Don’t – Don’t- Don’t – Don’t you- forget about me! C’mon! Sing with me, you know, the song at the end to the movie Breakfast Club! The 80’s classic movie about a group of kids held captive on a Saturday morning in the schools library for detention. Their punishment is to reflect upon their mischievous sins of the past week and right an essay about it. Little did they know that their time together would not only create new friendships but change their lives forever.
Hey! Wait a minute. A group of strangers, thrown together, with one common goal. Could that still work today? The answer is YES!
I have witnessed this phenomenon more than ever over the past few years as I have conducted cooking classes, private gourmet dinners and can you believe- Dinner Clubs!
I have been humbled enough to witness, in my life, the one great wonder that truly embellishes mankind. That my friends is friendship.
I’ve watched friendships ignite in a short period of time by total strangers thrown together because of a food challenge that may possibly carry on for a few brief moments or could propel them into a lifetime relationship. I have experienced a group of friends who have been congregating over food for more than 8 years! Yes, 8 years. They have endured through the economic highs and lows, children, new homes, some have even new husbands or wives, and yet they still gather, kindling their friendships and reminiscing of days of old and planning for the new. The common ground in which all these people share- is Food.
Oh that glorious word! How I dream of food. Well guess what! I’m not alone! There are others. Nomads, searching their kitchens for the right recipe to spark their friend’s palates. These nomads can be seen scanning not only gourmet food stores, malls and shopping aisles to discover new wines, flavors and ingredients to conquer. They are also scouring the world of the internet. Blogs, websites, and even twitter are harboring the food fetishes of food enthusiasts around the world.
They come from all walks of life. Some live in extreme luxury, while others dwell in the caves of apartments. But guess what, it doesn’t matter how much money you make, it doesn’t matter whether you drive a BMW or a Mercedes and it sure doesn’t matter where you live. Everyone and anyone can meet on common ground when it comes to Food.
Food is the catalyst for human interaction. If you have a group of friends who enjoy wine and cheese, how about meeting at a park or a beach. So what if your kitchen is too small, plan a get together with everyone bringing their favorite dish. Who cares if it’s not perfect, that’s the beauty of it, just have FUN! With all that faces our daily lives wouldn’t it be nice to just get together with a few old friends and hey, how about inviting some new ones?
Remember this can work for anyone, especially if you’re new to the area. What a great way to introduce yourself and some neighbors for a quick, but fun get together. The office is a great way to get to know your co-workers. You don’t have to start big. Keep it simple as possible. It doesn’t have to be just couples. Singles, what a great way to meet- over a stove cooking! How about a cooking class! Make it a group event. Always make sure you give thought to your gathering. You obviously want people to have fun, but you never want them to feel awkward or embarrassed because they did not understand the theme or the nature of the party. I’ve just scratched the surface here, so think it out, be creative and get everyone involved! It’s a lot more fun like that.
In my antique cookbook collection I remember reading one book, over 40 years old, about entertaining. I was astounded to read on how dinner parties were quite common. One popular theme was to pick a country and each couple would bring a dish from that particular country for everyone to try. We know that the true essence of this gathering was friendship. I can in vision a great deal of laughing, slaps on the back, glasses toasting and dropping, ice chilling, food burning, candles dimming, cool breezes, soft music and thoughts of days gone by and dreams of days to come. I would wager that some dishes worked and some didn’t, but you know what? – Did it really matter?
In the players tunnel with A.J. and my family. It was a great experience not just for myself, but for my family. Living in Orlando, we are not privileged to have such great baseball traditions that Chicago has. We were fortunate enough to have witnessed a great game between the Chicago Cubs and the White Sox. We had a great time and the experience of meeting the other great players, managers and staff was a lifetime experience. Thanks A.J. and Lisa Pierzynski.