When “come Over for a Drink” Turns Into Dinner

As the weather warms, the stoep, patio and garden offer a familiar setting for relaxed entertaining, where an afternoon drink can stretch into the evening and there is usually room for one more.

At some point, somebody is going to have to bring another chair from inside. There are already six people around a table intended for four, someone has moved onto the steps and the children are playing in the garden. There is a bucket of ice within reach, and what was supposed to be a quick afternoon drink is showing no sign of ending.

It is a familiar scene in many South African homes. The braai is the obvious example of outdoor entertaining, but getting together outside extends beyond the fire. It is coffee on the stoep, lunch under a tree or friends arriving for a drink and staying long enough that somebody eventually has to work out what everyone is going to eat.

With warmer weather making those afternoons possible again, the appeal is easy to understand. A gathering can begin with a few chairs and something cold to drink, then find its own pace.

An invitation without a seating plan

Formal entertaining has its place, but an invitation to spend the afternoon outside rarely needs much instruction. “Come around this afternoon” or “bring the kids” gives people a starting point without setting out exactly how the occasion should unfold.

There might be food planned, but there probably is not a seating plan. The good glasses may make an appearance, eventually mixed with whatever else could be found in the cupboard. Someone brings something to eat, someone else arrives with drinks and the host makes space as people settle in.

For Anthony Silber, Head of Marketing for PURA Beverage Co South Africa, that informality is part of what makes these occasions feel so familiar.

“Some of our strongest traditions aren't things we've formally decided to preserve. They're simply the things we keep doing,” he says. “Getting people together, putting something cold on the table and letting the afternoon unfold is probably one of them.”

Something for everyone at the drinks table

Putting out a mix of drinks is one practical way to make guests feel welcome. Wine and beer can share the ice bucket with sparkling water, alcohol-free options and sodas, giving people room to choose according to their tastes and plans for the afternoon.

It also keeps things simple for the host. A table with glasses, plenty of ice and drinks within reach lets guests help themselves without someone having to return to the kitchen every few minutes.

PURA Soda has a natural place in that mix, alongside whatever else guests have brought. It is another option for someone who wants a soda, is skipping alcohol or simply feels like something different with their food.

“The best hosting is generous without being complicated,” says Silber. “You want people to arrive, find something they enjoy and feel comfortable enough to stay longer than they planned.”

When lunch runs into the evening

The change often happens quietly. Plates have been cleared, somebody has suggested coffee and the conversation is still going. Then the light begins to soften, someone looks for a jersey and the question of dinner comes up.

Keeping people fed need not mean starting an entirely new meal. Bread, salads and whatever remains from lunch can go back onto the table. Something quick can be added, or a takeaway order can settle the matter while everyone works out who is staying.

A little flexibility helps. Food that can be shared, drinks guests can reach themselves and a place to put used plates leave the host more time to sit down and enjoy the company.

Room for one more

The stoep, patio, balcony or patch of shade under a tree may look different from home to home, but each can offer somewhere to gather. Matching chairs and a carefully styled table are pleasant extras. The welcome is in making space, offering something to eat or drink and letting people feel at ease.

By the time everyone leaves, the table may be cluttered and dinner may have happened several hours later than usual. But nobody was watching the clock too closely, and that extra chair brought out from inside found its occupant.