Al Fresco Dining

Al Fresco

The History of Al Fresco Dining

Written By: Anika Akthar

27/07/21

When the go-ahead was given for pubs and restaurants to open their doors for outdoor seating, many establishments across the country embraced this with open arms. Pub gardens were bustling with the necessary space required and restaurants were using their outdoor patios to fit in their groups of six. It was the first sign for the public that things were indeed, slowly getting back to normal.

As the British summer was slowly encroaching, it felt like the perfect time to indulge in al fresco dining. Given the temperamental British weather, outdoor dining isn’t often an option for many establishments. However, the determination of many business owners and customers really proved this decision to be quite successful. According to a BBC article, the UK economy grew by 0.8% in May (a month after the outdoor dining was started). The opening of indoor hospitality not only was successful for the economy, but also revealed how strong the public support for local restaurant owners was.

So, what is al fresco dining exactly? Al fresco dining means to dine outside. The term is borrowed from Spanish, meaning ‘in the fresh air’. Al Fresco dining becomes a lot more popular as the signs of spring and summer start to show. Warm weather and a plateful of delicious food can often be an amazing combination. The food can often make or break a dining experience, but the al fresco experience is more than that. The ambience, the setting, and the company can be the difference between a wonderful time with great food and people to a terrible experience. It is important that you get all of these factors correct to provide customers with the best experience.

Although it is hard to pinpoint when intentional outdoor dining started, there is no doubt that this popular pastime has become cemented in many cultures. During the Medieval era, hunting parties took to the outdoors for their last supper before setting off to slay whatever beast was on the other side of the hunt. These feasts would often include filling pies, hunks of meat, and lots of pastries. Al fresco dining these days is often more on the lighter side.

Outdoor dining has been customary to many European countries for hundreds of years, with families often heading towards open parks to enjoy the weather. Under a sprawled-out lawn, you would often find picnic blankets and basket (particularly popularised in the 20th century) bursting with treats and delicacies of that particular decade. Although these outings were for the family to unwind, there were still elements of formality involved, with everyone dressed in their best clothes.

Whether you are enjoying your food under the shade of a large oak tree in the greenery of a park, or under the awning of a streetside café, the combination of the great outdoors and a delicious meal is the perfect way to eating out. Nature is healing in all its capacities, whether that is a gust of wind blowing ripples into your cup of coffee or a mouth-watering Mediterranean meal while looking out into a picturesque scenery of blue skies and seas.

However, it doesn’t have to be the backdrop of a scenic European city for you to have a great al fresco experience. Many places in Britain and Ireland have started to embrace this form of eating since the rules in lockdown were put in place. You will be able to spot pretty cafés dotted around major cities with their vibrant flowers coiling around the doorways, offering Instagram worthy outside seating for customers. You can also find yourself in quaint courtyards eating a delicious meal, often with locally sourced ingredients, watching the tumbling hills across from you.

At The Shanaz, we have embraced this new form of dining. Our little patio out front has had a makeover and now with seating for small groups, you too can enjoy a sumptuous curry in the cool evening breeze: the perfect combination if we do say so ourselves. As we are located at the heart of Truro city centre, you will not only have the hubbub of Truro in the background, but the foliage of the stunning Victoria Gardens too. Add in the trickling sound of the nearby stream and you have all of your senses tingling.

And that is what the al fresco experience is really about: an enhanced experience from your average dine-in meal.

If you are interested in trying out some of the best curry in Truro, be sure to check out our menu or call us on 01872 225895 for any further queries.

We look forward to seeing you.