It’s about food, but more than just food.
At a ramen restaurant, people get to choose where to sit: at a table, the bar, or the kitchen counter. The kitchen counter is warmer than the other two spots for an obvious reason. Even though the food is the same regardless of where we sit, but the experiences can be different.
Seeing how the food is cooked may not be such a big deal, but witnessing the chef’s action and care magically make the dining experience more interesting.We still get to chat about our work and life with friends, but having the food made in front of us and presented with the chef’s big smiles and a short conversation have made everything so much better.
Our appreciation went beyond the food but the connection we had with each other. It’s the people who made a dining experience feel warm, the simple food rich in flavor, and a unfamiliar place feel familiar.
A dining experience is about people, and food.
