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Three ways to elevate your al fresco dining experience this spring

Words by Denby Pottery

28 April 2021 | 

3 mins

Written by our friends at Denby Pottery.

Dining outdoors is the perfect way to welcome the new season. Here, Hayley Baddiley from Denby shares her tips for creating an al fresco dining experience at home this spring. Founded in 1809 and named after the Derbyshire village where it began, Denby are renowned for their hand-crafted kitchen and tableware- they know a thing or two when it comes to creating the perfect table setting.

Spring is finally here! As you’ve spent plenty of time indoors over the past months, you’re no doubt ready to venture outside this season, and what better way than to enjoy an al fresco meal? Whether it’s a relaxed family dinner or something a little more special, dining outside is the perfect way to enjoy the spring sunshine.

I’ve put together my tips for creating the perfect outdoor dining experience this spring, so you can make the most of the season.

Choose seasonal foods

It takes lots of energy to grow foods out of season, releasing harmful greenhouse gases into the environment. If they’re not grown in the UK, our out of season foods are shipped from abroad, which not only produces more fossil fuels, but they often take days to get to our supermarket shelves, compromising freshness and flavour.

Locally produced, seasonal ingredients are not only more delicious than those grown out of season, but they’re also more sustainable. For your outdoor dining experience, consider cooking recipes that include spring fruits and vegetables, such as:

• Apricots
• Asparagus
• Artichokes
• Beetroot
• Carrots
• Chives
• Fennel
• Leeks
• Peas
• New potatoes
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Watercress
• Rhubarb

Choosing seasonal ingredients makes it even easier to support your local small businesses. Pop to a nearby greengrocers or farmers’ market to find ingredients grown in your local area.

It’s as important as ever to support UK farming, so try to shop for high-quality British meat wherever you can. Field & Flower offer a range of award-winning meats and fish that are all free-range and have been reared and caught by independent farmers and fishermen.

Try a charcuterie board

Charcuterie boards are the perfect option for spring dining. They take minimal preparation to put together but are packed with flavour. Plus, they encourage everyone to relax and help themselves.

Charcuterie is the French term for preparing meat products, which makes meat the cornerstone of your grazing platter. Cured ham and salami are the most popular options, and these are usually imported from France or Italy. However, we’re now seeing a rise in British charcuterie made from delicious ingredients you can find right here in the UK.

Combine your meat with a selection of your favourite cheeses on a serving platter or wooden board. Then, add a few little extras, such as Scotch eggs, seasonal fruits and vegetables, pickles, jams, and chutneys, and a loaf of artisanal bread from your local bakery.

Grazing boards go perfectly with a bottle of wine, so choose your favourite bottle to enjoy with your dish. Why not select a bottle of your favourite bubbly? English sparkling wines are growing in popularity, and some have even surpassed French and Italian wines in terms of flavour. This would be an especially great option if you’ve opted for British ingredients on your charcuterie board.

As an alternative to wine, you could always serve up a glass of British cider, a homemade cocktail, or some freshly pressed fruit juice.

Find the perfect tableware

Your mouth-watering dishes need the perfect backdrop, so choose your tableware carefully to create an outdoor dining table to impress. The best way to do this is by deciding what kind of tone or theme you’d like to set and choosing ceramics to match.

For example, brown, cream, and denim-toned ceramics are perfect for a laidback, rustic dinner. Add a few lanterns and candles to create a more intimate atmosphere.

If you’d like to evoke the feeling of being by the sea, deep blue, green, and white hues are a great option. For this look, the simplest table settings can often be the most beautiful.

You could also consider matching your tableware to the foliage in your garden. Deep greens and pastel tones are perfect for spring, so look for pale pink, blue, and green ceramics. Mix and match them with neutral tones and add a floral centrepiece for an eye-catching table setup to match the season.

As the sun comes out and the spring buds emerge, now is the perfect time to enjoy some al fresco dining. By following these tips, you can prepare and serve up a beautiful outdoor dinner for your family this season.