Outdoor Dining Ideas

With the warm weather and long days ahead of us, there's no better way to welcome the season than by enjoying the great outdoors. Invite your friends and family over to embrace spring fever by dining al fresco tonight! With a little planning and some creative ideas, you will impress your guests with some new twists on the traditional barbecue or picnic.

Create an Atmosphere

Set the scene by adding a portable stereo, some cushions and a rug for a classy al fresco dining experience. Try using colored lanterns, luminaries or candles to surround the area.

Pick a Theme

Beginning with invitations and focusing your menu on a regional or global theme, you can take your guests' taste buds on various trips by selecting recipes representative of a particular cuisine.

Pump Up the Flavor

Give your food extra flavor by grilling with wood chips. Soaked wood chips don't burn, they just smoke, and this provides great flavors. Types of wood recommended for grilling poultry are: Alder, Apple, Cherry, Grape vines, Hickory, Maple, Oak, Peach, Pear, and Pecan. Of course you can also use herbs such as bay leaves, garlic, rosemary or tarragon.