Alfresco Dining at Home: An Experience
Dining Alfresco, simply means dining outside. Alfresco dining at home is one of my favorite things to do especially in the warmer summer months and into fall. I always love to take in the fresh air and the sounds and sights of nature while relaxing with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and a great meal.
Alfresco dining at home can really be a whole experience. No matter what the space is you can make it cozy and comfortable for your dining pleasure. At my home, I usually dine alfresco on the porch off of my bedroom. It overlooks the water and is just a cool and relaxing and quiet vibe. Since its pretty high of the ground its pretty private as well. If you don’t have a porch some other really great places to set up for alfresco dining are, by the pool, in the garden, or on a patio. All you really need is a well maintained spot thats level enough to at the very least place chairs and a table. Alfresco dining is also an awesome way to enjoy date nights or special occasions with your significant other.
Once you’ve found a good location you will want to add a few elements just to set the scene and make it feel cozy . Some of my go to accessories include, my chimnea or fire pit, a string of soft white lights (I found some cool solar ones) , a couple of outdoor lanterns, candles, and some music. If I’m feeling really fancy I’ll add an outdoor rug (gorgeous rug in the pic is available in our shop!).  Bang – You’ve just created ambiance!
Now it’s time to work on your table. This is purely by preference, but I personally am not a fan of plastic or paper plates. I never ever eat out of plastic plates at home. When I dine alfresco I use my regular special occasion dinnerware and glassware, as well as cutlery. Trust me the dinnerware will help dining alfresco at home feel like a real experience. It’s also really nice to have a table cloth or a runner on your table and also some cloth napkins. The textiles will help to add warmth to the setting. Depending on the size of your table you can layer the textures as well. Always remember, the more fabric the warmer the space. The colours you use for your textiles will also help to set the mood. When I’m planning an intimate dinner for two , I like to stick to the more neutral colors. I also like to accessorize the table with unscented candles or tealight holders and some fresh greenery or flowers. Normally ill use greenery and flowers I find around the yard.Â
After you’ve got your table all sorted, you can focus on the menu. I Love to start off with a sharing plate. I’ll either do a small cheese board, with light cheeses, fruit and olives , or I’ll do a light salad like a caprese salad. This is especially good when you’ve got local produce available. Below i’ve gathered a few recipes that may help you to make alfresco dining at home a complete experience.Â
- Summer salads
- Linguine in Creamy Garlic sauce with shrimp
- Miss T’s Eggs Benedict (breakfast option)
- Beef Tenderloin with peppercorn sauce
- Broiled Salmon
- Blueberry Pound Cake
Alfresco dining at home is perfect for small intimate gatherings or if you’ve got the space special family gatherings as well. It’s a great way to unwind after a long day and a great way to enjoy your coffee at the beginning of your day. Remember alfresco dining at home is all about creating an experience.
