From Heart to Plate to You: Gathering Your Group at 19 Cleveland
- January 25, 2024
There’s magic to big gatherings. One-on-one time is important, sure, but there’s nothing like the whole family or friend group coming together around a single table to break bread. It’s an opportunity to forge and strengthen our communal bonds and sense of belonging. Food forces us to slow down and be present with each other. There’s no activity to distract us apart from the shared act of eating.
Gathering your group at your favorite Mediterranean restaurant in NYC is about more than the catch-up. There are actually more profound benefits to getting together over some delicious laffas, burgers, or pasta. In this blog, we’ll explore them in depth.
The Ritual of Sharing: Culinary Connections
Our first shared meals are usually with our family. Maintaining a tradition of sharing mealtimes has been shown to have a multitude of positive effects on families who do it.
We tend to eat better when we eat together, and not just because your mom dishes up all those vegetables. When you eat with others, you tend to eat more slowly. By taking time over your food, you avoid the temptation to gulp everything down and go back for seconds before your body even knows it’s full.
A Mediterranean Perspective on Eating Together
The Mediterranean approach to food centers eating as a shared experience. Even if you’re not sharing a mezze-style collaborative feast, food is pretty much always made to bring people together.
It also brings cultures and flavors together, as shown by the incredible diversity of signature meals from the Mediterranean region. People from the area’s regions prefer different tastes– as Mediterranean restaurants in NYC will attest – but they all share a food philosophy, knitted together by food and their shared sea.
There’s a reason why the idea of breaking bread as a symbol of togetherness, peace, and connection has endured. Even simple meals shared with others are an opportunity for us to experience community.
Food is a universal human experience: we all must eat to survive, and we all have the capacity to enjoy our meal, too. No matter how different our cultures or culinary backgrounds are, good food brings us together. It breaks down barriers.
Breaking Bread in Community: The Social Impact of Food
Once upon a time, when people lived closer to nature, the act of eating was a signal that you and the people around you were safe. Nobody would stop to make a meal when there was an active threat in the area. To this day, eating tells us that everything is okay, that we are safe and with people we can trust. Eating with other people when you’re unhappy or unwell can actually make you feel better.
People often carry their identity with them through food. Family recipes passed down through the generations, regional delicacies, and the spices of home are all pieces of our puzzle, giving us a sense of who we are. We serve Mediterranean cuisine because it resonates with us – it’s the flavors we grew up with elevated to a delicious art form.
Events centered around food also foster a sense of belonging and unity. Whether you’re getting around the table with loved ones or strangers, food opens doors that might otherwise stay closed. Many people find that they have some of their best, most meaningful conversations over food. It’s no surprise that eating together features in most of our celebrations, from wedding receptions to milestone birthday bashes. If you’re looking for private dining restaurants in NYC, you can’t go far wrong with a Mediterranean meal, especially at 19 Cleveland.
Toast to Culinary Connections at 19 Cleveland
Whether a casual get-together or a private event, Mediterranean restaurants in NYC know how to set the mood. At 19 Cleveland, we love hosting big groups, whether you’re taking up a big table or the whole restaurant. We even provide catering for events to ensure you can enjoy our Mediterranean delights no matter your venue.
Our Mediterranean restaurant in NYC awaits your next event – get in touch with us for our full catering menu and to make your booking.