Food and us, more than what it seems

Eating is one of our most essential daily activities. It provides our bodies with the necessary nutrients for it to be able to function and maintain us alive.

It has also a less obvious function which is fortifying the bond between individuals.
In a lot of cultures, sharing food with people elevates them to the rank of family members.
The very act of dipping one's fork, loaf of bread or hand in the same communal dish and tasting the same aromas and flavors, unites the partakers in a gastronomic dances that makes their tongues sway to the same rhythm.
The food tastes better. It is as if we have added a secret potion to it by sharing it.
The moving mouths and the chewing sounds interlaced with the occasional "Hmms" and "Ahhhs" graft a special, almost brotherly  atmosphere onto the simple act of eating.
We feel united for the duration of the meal. It is like sharing a part of one's private life with others.
A communal plate connected to the extended arms around it feels like a rim of a wheel connected to its hub through sturdy spokes. The whole thing feels like one unit inseparable from its constituting parts.
Digging into food with our hands creates an intimate tie with our sustenance and gives a different flavor to our dishes.
Its like taking a stroll on a beach barefoot, feeling each speck of sand, we feel connected to nature with no artificial separation.

 - Photo by : abdulla binmassam -