We all have to eat and we all have to communicate. When we see characters eating in literature it is known to be communion: a time of sacred measures used to talk and resolve. For actual people, it is the chance to propose, to cry, to laugh, or to flirt with your waiter.
For me, eating with friends is the most important thing to do when hanging out. You can't travel into Manhattan and not get Chipotle, right? But in a way, it isn't about the food- it's about what comes next. When you're sitting down and eating, you're usually holding a conversation. I find that the most exciting and eventful conversations come from "communion." Some people like to eat and just eat, but most people I know find their food getting cold when they go into a conversation.
Why is this so easy? I feel that eating makes us sort of vulnerable. Maybe it's in the way we eat, or maybe it's what we're eating, but a shared vulnerability is sure to lessen the tide. As someone who's had a number of eating disorders, I must say that it hasn't always been easy to eat in front of my friends. In fact, for a long time, I would be the one carrying the conversation as my friends ate their food. As time passed, I found myself becoming more comfortable in their presence and being able to eat and talk without feeling self-conscious.
When you're eating certain foods, you know what kind of conversations are going to come about. Going out for rice pudding at Rice To Riches with my boyfriend meant sweet conversations about our relationship and our future. Taking my best friend to get bubble tea at Something Sweet after we had a big fight means having peace of mind and clarity. Most importantly, Applebee's is where all the drama goes down, and you could be with anyone for that to happen.
There are plenty of reasons why food makes for great conversation. Brunch is a meal meant specifically for gossip and talking! Certain cultures give specific food and drinks times of the day where they can be eaten and drank with family. I can smell Sunday dinner being made and I can hear my dad going on about his day at work, while my mom looks at him intently and my brother, sister, and I roll our eyes. Food is meant to be eaten, conversation is meant to be had, and when you put the two together you always have a good time.
