An annual event designed to encourage dining out launched in style with a picnic at an historic rose garden.Restaurant Weeks 2020, organised by the Bermuda Tourism Authority, kicked off at the 300-year-old Waterville property in Paget with a luxury meal that paired food and perfume.Glenn Jones, the BTA chief experience development officer, said: “We created this event as an example of how underused heritage sites can be leveraged together with Bermuda’s cultural assets, especially in the non-summer months.“With new events like this one, the BTA improves our destination’s ability to inspire year-round travel while, at the same time, opening the imaginations of local event planners, caterers and musicians.”Mr Jones added: “Our strategy with all these initiatives has been to advance local food culture, promote sustainability, and create memorable, only-in-Bermuda experiences that capture imaginations and inspire travel.”The picnic was held with Elizabeth Blankendal of event planning and picnic organiser Eettafel and Isabelle Ramsey-Brackstone of the Lili Bermuda perfumery.Guests were entertained by a string ensemble, who will perform with visiting artists later this year at the Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts.The picnic was the first of three special heritage-focused Restaurant Week events organised to highlight Bermudian culture and cuisine.Tomorrow, Fourways Restaurant will host the Bermuda Culture and Heritage Dinner, which will feature a collaboration by Chef Eric Adjepong, a Ghanaian- American Top Chef finalist and island chefs Jaeleen Steede and Raven White of Bermy Eats.The Bermuda Transport Museum in Dockyard will host a fish fry event with local seafood and drinks on February 2.Restaurant Weeks will run until February 2 and more than 50 restaurants are involved.All participating restaurants have added $32, $42, and $52 three-course, prix-fixe menus for dinner and $22 two-course lunches.For more information, menus and tickets for events, visit http://bit.ly/BermudaRW2020.