By Jackie Pope-Ganser, Culinary Director, Meadows at Mercy Creek
Dining al fresco simply means eating outdoors. While some might find the terminology a bit upscale, there is no more traditional way to celebrate the summer than enjoying a meal in the fresh open air. The phrase is borrowed from the Italians, but all over the world enjoying a meal outdoors in warmer months offers an opportunity for lively conversation, encourages a lighter menu of seasonal foods, and provides a chance to enjoy the simpler moments of the day.
For generations, we have been part of the evolution of outdoor dining. Our parents and grandparents would celebrate any occasion with a backyard BBQ. A road trip across the U.S. always consisted of a cooler packed with waxed-paper wrapped sandwiches that would be eaten at rustic rest stop tables. The settings may be a little different today, but the pleasures of a slower pace and sharing other’s company remains the same.
Today, when you walk down the sidewalks of any urban area, you will see restaurant patrons chatting and enjoying a glass of wine while twirling forks of pasta or dipping crusty bread into small bowls of infused olive oil. With accessibility to great markets, local produce, and furnishings beyond the imagination, entertaining outdoors has become a mainstay of today’s generations as well. Below are tips for hosting a noteworthy outdoor gathering.
Plan the Menu — To keep your party casual yet elegant, make sure your menu choices are seasonally appropriate without a lot of fuss. An ideal menu will feature one or two meat options, plenty of fresh fruit and salad options, a selection of cheeses, olives, dried fruits, and nuts.
A perfect summer beef choice is flank steak, which can be marinated the day before with olive oil, sherry and fresh herbs then grilled and sliced thinly on the bias and fanned on a platter with heirloom tomato slices. Another ideal summer option is salmon prepared on cedar planks on the grill, then garnished with lemon wedges, fresh dill, red onion and capers. Both options are perfect served slightly chilled or at room temperature.
Make sure your buffet has a variety of salad options, so you don’t have to worry about keeping foods hot in warmer months. Take a chance and explore different ingredients that you may not normally use. Instead of traditional coleslaw, make a version with sesame oil-soy–rice wine-vinaigrette. Give your potato salad a lift with lemon, whole grain mustard and fresh herbs. And, savor the season with grilled eggplant, peppers, zucchini, and onions drizzled with a balsamic glaze.
Setting the Table — When enjoying al fresco dining, have fun with the decorations and table settings. Imagine your everyday picnic table covered in white linen, then set with contrasting placemats and neutral toned dinnerware. Linen napkins tied with natural raffia or twine will complement the table, along with classically designed stemware. Polished stones not only add a rustic element to the table, but are also very practical in keeping linens in place if the winds catch the corner of a cloth.
Centerpieces of garden flowers like peonies and hydrangea are always a crowd-pleaser, but the simplicity of cut wildflowers and natural grasses offer a very country cottage appeal. And, don’t overlook the use of potted plants and strategically placed large patio plants around the dining area. Whether you are on a patio, a deck, a courtyard or the backyard, have fun transforming the space into something beautiful.
Selecting the Space — When navigating the perfect space for your guests to dine outdoors, keep them sheltered from too much sun and too much wind. Make sure that your outdoor dining table is in a safe location without tripping hazards, dips or uneven places in the yard. And, perhaps most important, choose a spot that is conveniently located near the best entrance to a guest washroom.
One of the worst aspects of a Midwest summer evening is the uninvited guests. Insects can be abundant, so make sure you have a lot of citronella candles and torches placed around your party area to protect from bug bites. The additional bonus of plenty of citronella candles and torches is that the glow of the fire enhances the environment with a party mood and provides outdoor lighting as well.
Whether you are celebrating an engagement, a birthday, or simply having friends over for a weekend gathering, take advantage of a beautiful summer evening by stepping outdoors. The food, the mood and the conversation are sure to be enlivened by the fresh air!
For more information about senior living, you may contact Meadows senior director of marketing, Holly Hall, at 309-268-1501. Meadows offers a full range of senior living options — independent living, independent living-plus, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing care and rehab therapy — with two locations: Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community in Chenoa and Meadows at Mercy Creek in Normal. Meadows is ranked a five-star quality care provider by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Photo credit: Spotmatik/iStock
Grilled Summer Vegetable Salad
Serves: 8-12 as a side dish
2 firm eggplant, washed and sliced ½” thick
2 each: red, yellow, and orange peppers, washed, stemmed and cut in half vertically
4 zucchini, washed, stemmed and cut in half lengthwise
2 red onions cut in ½” rings
Olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Mixture of fresh herbs like basil, Italian parsley and thyme
Balsamic vinegar glaze
Preheat gas grill or prepare charcoal grill. While preheating, wash and cut eggplant, peppers, zucchini and red onion. Lie on large rimmed cookie sheets and brush with olive oil. Season the vegetables with salt & pepper. When the grill is ready, cook vegetables over indirect heat, turning frequently to prevent burning. Remove from grill and let cool.
Once vegetables have cooled, cut into bite-size chunks and toss together in bowl with chopped fresh herbs, 3–4 Tbsp. of balsamic glaze, to taste, and additional salt and pepper, if needed.