Summer has arrived, and with it lots of opportunities to spend time outdoors with friends and family - whether it’s a picnic at the beach, a long lunch on an outdoor terrace, or dinner in the garden.
As a family business, we love this aspect of summer - the longer days and warmer weather make it so easy to spend time together.
Enjoying seasonal food and a relaxed pace of life outdoors is ingrained in the Italian lifestyle, and as UASHMAMA was founded in Tuscany, we thought we’d bring those Tuscan vibes to you, wherever you are.
How to dine like a Tuscan
Tuscans love eating all'aperto, meaning outside. In the UK we often use the term al fresco when talking about outdoor dining, but in Italy this has a completely different meaning!
Eating like a Tuscan means using simple, seasonal, high-quality ingredients.
For breakfast, a good, strong coffee and a sweet baked treat is the preferred combination in Tuscany, and it’s even better when enjoyed at a table outside a café or even on your own terrace.
Lunch during the week is often a quick, one-course meal (although there’s always some Tuscan bread on the side) followed by an espresso.
On the weekends there’s a chance for lunch to be a more leisurely affair - multiple courses, lots of conversation, and perhaps a glass or two of wine.
A Tuscan dinner is similar to lunch, but for a special occasion, indulging in 5 to 6 courses is the norm, of course paired with a Tuscan wine like Chianti or Brunello di Montalcino.
Here are a couple of quick ideas for your antipasto course, if you fancy dining like a Tuscan.
Tomato bruschetta
Bruschetta is a perfect part of the antipasto course - the first course in a meal, intended to get your tastebuds going.
In Tuscany, bruschetta is sometimes also known as fettunta, and uses traditional Tuscan bread, made without salt.
While there are various versions, the tomato bruschetta is the most well-known, is super quick and easy to make, and really delicious.
All you need is Tuscan bread, tomatoes, garlic, basil, salt, and olive oil, as you can see in this Bruschetta Recipe by Visit Tuscany.
Build the perfect tagliere
What you might know as a charcuterie board is called a tagliere in Italian, and this can also be part of the antipasto course. It’s another straightforward one, with the focus being on high quality ingredients.
Pile a wooden board high with:
- Thinly-sliced meats (or salumi in Italian) such as prosciutto, salami, capocollo, and lardo di Colonnata - a Tuscan cured pork fatback.
- A selection of cheeses (or formaggi) like Pecorino Toscano, Gorgonzola, and fresh mozzarella.
- Add some accompaniments such as fresh bread, nuts, olives, and a bit of fruit and veg to break up the heaviness of the meat and cheese.
Photo by Sofia Avogadri on Pexels
10 tableware favourites for summer 2026
That’s the food covered, but what about a beautiful Tuscan-inspired tablescape to hold all those delectable delights?
A Tuscan dining table is often rustic and simple, yet abundant - items are well loved, with most things on the table having a use, rather than being for decoration.
Whether you’re dining inside or outside this summer (we know how fickle the UK weather can be), these Mediterranean-style homeware items will make you feel like you’re dining like a Tuscan.
1. A simple linen tablecloth & napkins
Adding a tablecloth to your outdoor dining table immediately elevates the experience.
We love this natural linen tablecloth from Garden Trading (currently £88 in the sale) - the frayed edges give an instantly worn-in, rustic feel, and our UASHMAMA Fringed Italian Linen Napkins (£22) pair perfectly with it.
2. Patterned plates & bowls
Italians love to blend craftsmanship and artistry with practical everyday use, so you can often find beautifully painted, patterned plates and bowls in Italian homes - and they often don’t match.
This Antica Plate from Maison Flaneur (£24.33) is beautifully simple, and made in Italy. We also love this Limone plate from Molleni (approx £33) which is also made in Italy but ships from France. Both shops have lots of other beautiful plates and bowls if you like to mix and match.
3. Robust wine glasses
A robust Tuscan red wine deserves an equally robust glass - one that you can keep and use for years to come.
We love these Hammered Wine Glasses by Nkuku (£48 set of 4), which are hand-blown from recycled glass. They’re chunky and rustic, and we think they’d fit in perfectly on a Tuscan table.
4. Timeless Italian cutlery
Sambonet is an Italian company founded in 1856 specialising in cutlery, so they really know their Italian tablescapes.
Their Royal Cutlery Set (£72.11 for 16 pieces) is truly timeless and will look great on any dining table, Tuscan or not, and you just know it will last a lifetime - that’s the beauty of great Italian craftsmanship.
5. Rustic pots & serving dishes
Serving up a meal “family style” is very Italian - this is when pots, platters and bowls are placed on the table so that everyone can serve themselves.
Sourcing dishes second-hand is great for this, but it can take a while to build up a collection, so adding in a few new, handmade ceramic pieces is a good way to go.
This Sardine Bowl by Jennifer Hall (£48) would be a lovely addition to a Tuscan-inspired dining table - though it’s made in the UK, it definitely has an Italian feel to it.
6. Washable paper serveware
To hold cutlery, napkins, fruit, bread, or anything else, the UASHMAMA Paper Bag is so handy, sustainable, and comes in lots of different colours, so there’ll be one to suit your Tuscan tablescape.
We love the summery new shades for a pop of colour on the dining table - the Pesca Paper Bag (£19) is a vibrant orange, and the Sole Paper Bag is a sunny yellow.
7. An olive wood board for the tagliere or bruschetta
To serve up the delicious antipasto you’ve made - whether it’s the bruschetta, the tagliere, or both - you’ll need a beautiful wooden board.
The Olive Wood Chopping Boards from Eco Living (£20) are made from retired olive trees that no longer produce olives - what could be more Italian?
8. Add an understated centrepiece
While the main focus of a Tuscan meal is the food, you could add a simple centrepiece - as long as it doesn’t get in the way of conversation or reaching for another piece of bread!
This Rustic Tall Stone Jug from Chosen by Jessica (£29.25) would look perfect with a single elegant branch - an olive branch would be ideal if you can find one locally.
9. Candles for when the sun goes down
Speaking long into the warm evening is such a wonderful part of summer, and you’ll need a gentle glow to be able to see your loved ones’ faces and locate your glass of wine.
These Black Iron Candlesticks from The Newt in Somerset (£14-18) are gorgeously simple and rustic, and you can buy Dinner Candles (£18) from there too.
10. Bring the outdoors in with a colourful print
For those summer days that you’d love to be eating outside, but the weather just isn’t cooperating, brighten up your dining space with a colourful print with Mediterranean vibes.
This Tomatoes on the Vine Wall Art Print from Skudaboo (from £14) is a simple, jolly print, and you can even get it ready-framed.
Now you’re all set to dine like a Tuscan all summer long!
For more Italian-inspired outdoor dining tips, check out our other blog posts: Outdoor living: 7 small sustainable touches that’ll make your garden feel more like another room in the house, and Our Summer guide to the perfect luxury picnic (with 2 Tuscan salad recipes).
Buon appetito!
Photo by Antonius Ferret on Pexels