With today’s fast pace we often find ourselves eating on the run and eating food that is not very good for us. Sitting down with family and friends to share a meal is, in today’s world, so very hard to do. It is all but impossible to get everyone together, at one specific time, to gather around the dinner table to eat a good meal, talk about the day and generally enjoy being together.
When I was growing up in Chicago, it was important to be home for dinner each evening at 6 PM. It was an event we all looked forward to. This time was important not only because we were going to be together to enjoy each others company, to talk about our day, or solve the problems of the world, but most importantly, to eat my mother’s wonderful food. She was the catalyst for this time together. We were not the kind of family that would sit around in the living room after dinner to discuss topics of the day. Once dinner was over, we would each go our own separate way; studying, practicing the piano, dad finishing up drawing plans for his construction business and mom embroidering (she had a side business of embroidering hats for the Shrine’s).Dinner was the only meal we shared each day. My father left for work before we got up in the morning. He would make his own breakfast and quietly leave for a long hard day not returning until just before dinner. My mother made dinner truly special as it was the time all five of us were certain to be at the dinner table. Mom always set the table with a tablecloth, linen napkins and never disposable dishes or flatware.
I have carried over my mother’s style to my lifestyle today. I certainly will admit dinner is not a set time every night in our home, nor is it always at home. We are so often working late or not into cooking but when I do cook dinner, I always do it in style. No phones, no texting, no reading at the table and no television. The table is set with linens and china, “real” glasses and flatware. Great music is playing in the background. Sometimes I serve the meal family style and other times I plate it individually. No matter what has happened before the dinner is set out, good, bad or indifferent, it all fades away and we are in the moment: Sharing a great meal together.
When I was a kid, it was possible to have dinner together every night with my mother a stay at home mom. She actually loved to cook. I am sure you must be thinking that this is an impossible task – to have dinner together every night – and I totally agree. But it is something to strive for – at least to try it once in a while.
Tonight we are home for dinner and we are having guests. I am looking forward to our meal together and I can’t wait to hear about the day we all experienced.
If you want to contact me with questions about food and cooking I would love to hear from you. You can reach me by e-mail. camille@camillecooksforyou.com