Could You Dine Outdoors More Often?

What is it that makes outdoor dining so special? Although we may all struggle to identify a single factor that defines why eating outdoors should be so much fun, there's a general acceptance that it definitely makes things a little different.
Most people tend to aspire to eat outdoors more often and it's often seen as one of the great things about going on holiday. If you don't believe me, just listen to people talking about why they love spending time in Greece or Italy. It won't be long before you hear them discussing long lunches in restaurants that have great outdoor spaces and a wonderful view.
So why is it that we don't spent quite so much time eating outside back in the UK? It's tempting to blame our different habits on the weather. This makes some sort of sense - after all, we need little encouragement to start moaning about the weather! We also know that we live in a country where it can be sunny one minute and pouring with rain the next.
This would appear to confirm that it's the weather conditions that really cause a problem. Unfortunately, this is a very simplistic view. As ever, the reality is much more complicated.
There can be no doubt that changing weather conditions do cause difficulties when we're looking to plan garden parties and gatherings. How can we confidently plan something, when it could easily be wrecked by the weather? The answer here is that we need to think more about the preparations. With proper planning, there's no reason why the weather should be able to spoil the fun.
Let's think about the basics. When dining outdoors, the first thing that you need is a decent set of table and chair. You might even look to combine the two and buy yourself a wooden picnic bench. But having somewhere to sit and place your food would appear to be an absolute necessity.
While thinking about the table, now's a good time to consider likely weather conditions. A parasol or gazebo would appear to be good for preparing you for sunshine and showers. You should certainly have these available to you.
What about the cooking? Many of us have shown that it's perfectly possible to cook on a barbecue, using an umbrella for protection if necessary! If you don't like the sound of that, remember that there's absolutely nothing wrong with using the oven if things are looking really bleak.
Think creatively and try to keep things rolling. You'll be amazed at how far the right attitude and planning can take you. You'll find that you could be eating outdoors a lot more frequently.