Why sharing food brings us closer together
Sitting at the dining table means more than just eating. It is an environment where we relax, where dialogue arises without pressure or formality. Sharing a meal creates a special social bubble: we see each other, we hear each other, we perceive subtle gestures, and our brains store these moments as significant. That is why dining is one of the most powerful ways to build trust and a sense of belonging.
- Some studies show that feeling socially secure can slow down the pace of eating and improve feelings of fullness. We don't just eat according to hunger, but also according to how we feel among other people.
If you've ever been to a team breakfast, you know the effect: the atmosphere calms down, ideas flow more easily, and relationships naturally open up. In families, on the other hand, eating dinner together often brings peace, understanding, and a sense of home.
- Tip: Try eating with someone mindfully once a week—no phones, no multitasking. Twenty minutes is enough, and you'll notice the difference.
Food as an experience we learn to enjoy
The way we eat can be developed in a similar way to communication or working with emotions. Cooking courses from Ola Kala or Studio Divoká vařečka transform cooking into a joyful shared experience, where skill meets playfulness. Many people describe how it was thanks to courses like these that they began to truly appreciate food—not just blindly following recipes, but understanding dining as a way of connecting.
Sometimes it can be a completely different type of sharing. Experiences such as Dinner in the Sky change your perspective – literally and figuratively. Dinners with musical accompaniment, such as Mozart Dinner, give the evening a new tempo, where food blends with the atmosphere. If you like games and stories, Mystery Dinner: Murder at Baťa shows that dining can also have a dramatic plot.
- Did you know that music can influence your perception of taste? Soft tones enhance sweetness, while hectic sounds accentuate bitterness. Lighting, noise, and smells can change how your food tastes by up to tens of percent. The atmosphere is often more important than the menu itself.
- Tip: Want to create a more festive mood at home? Try dimmer lighting and quiet music.
The dining culture is a language in itself
Food is not just about ingredients and technique. It is also about how we feel at the table. EPAP's dining etiquette course teaches not only etiquette, but also how to create an environment where people feel welcome and at ease. Often, very little is needed—a change in table setting, a different serving rhythm, or a small detail on the table.
- Even the environment directly influences how we evaluate taste. Colors, materials, and the composition of the plate shape how intensely we experience flavors. The shape of the table influences communication: at a round table, people open up more easily and interactions are more natural.
- Tip: Set a small festive table from time to time, even without a special occasion – a clean tablecloth, herbs in a glass, or a nicely served dessert can change the atmosphere of the entire dinner.
Why we need it so much right now
With the holidays approaching, the table takes on even greater significance than usual. People return to traditions, shared rituals, and dishes that are only cooked once a year. The festive table is not just a pretty picture—it is a return to something that creates a sense of home. That is why this time of year brings people together so much.
- Family rituals at the table are among the most enduring habits across generations? Most people can recall the atmosphere and tastes of their childhood with much greater accuracy than most of their school memories.
- Tip: Create one "signature dish" that you will only cook on special occasions. It will become something that is uniquely yours.
How to incorporate benefits
Gastro experiences, cooking classes, and dining courses can be an inconspicuous but powerful way to restore good relationships within a team, spend time with loved ones, or treat yourself to a moment that slows down the pace of everyday life. This also includes meal vouchers and dining vouchers – for those of you who have them available, they can be a simple bridge to better lunches, shared breakfasts, or higher-quality food when you need it most.
Something happens at the table that is difficult to achieve elsewhere: a quiet, natural closeness. And it doesn't matter whether you're sitting at a stove in a cooking class, on a rope in the clouds, at a festively set table, or eating soup from a thermos. The important thing is that you're there together.
