Eat Outside Day

Eating outdoors connects us to our earliest ancestors, who gathered around communal fires under open skies. In the Middle Ages, European nobles hosted hunting feasts on grassy lawns, while peasants picnicked on bread and cheese in the fields. In the 17th century Bavarians invented beer gardens, serving lagers under chestnut trees to keep cellars cool. Colonial Americans held ‘frolics’ with cider, corn pudding and roasted meats. In the Victorian era, picnics became elaborate affairs with linen napkins and silverware. Today we pack sandwiches for hikes, grill burgers in backyards and dine al fresco at sidewalk cafes. Eat Outside Day, observed on August 31, celebrates all forms of outdoor dining. To honour it, spread a blanket in a park and unpack homemade salads, fruit and crusty bread. Or bring takeout to the beach and let the waves provide the soundtrack. If you’re lucky enough to have a garden or balcony, set the table under the stars and light candles as dusk falls. Eating outside changes your perception of flavour; aromas mingle with fresh air and conversation flows more easily. The holiday reminds us to step away from screens and walls, breathe deeply and appreciate our food in the company of trees, birds and sky.