Al Fresco

An Ode to Living and Gathering in Nature

A picnic on the beach. Cocktails and a snack at sunset. Sharing a potluck meal around the fire, and letting the night drift lazily along in the pleasures of roasting marshmallows and swapping stories. Getting together in nature, with food and drink, is among the most restorative rituals we can experience, fostering a kind of intimacy and ease that’s rare in any other setting.

Al Fresco, with its fresh, delicious recipes and unexpected ideas, its tips for exploring new ways to get outdoors, its interviews with dozens of kindred spirits, is an inspiring and beautiful playbook for anyone who wants to spend more time outside with friends and family. The credo is simple: Nature opens us up to ourselves, and the food we share opens us up to each other.

Julie Pointer Adams is a photographer, writer, and creative consultant based in Santa Barbara, California, where she lives with her husband and son. Formerly the visionary behind the original series of global gatherings for Kinfolk Magazine, she has since worked as a stylist, art director, floral designer, and content creator for clients and collaborators all over the world.