Alfresco dining means eating a meal outside in the open air, usually in a relaxed and casual setting. The term comes from the Italian phrase al fresco, which means “in the fresh air.”
People often enjoy alfresco dining during warm weather on patios, in backyards, at picnics, or even at outdoor cafés and restaurants. It’s popular in the summer because it adds a fun, breezy, and often scenic element to everyday meals.
Several years ago, probably five, I decorated for our first alfresco dining experience. I was so excited! And, on another occasion, last summer, we pulled off a strawberry-themed alfresco dining experience.
Today was one of those slow summer days that I love, where we pulled off another alfresco-style dining experience with our summer-themed tablecloth, matching pitcher, and favorite platter to set the scene. There’s something special about eating outdoors surrounded by bubbles, my children’s laughter, and the smell of fresh food.
Our main dish was a plate of warm, cheesy slider sandwiches, served with potato chips and a spread of sides and dips, including marinara sauce, French onion dip, and a little bowl of olives. But what made the lunch prep surprisingly fun was using our new meat grinder that doubles as a cheese grater. I’ve been so tired of the manual cheese grater we usually use. Let’s be honest, it’s awkward and always feels like a workout.
AOBOSI Meat Grinder
However, the AOBOSI Meat Grinder that doubles as a cheese grater has really been a pleasant upgrade. There is no sweating while manually grating the cheese. Instead, I simply cut the block of cheese into a handful of cubes and placed them in the cheese grater attachment. In just seconds, the cheese was powerfully shredded with minimal effort.
Before I gush about how much I enjoyed our summer alfresco dining experience, I want to share some details about the AOBOSI Meat Grinder (and cheese grater). Technically, this appliance has multiple attachments for meat grinding, sausage stuffing, Kibbe making, cheese grating, and vegetable slicing. I appreciate that whichever function you choose, the power and efficiency remain consistent.
Regardless of which way you choose to use this appliance, it is important that you read the instruction manual, wash all parts, and assemble according to what you are planning to use the appliance for.
If you are using the appliance for meat, the cut of meat will determine how much pressure you will need to use with the food pusher. This also applies to when you are grating cheese. It’s equally important to note that, if you grind or push to excessively your meat or cheese my become mushy. I was very mindful of this while grating the cheese for our sliders.
To operate the grinder to grate cheese, I first chose the appropriate attachment and blade. Made sure the grinder was plugged in, put my cheese in, and used the food pusher to push it down. Once the cheese was fully grated, I disassembled the grater, washed it, and put it away before making the sliders.
Please note that all parts can be disassembled for hand washing. Be sure to also wipe the grinder off with a cloth to prevent oxidation of alloy parts. Blades are dishwasher safe.
Italian Sliders and Final Thoughts
To make the sliders, I sauteed onions and banana peppers in a pan, then layered the onions and banana peppers on a sliced pack of Hawaiian rolls with the meat and cheese. The cheese melted beautifully on the sliders. I honestly didn’t realize how much I was missing out by not upgrading sooner. The grinder is powerful, efficient, and makes prepping meals feel more joyful than tedious.
To complete our meal, I made a big pitcher of lemonade, and we all sat outside sipping and chatting, enjoying the warm breeze. My toddler giggled while blowing bubbles across the patio, and my teenager even joined in for a few laughs.
These are the kind of summer moments I treasure: simple, sweet, and made even better with a little help from the AOBOSI Meat Grinder (and cheese grater).
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