Although the glorious British summer will soon be drawing to a close, there is still time to enjoy some balmy evenings outside before the days begin to shorten. Whilst this admittedly has not been the greatest British summer of recent years, it certainly has not been the worst either. There have been plenty of fine evenings to be lazily enjoyed in the garden, watching the sunset cast long shadows from the trees and indulging in the pleasures of al fresco dining.

Whilst many speculate that eating out of doors exudes health benefits, we’d rather accept the joy of the al fresco experience at face value. Little can compare to an informal luncheon or light evening meal with the sun shining upon you. We are sure you’ll agree that this an experience best enjoyed with a large glass of crisp white wine or perhaps a Pimms or two.  

Creating the perfect al fresco dining experience in your own garden need not be unattainable. With an extensive selection of luxury outdoor furniture available directly through this very website, Verdon Grey are able to supply you with the ideal outdoor dining set to perfectly complement your garden or outdoor area.

For example, our Castillon Dining Set, with its understated contemporary teak finish, is stylishly simplistic and would not look out of place in any garden. As with all our outdoor furniture, the Castillon combines style with durability and high quality engineering, meaning you are left with superb furniture that not only looks exquisite, but will also last for many years.

But what use is al fresco dining furniture without some fine summer food to enjoy? Well, here’s a treat from us at Verdon Grey; a supremely simple recipe for fresh raspberry sorbet that’s the absolutely perfect way to round off a light lunch on a warm summer afternoon. Only slightly sinful, this treat is very easy to make.

Our Recipe for Fresh Raspberry Sorbet:

To make this sorbet you will require;

450 grams of caster sugar
500 ml of water
A large punnet of fresh raspberries, around 600 grams
The juice of a whole lime or lemon, the choice is yours

First, bring the sugar and water to the boil in a saucepan over a medium heat; keep a close watch on this. Once the mixture reaches the boil, reduce the heat and bring it to a gentle simmer until the sugar is dissolved without stirring. This should take around three minutes. Once you’re satisfied that the sugar is completely dissolved, set the mixture to one side and let it cool completely.

The next step is to remove the stems from your raspberries and wash them thoroughly under the cold tap. For best results, we recommend using the freshest raspberries you can lay your hands on. Once prepared, place the raspberries into a food processor along with the lemon juice and purée.

Once the fruit is puréed, it needs to be strained to remove the unwanted pips. A fine sieve is an ideal tool for this job. The purée may need a little encouragement with the back of a spoon to press it through the sieve.

If the sugar syrup is cool by this point, then you should pour the puréed raspberries into the syrup and give it a thorough mix.

Now comes the fun part; freezing. If you have an ice cream maker, then this is extremely simple; just place your mixture into the machine and wait. If not then pour your mixture into a sturdy container that can withstand the cold and place it into the freezer. After 30 minutes, remove the mixture from the freezer; it should be starting to freeze around the edges. Give it a good thorough stir with a spatula or, if you’re feeling adventurous, a hand whisk. Place it back in the freezer and repeat this process every thirty minutes until you are satisfied with the consistency of your sorbet.

To serve, simply scoop balls of sorbet onto a dish and garnish with a spring of fresh mint. This sorbet can be enjoyed on its own or as an accompaniment to a dessert. Of course, it’s best enjoyed al fresco.

For further information about the super selection of luxurious garden furniture available from Verdon Grey, then please do not hesitate to contact us; we’ll be happy to answer your queries about any of the products that we offer.