Using Food as a Social Catalyzer: It's not Only About Eating

When I was a kid a was the average reserved and quiet member of the class. Eventually some kids approached me with an invitation to sit down with them at their table. That was the first time I remember experiencing the power of connection through sharing a meal, and while at that time I didn’t quite understand it, now that I’m all grown up, I can see how food is not only about nourishment, and it goes beyond what I would ever think.  

As a society, and ever since the birth of the human race, people have gathered to eat. At that time it was a reason of security and resources: Food was difficult to obtain, sitting down and sharing was the only way of assure the survival of individuals, and not being alone during a moment of vulnerability. The companionship of a group made us feel safe, and that sense of comfort has permeated to our genes and ingrained itself in the roots of human behavior. All cultures around the planet gather to eat: It’s natural for us now! But with the modernization of the world, the instant connections through internet and home based works we tend to avoid sharing that precious time.

That’s why when a place offers you the chance to share that time with someone, you have to take it. To take advantage of the emotional bond that build between people that sit together around a table. No wonder  why most first dates involve some sort of meal at some point! Eating affects our social relationships and how we interact with our peers. Besides, it’s one of the reasons why themed restaurants are so popular: The food is the only way to know a foreign culture. You can ask anyone that has been living abroad when they really felt in touch with the country they were in: The answer will almost universally be “Food”. When we sit down around a table we share a bond beyond our age and moment, we travel back to the origin of the plate, to the hands that made it for the first time, passing along generations.

Share a meal with someone you care for and you’d experience that connection. Explore the social power of food at RG Cocina Mexicana.

RG Cocina Mexicana address is 314 72nd ST, Miami Beach, FL 33141. Their phone number is: 305-4647404.