For the past year life has felt like being on hold. One month merged into the next without making much distinction – or even to mark that that time had passed.
Now, with the unofficial start of summer here, it finally feels like a new season, complete with fine weather and the promise of finally being able to meet friends and family in person.
Take these accessories, tools, and ingredients with you to create a successful alfresco brunch, lunch, dinner, or cocktail party.
Canned cocktails and wines are of course perfect for everything from picnics to campfires. Although there are many of these drinks in the market, I usually serve the same ones over and over again. One of my all-time favorites is the Sofia Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine, which comes in 187 ml ($ 5) cans. Each can contains a paper straw. Four of them correspond to a full-size bottle, but are much easier to pack and less cumbersome to carry.
You can’t run The Godfather Franchise or be a pasta expert. When I heard that Francis Ford Coppola was selling an 11-inch ceramic noodle serving bowl ($ 22) I had to check it out. According to tradition, Coppola found it while eating in a restaurant in Rome. While it’s perfect for a summer pasta feast, it can also include salads or fruit.
Just because you’re outside doesn’t mean you should drink from a solo red mug. Fortunately, Cocktail Kingdom has an impressive collection of acrylic glasses. The six-packs with 5-ounce Nick & Nora glasses ($ 34) are particularly practical.
No matter what you drink, an ice bucket is an easy way to add to the experience. This model from Fortessa ($ 65) is simple and elegant, with two doorknob-like handles that make it easy to carry. The 9-inch pail is 8-inch in diameter, which is large enough to hold a regular bottle but still convenient to pack.
A versatile mixing bowl that looks good enough to put on the table is hard to find. I was intrigued by HydroFlask’s set ($ 140), which includes both 3-quart and 5-quart bowls, as well as a set of serving spoons. Like the brand’s well-made water bottles, the trays are made from durable stainless steel and powder-coated in three color options. The double-walled design gives them a satisfactory weight that anchors them while stirring. And they each come with an incredibly tight-fitting lid that makes it very easy to transport dishes. While they are great for parties, you can use them every day.
Let the kitchen tool brand Oxo and outdoor equipment retailer REI team up on a range of creative and innovative tools and equipment for outdoor dining. My favorite piece is awesome BBQ tongs with a built-in bottle opener ($ 20). (It also comes with a handy spatula.) Coffee aficionados can keep an eye out for the sturdy French press of the collaboration ($ 25), which will be available soon. It has an oversized handle to make pouring easier and a break-proof carafe – properties I would have wished for in any coffee maker.
From picnics to stargazing to outdoor movies, all you need is a comfy blanket to sit, lounge, and eat on. Given the amount of time we’ll be spending this summer, indulge yourself with this model from Belmont Blanket ($ 120) for Westland Whiskey in Portland, Oregon. It has a soft fleece surface that makes even hard packed earth more comfortable, and the back is covered with a waterproof material. (It’s also washable – a blessing if you knock over your brunch, for example, or get caught in a sudden thunderstorm.) When you’re done, roll it up tightly and secure it with its cute leather belt.