The Importance of Dining Together

I recently had the chance to attend the Fabulous Food Show in Cleveland with my good friend Paula.  It was a feast for not only the taste buds, but the eyes as well.

Beautifully decorated cakes….

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incredible wines, and terrific chefs. 

We saw Michael Symon, Jeff Mauro, Jason Roberts, Ann Burrell and, my hero from a long-ago cooking show called “Cooking Live”, SaraMoulton.  What I liked most about Sara’s show is that she invited people from around the country to cook with her.  And something always went wrong.  Always.  THAT is when you learned how to fix mistakes, adapt to the changes, and still create a good dish.  As far as I know, it’s the only show of its kind ever.  I am forever grateful to her and learned so much from her show – most importantly, not to panic.  (And yes, she really IS that tiny!)

The chefs talked about their recipes, their careers, gave tips on cooking and fielded all kinds of questions from the audience.

There seemed to be chefs everywhere – even in the restrooms!

I won’t say we were the very last to leave, but we really did enjoy the show.

As I thought about it, I realized that all the chefs offered up the same bit of advice:  sit down at the table and have dinner with your family!  They urged us to take one or two nights a week, drop the cell phones, I-pads and tablets into a basket, turn off the TV, and share a meal and talk. 

As our lives become increasingly chaotic, Americans tend to eat more and more on the run.  It’s a rare night when the phone isn’t ringing, the kids don’t have soccer practice and there’s not some kind of meeting.  But if we lose this most-important component, I fear the fabric of the family will start to unravel.  It’s a custom that crosses all cultures, geographies and income levels and will pay big dividends in the future because setting the lines of communication early creates a path for future relationships. 

Maybe that’s why guests at the inn like breakfast time so much.  I often hear that the interaction with the other guests is one of the reasons they find bed and breakfasts so appealing, so relaxing and civilized – their words, not mine!  You don't often find that in a hotel.

As we prepare to sit down tomorrow to celebrate Thanksgiving, I wish you, your family and friends a wonderful mealtime together – a time for sharing, being grateful and just enjoying the art of conversation - at least until half the table runs out to shop and the other leaves to watch the football games!

Thanksgiving – Was It Just A Figment of My Imagination?

There used to be a holiday this time of year – a day off work to gather with family and give thanks for life’s blessings.  But this year there doesn’t seem to be much evidence of it, and I’m afraid that next year it may disappear altogether.

A local store is advertising the fact that you can shop their Christmas specials starting at 6:00 a.m on Thanksgiving Day.  I feel that my beautiful horn of plenty and the few Thanksgiving decorations are up for about one week before the boatload of Christmas stuff must be brought down from the attic.  (It’s always tricky decorating around guests so we must start early to get all three houses finished.)

In a world that seems to rush by faster every year, the whole idea of Thanksgiving may seem a little, ah, old-fashioned.  Perhaps that is why I like it so much. It is so rare to take the time to reflect and give thanks.

Yes, the two holidays have always been related.  The Christmas season traditionally starts with the Macy’s Parade in New York City, but stores hardly wait for that anymore....it seems like it’s still August when they start putting up the fake trees and dancing Santas. 

Thanksgiving....it’s our most “American” holiday, and it appears it’s the only non-commercial one left.  So enjoy it while it lasts.....before you rush off to stand in line tonight to get into the nearest mall.

Here’s my short list of things for which I’m thankful:

To be surrounded by people I love

To be able to bring joy and comfort to those who stay with us

The sound of laughter in at our inn

To learn to be happy with my talents, limited as they may be

To appreciate the beauty that is Lancaster County

To be able to share with others and give back – whether it’s time, talent, money or just a smile

To be grateful always, for everything, especially good health

To look for the good in every person and situation

And my wish for the year to come - to be able to give thanks next November having enjoyed more of the same – at Thanksgiving time - a holiday that I’ll always celebrate.

Thanksgiving – The Last Pure and Simple Holiday in America

Just before every Thanksgiving we decide on the menu, call relatives and friends and plan a day around sharing – food, laughter and, memories. Not counting the elaborate meal plans, it’s a fairly simple day spent in the company of people that we love.

Oh, there are a few brave souls who decorate for the holiday with horns of plenty and the occasional pilgrim, but compared to its two neighbors on the calendar, (Halloween and Christmas), Thanksgiving is fairly quiet in the consumer-driven market of ghouls, glitz, and over-the-top commercialism.

Maybe it’s because I’m growing older. Or perhaps it’s because I’m just getting tired of lugging decorations down two stories, but I have a growing fondness for this holiday that gets lost at the end of November. In most houses, the day starts out rather nicely watching a parade and enjoying the smells wafting through the house. Then sometime halfway through dinner most folks have decided that there’s too little time left for Christmas shopping--so they’d better start that night and everyone shifts into Christmas warp speed.

But before the Christmas train comes screaming into the station, I’d like to take a moment and ponder just why I like this holiday so much. It’s pure and simple – the way it was so many years ago. And it delivers a gift of thankfulness and a deliberate reason to slow down – even if it is just for one day.

It’s a day that “the English” in Lancaster County spend much the same way as their Amish neighbors - giving thanks and being grateful.

In the past, I’ve made lists of the things for which I was thankful. But I think the bigger picture is the lesson of being grateful in and of itself. And that’s the part of Thanksgiving that we need to carry with us throughout the year.

To be able to count our good fortune is a gift in itself. And perhaps the lesson is that there is always a reason to be thankful. We are so blessed to live in a country where we can control our own destiny, where we have the climate to be able to grow our own food, share with others, give back when we can, to be able to truly care for others and be cared for, and to celebrate that love every day.

So, this Thanksgiving, I hope you take a moment by yourself to sit and enjoy the warmth of the fire or glance out the window and appreciate the beauty of a falling leaf as it floats to the ground and be glad for both – and for the time to slow down and savor not only the tastes of the day, but the sights and sounds as well.

From all of us at The Artist’s Inn, may yours truly be a happy and grateful Thanksgiving.