« Garden Barbecues | Home | Tips in Landscaping your Garden »
Viva Al Fresco
By admin | July 24, 2008
Patio passion kicked off in the early 1970s. Higher wages, shorter working hours and the birth of the package holiday introduced many people to the delights of Spanish costas. For the first time, eyes were opened to the possibilities of outdoor living and especially outdoor eating, a previously unheard of pastime.
The humble suburban terrace soon became renamed the patio, a Spanish word brought back by tourists who wanted a smack of Spain in their homes. The aroma of food cooking outdoors, mixed with the heady scent of jasmine, set off a channel crossing trend…Viva al fresco.
Over the past thirty years Britain’s continental neighbours have moved entertaining outdoors onto a whole new plane. The big fashion centres of Europe reflect a passion for pavement living. Parisian cafes spill out onto the street with their fancy cafe bistro sets and offer locals and tourists an open air way of life. The British have been slow to adapt to this trend, partly because of the weather but over the last few years they have caught up with their European neighbours. Pizza parlours, bars, cafes and restaurants have all invested in the fashion for outside areas decked out with a shiny metal garden furniture, giant patio awnings, pop up gazebos and fragrant planting.
As a new attitude takes over communal areas, expectations are raised even higher when entertaining at home, but can a small patio space be transformed into a truly viable entertaining area? A party can mean many different things but we all know that it is possible to cram dozens of people inth the smallest room in the house if it is a really good party, so of course the same can be applied outside. The key is planning; how many people can you invite, do you want to eat, cook, stand around and chat or even have a bit of a dance? Once you have your list of requirements with a bit of thought and care you can create the perfect party garden.
Topics: Alfesco Dining |
