So Many Dishes

No, we’re not talking about Camelot or knights. Today’s post is not even specifically about foods. I’m talking, instead, about what one of my English friends calls the conviviality of dining at a round table.

Maybe this is something that is obvious to you, and I was probably vaguely aware of it before, but a trip to Italy in 2013 really pointed out how easy it is to talk with people, whether you know them or not, when sitting around round tables. We arranged a walking tour with HF Holidays, a British company that specializes in these types of trips. This was our first experience with HF, and we discovered that, when traveling with them, meals are eaten around round tables, and there’s no assigned seating.

For Ken and me, one of our favorite parts of travel is meeting people, and those dinner conversations were some of the best parts of the trip. As most of the other group members were British, we had some lively discussions, learning about each other. We had similar experiences on two HF tours that we joined in England.

I suppose you can have a similar experience at a smaller rectangular table, but it’s nice to be able to look directly at the person with whom you’re conversing, without leaning over the table and looking around the person next to you. And we’ve all experienced long banquet tables, where you’re pretty much limited to speaking with those on either side and whoever is across the table.

When we went on a European river cruise last summer, we were happy to return to round tables. The only tables for two or four were on the outdoor terrace, and some people would “camp out” there late in the afternoon in order to secure one of those tables. But while they may have had a lovely view, I think they missed out.

Wherever you are, and whoever you’re with, here’s to memorable times, great conversations, and happy eating!