The Rituals of Dinner by Margaret Visser, which sits on my own bookshelf, explores "our marvellously revealing, colourful and complex world at the table." I have borrowed her title as I remember an amazing meal and the universal aspect of coming to dine with others.
We had a marvellous week with our visiting friends from the Home for New Beginnings in Thailand. As one who loves to spend time in the kitchen, and explore the cuisine of other countries when I travel, I loved the opportunity to take them to our local grocery store so they could find the ingredients necessary for the Thai menu they were going to prepare for about 35 of us here at Linwood House. I needed to pick up some things for the larder at Linwood so I left our Thai friends to begin their own shopping expedition while I got my own goods. When I returned they were in a discussion with a local wise woman I know, all trying to figure out which green peppers were the hottest ones and which would be best for the green chili sauce of one of the dishes on the menu.
Eating is a necessity at so many levels of our being and sometimes we forget how deep and rich the ritual of preparing a meal can be and the part it plays. It brings together so many aspects of our own cultural understanding of what it means to prepare and then dine with others, to share our table and to remember how sacred this ritual is, the act of sitting down to eat. I watched my friends check out carefully what they wanted and needed, and how important just the right pepper or coconut milk or beef was in the planning. Frequent stops in each aisle were necessary so they could confer and be sure that nothing was forgotten or was incorrect.
By mid afternoon the music was on and they all sang together to the rhythm of beef being cut. Chicken was cubed and produce was chopped and cut to the exact specifics of the particular dishes. I frequently passed by and watched through the panes of glass, letting their joy and enthusiasm, and team work, be absorbed by my own heart. This was pure joy that was flavouring this ritual of dinner - a seasoning that cannot be purchased in any grocery store in this world! Before very long the aroma from the kitchen was tantalizing all of us through the whole house. The sounds of laughter blended with chopping, sizzling, stirring, and at times it was quiet and they could be found sitting on the floor playing cards while they waited for the next step to begin. They were so very efficient in all they were doing too.
Dinner itself was spectacular in fragrance, flavour, richness and ritual. They had worked so hard to present this gift of culture, love and gratitude to all of us. The complexity and colourfulness of their world blended with the flavours of our own at Linwood House. This was also a reminder that the ritual of dinner is sacred no matter where or who it is shared with. Our Thai friends have left us with wonderful memories, some of which came through the ritual of an evening meal together.
~ Stephanie Moul
