Last night, we had dinner on the outdoor patio of our local tex-mex restaurant. The food was good – black bean burrito with mole, and a really good margarita – but somehow, being outside really made the meal. We don’t eat outdoors often. That’s one disadvantage of living in a third-floor apartment with no balcony: taking food outside is kind of a hassle. This is the first place I’ve lived without any easy access to the outdoors, and while leaving the windows open is nice, it’s no substitute.
What is it about dining outdoors? Eating al fresco is sort of a tradition for my family in the summer (my aunt calls it “dining with Al”). It’s relaxing and calm; even with the neighbor’s lawnmower, or noisy traffic and passersby, it seems to slow down the meal and let everyone appreciate it more. Having fresh air is a definite plus, and in the summer the air outdoors can be especially pleasant with a little breeze. It’s a wonderful contrast to being cooped up with AC the rest of the day. Most of all, I think, eating outside sets the meal apart, gives it a celebratory air. All our summer food traditions – picnics, cook-outs – are centered around the outdoors. Maybe an outdoor meal puts us in mind of something special?
Whatever the reason, it’s very much worth doing right now, while the weather is still nice and warm.