Dining Out

It was a beautiful relaxing day which was capped off by dinner out. One of those evenings where the setting was perfect, the wine was excellent, the food was superb and we lingered over dinner. Dinner out wasn’t far away, no need to drive anywhere - just outside the back door on the deck surrounded by gardens that are coming to life, bird feeders alive with exquisite little winged creatures, hummingbirds zooming in and out of their nectar feeding stops, and the warmth and quiet of this evening on our little piece of paradise completed the picture of the best dining out location I know of.

My husband’s father Jack, used to prepare steaks, his special brand of BBQ steaks, for his wife Pat on regular occassions. Alas, I never had the privilege of meeting either Jack or Pat as they passed away before my husband and I were married. David follows his Dad‘s tradition so when we can, on our quiet days together he prepares his own brand of fabulous steaks on the BBQ, creating our own tradition as a couple.

With the smell of the steaks cooking on the grill on this unexpectedly non-rainy evening, we were relaxing at our new teak outdoor dining table, sipping a delightful Pinot Noir (Mud House from Central Otago, New Zealand) and watching all the wildlife that was greedily feeding at the bird feeders hanging between the cedar and hemlock trees. There were a few vegetables from the previous weeks’ organic veggie delivery so it was easy to just par-boil the broccoli and the fingerling potatoes, add some asparagus that definitely was needing to be used. They were tossed together with some olive oil, drizzled with a light coating of balsamic vinegar and seasoned with salt, pepper and a little oregano. When the steaks and veggies were done and delivered to the table, we just sank into the nice cushiony softness of our outdoor dining chairs, sat back, poured another glass of wine and prepared to dine in this ‘ordinary’ haven we call home.

I think the season of ‘dining out’ in the open air, just outside the back door may have arrived! And how glorious it is when it comes and invites us to linger outside and be surrounded the beauty of flowers, growing vegetation and the multitude of birds.