Letter A: "Alfresco" or "Al fresco"? Stai fresco!

From the Appetibilis Glossary comes the letter A: “Alfresco” or “Al fresco”? Stai fresco!

In these days temperatures range from 28 to 38 °Celsius (82 to 100 °F) and everybody is looking for some “fresco” (fré-sko), i.e. some cool air, shadow areas, or chilled location.

No doubt that having lunch or dinner “alfresco or al fresco” brings some relief from this sultry weather, however, the right way to say it in Italian is “pranzare / cenare all’aperto” (pran-zà-rɛ / ce-nà-rɛ al-a-pèr-to), or “fuori” (fuò-ri), dine outdoor, or outside.

The not so funny side of “Al fresco” (two words) is that it conveys another meaning. In Italian lingo, it’s an ironic way to say that somebody is behind bars. If you take into consideration that jail caterers may not be so esteemed, dining “al fresco” sounds a little awkward to Italian ears, (at least in Italy).

“Fresco” is a tricky word for a first learner of Italian language. There is “affresco” (af-fré-sco) as for Giotto, Michelangelo and all our masters’ artists, but this time they are not involved.

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Let’s go outside!

“Fresco“, as an adjective, it is used in many and somewhat contradictory ways.

Imagine you’re sunbathing at your favourite “stabilimento balneare” (sta-bi-li-mén-to bal-nɛ-à-rɛ) – a beachfront resort – it’s 11 am and suddenly on the PA system you hear this: “Pizze calde fresche, pizze calde fresche!” (pìz-zɛ càl-dɛ fré-skɛ), literally: hot fresh pizzas, where fresco means “freshly done”.

Are pizzas hot or cool? They’ve just come out of the oven – freshly baked but they’re as hot as volcano lava, that’s the reason for the oxymoron “fresh hot pizzas”. And even though the thermometer says 30 °C, a few things are more enjoyable than a lip-scorching pizza under the sun umbrella.

One of them is a rich aperitivo all’aperto on the lungomare (lun-go-mà-rɛ), the boat walk, when the temperature gets cooler (aria più fresca / à-ria più fré-sca).

It could also mean ‘in the chill’ or ‘in the cool’: keep the drinks al fresco (refrigerated).

Things get worse when “fresco” is used in the idiom “stai fresco“. As for idioms in every language, it should not be taken literally, and its translation may be “forget about it” or “fat chance”.

Is the word “fresco” convoluted enough?

Some recipes to enjoy alfresco 😋

Here are some of our recipes to be enjoyed alfresco:

5 plant-based savory dishes that really satisfy everyone, and can be easily transported (and enjoyed) for outdoor happenings.
A Coleslaw with an Italian Twist, that’s also gluten-free.
When it comes to stuffed veggie options are endless, check these Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with sauce Boscaiola… ‘na delizia!
Couple of thirst-quenching, refreshing and, somehow, restorative cocktail and mocktail recipes for the Bloody Mary. Virgin or Not, is a Great Cocktail, a delight in a glass, provided you like tomatoes 😉