Food & Friendship

Enjoying a delicious meal with a friend is not merely one of life’s great pleasures; it can also be an important outlet for reducing stress, fostering social connection and making heathier food choices. According to a recent survey by the American Heart Association, 67% of respondents reported that eating with others reminded them how important social connection is. Another 54% said it also reminded them to slow their pace and relax, while 59% said they made better food choices when eating with other people.

Where there is good food, laughter is brightest.

Irish Proverb

Meeting up at a restaurant can be a great recipe for a fun night out, but it is certainly not the only way to share food and friendship with people you care about. There are plenty of other ways to enjoy food and friendship without breaking the bank, or even leaving home. Here are a few suggestions to get you inspired:

Cook together: Invite over a friend or two to catch up while you dice the veggies and prep a meal together, and then savor it in your own comfy environment.

Exchange recipes: Share a personal favorite or traditional family recipe with a friend or group of friends. Not only will you learn more about each other, but you may also even collect some new cooking knowledge or techniques for yourself.

Host a potluck meal: Organize friends to get together over a meal and have each person bring a dish to share. Making assignments in advance can ensure a balanced meal, but it can also be a fun to see what happens on the fly if everyone is flexible enough about their meal to be surprised.

Barbeque: Grilling outside and enjoying a backyard feast is not only for the July 4th holiday. If it’s warm enough to be comfortable outside, get the fire going and enjoy.

Order takeout: Taking home or ordering delivery of a prepared meal can be a nice alternative so that you don’t have to do much work, aside from possibly a quick setup and cleanup. Sometimes agreeing on the menu can be the hardest part!

Take a cooking lesson: Learning together from a pro–either at home, online or in a commercial kitchen–could be a fun bonding experience with a friend or friends. Sur la Table offers cooking classes at many of its retail locations around the country and online courses as well. A quick online search should also yield other local and online options for cooking lessons.

Bon appetit!