Photo: Sint Smeding / Flickr

Summer is great for socialising outdoors. The warmer months are tempered by the sounds of children laughing, water splashing and friends talking. Food becomes more colourful and inventive and there is energy in the air. One of the best things about summer is being able to eat and entertain outdoors. Outdoor dining can take many forms. Here are some ideas to give you inspiration.

Picnic

A picnic is a great way to spend time with family and friends in a relaxed way. Grab a lovely blanket and spread it out on your lawn to create a comfortable environment to share food, fun and laughter. If you prefer a table and chairs select suitable garden furniture to use for your meal. Picnic food is best kept simple; consider finger foods and snacks rather than overly complicated meals. Plan fun activities and enjoy the sunshine – not forgetting your sunscreen of course.

Barbecue

The barbecue is arguably the most popular form of outdoor dining. From top chefs’ recipes like James Martin’s chilli-glazed ribs to the humble hotdog, you can barbecue just about anything. There are plenty of websites and cookbooks dedicated solely to the barbecue to get you inspired.

Take the inside out

Just taking your usual family meal onto your patio or into your garden may be a great way to dine outdoors this summer. Make sure you have some comfortable garden furniture and a couple of cushions, and you could even enjoy a Sunday roast outdoors.

Make the most of the great weather we’re having now and get the whole family out into the fresh air for a change.

Tags: barbecue, garden furniture, picnic, summer