There is something special about alfresco dining. Sadly, unless you venture out to a streetside café in the city, you’re not likely to experience it as often as you’d like. Until now…
Garden upgrades have skyrocketed since worldwide lockdowns forced many people to remain home. Homeowners began transforming their small green patches into oases into which they could escape from the constant onslaught of the news. Some installed swimming pools, others created Japanese-themed Zen meditation spaces, while aspiring chefs converted their gardens into outdoor cooking and dining areas. Today we are going to share some tips on designing the ideal garden for outdoor dining.
Warm and Welcoming
You’re going to want to use your dedicated outdoor dining space often, even in the cooler months. It’s essential that your space is warm and welcoming throughout the year. Consider investing in a patio heater or light blankets to ward off the winter evening chill. Include your guests in the culinary experience by setting up your outdoor kitchen in an open-plan layout.
Correct Cooker
A vital component of any chef’s kitchen, aside from a high-quality set of knives, is the right cooker. If you’re planning to serve delectable Italian cuisine from your garden kitchen, a wood-fired pizza oven and a small gas hob may be sufficient. Those of you hoping to entertain the ladies from your book club may prefer a thermofan oven to prepare delightful cakes and other delicious pastries.
Durable Furniture
Having to set up a table and chairs for an alfresco meal and then take them inside again is a chore which you need not do if you allocate funds in your budget for the purchase of durable rattan garden furniture. This kind of bamboo is a renewable natural resource. It is weatherproof and is easily cleaned with a damp cloth and a mild soap solution. What’s great about it too, is that you can stain or paint it to match your desired colour scheme.
Tableware
Glassware, crockery and cutlery are a matter of personal taste. However, if you are going to be entertaining guests and want to make a lasting impression, we recommend purchasing the best tableware you can afford. White crockery is often the wisest choice as it can be set upon any table and decorated to highlight the theme of the meal.
Other Kitchen Essentials
Whether you are going to be enjoying a solo meal, or entertaining a group, your outdoor kitchen will require some other, small essentials not mentioned above: a small fridge to keep salad items and dairy products fresh, a kettle or coffee machine to serve your guests a post-meal hot beverage, and if you can afford it, a dishwasher so that you can spend time conversing with your guests and not having to stand in front of the sink for hours once they’ve returned home.
These guidelines should be enough to inspire the creative pop-up restaurant owner within you. Happy cooking!
