buoyancy and is suitable for any experience level, from beginner to expert and anything in between. It’s even large enough to accommodate a passenger too.

The15milefoodie chose the Pink & I chose the Blue SUP with matching Dry Bags to carry our Accs in all from the BeachBum New Dawn Collection.

The tide was in so we were able to splash straight into the water and only walk a few feet until it was deep enough to hop on and paddle away towards Brownsea Island.

The15milefoodie foodie is an experienced SUPer so she glided off into the distance. It was my first time so I gathered my composure and climbed on the board and took up the beginners kneeling position and tentatively set off.

I remembered the advice Lily had given and ensured my balance was centralised and the Paddle was facing the right way around.

We had picked a great day as a heatwave had arrived a few days earlier and the temperature was hovering around 24’.

There was a slight wind which was making the water a little choppy but the board was cutting its way through it nicely.

By the time I caught up with the 15milefoodie she was now stood up and looking like a pro and was taking in the 360’ views of Sandbanks and over to Brownsea Island & Castle. SUPSafari couldn't have picked a better location.

With the water being a little deeper I was encouraged to attempt to “Stand up” and paddle. However, upon standing up I went to paddle but the paddle was not long enough and in my confused state I lost my balance and stumbled backwards straight into the sea. Thankfully the 15milefoodie didn’t capture this moment on film but instead nearly fell in herself as a result of laughing at me so much.

“Note to self the paddle needs to be extended before attempting to stand up and paddle boarding”

After a couple more hilarious back flips and face plants into the harbour I finally got the hang of it and achieved the goal to Stand Up & Paddle (SUP).

We continued to enjoy ourselves out on the water and those glorious views before finally heading back to dry land.

Lily & Bella (SUPSafari) welcomed us back to the base and we’re thrilled that we had thoroughly enjoyed our time with them and the boards.

We look forward to popping back again soon to repeat this amazing combined experience by Nicolas James Deli and SUPSafari to enjoy another SUPer day in the sun…

Thank you to the teams at Nicolas James Deli, SUP Safari & also Total Guide to Poole for a wonderful experience.

Written by 15milefoodie & RubyontheRoadxx