Feasting For All

 Garhering friends for a meal together is what keeps anyone sane thee days/ There's something about eating, laughing  - or crying and telling stories. It;s not just food for the boy but food for the soul

Regular contributor  and the author of a new book quoted in todays New York Times Food Section, Samin Nosrat gave both tips and recipes. Her latest cookbook, Good Things:Recipes and Rituals to Share With People You Love (Random House 2025). It is chock full of of advice and good recipes that make any gathering a success. Keep in mind that this is a jump start to creating fun dinners. Even Chef Nosrat and her friends have ordered out izzas and empanadas and served them with  a homemade  salad. There are some musts in creating the perfect table. One is choose a day and stick to it. Chef Nosrat always picks Monday . Pick a day that's convenient for everyone.Over time it will feel like a sacred day.It laos means fewer logistics and emails to handle. Another must is choose a location and stick to it. It would be fun to have a movable feast but a stationery one every week is better.It streamlines everything. Everyone knows where dinner will be and the layout of the kitchen. There are no last minute scrambles for utensils or pot lucks,. Everyone cooks there.

What else should future communal diners do? Remember that perfect is the enemy of good. be prepared for glitches. There may be limes subbed in for lemons or imperfect places. Go with it. Chef Nosrat suggests making it feel holy as she does with the other suggestions. It could be listening to vinyl classics when eating or making a special dessert every week. It could be opening up a special bottle a wine.Consistency is also crucial. Having a dinner every weeks lett people connect with the ones they didn't do in the previous weeks. Make room for everyone is another important point. Have chairs , even if they're lawn or folding ones for those to sit. What about costs. That should be the first point discussed. Costs and labor should be fairly divided. The ones who are better off financially should share more of the v=cost than the ones who are struggling. Also check in with each other on this on occasion. Make sure there are no resentments . Chef Nosrat includes two recipes, One is one pot chicken with pearl couscous and preserved lemon and the other is a lazy sugo - a pork and beef strew perfect for a fall get together.

Nothing beats a communal table. It's the perfect antidioe for these crazy times. Create one for good food and good friends.