Picture this. A lively group of thinkers gathers as the music playsβhungry for camaraderie, discussion of a topic of mutual interest, and dinner. Everyone arrives with food and drink contributions that complement the dishes prepared by the welcoming host. Each month another member of the group sets a different cultural table for a new topic, tunes, and food that represents the next stop on their twelve-month philosophical journey around the world.
Honest talk and respect for differing perspectives warm each evening. Understanding of the world large and small improves livesβnew ways of living present themselves as real possibilities. What can you expect in each chapter? Six chapters feature recipes for two small-plate dishes while the others serve up three-recipe meals that always include dessert.
While most entertain in their homes, restaurants are taking the initiative to host eventsβa Sunday late afternoon devoted to food from specific regions with a discussion question as the centerpiece of each table.
Some dinner clubs occasionally reserve round tables at ethnic restaurants to continue the conversation and the feast. Experience the joy of relationship as you pass the carafeβand savor the freedom that comes with an open mind. You could say my life has been a succession of big dinners enjoyed with as many of my friends and family that can be squeezed around the tableβall eating, talking, and laughing.
I have sometimes wondered which part I enjoy the most. Is it the tasty meal, the flowing wine, or the boisterous conversation that so often ensues as a result of the first two elements? Marietta McCarty goes at it rather brilliantly from another angle, encouraging you to put the lively conversation first.
