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Whether we live in some sort of family unit or if we're single, we all have times we eat alone. Some people absolutely hate to eat alone, whether in a restaurant or at home. Do you ever find yourself in any 'difficulty' to eat alone? Myself - all my life; so obviously I'm more than o.k. with it. What I discovered was that when I lived in San Francisco, or Seattle or New York, I never felt the least bit self-conscious eating alone in any restaurant. But, here in rural Montana, it's a little more...challenging; I don't know why that is. Here is a photo essay from New York Photographer Miho Arkawa who studied people who eat alone. When you see the arrows at the top, click on the right one to start the navigation.
www.mihophoto.com/projects/dinnerinny/
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Posted: |
Jul 24, 2014 - 2:52 AM
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By: |
Thor
(Member)
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Since most of my friends are established with families, I'm "forced" to travel around the world on my own.
In the daytime, this is great because I can do whatever I want, in the tempo I prefer.
But in the evenings, it gets a bit lonesome, especially when I eat at restaurants. No big deal, really, but it would have been nice to have a dining companion with whom I can share today's experiences.
For me, the issue isn't so much the eating at restaurants alone, but rather post-dinner issues, like sitting in a pub alone. This can be nice for peoplewatching, but you can only do that for so long. And I'm not one to strike up a conversation with strangers, especially not if they're already in a group. I don't want to be intrusive and/or perceived as "the crazy lonely guy at the bar". However, it is my understanding and experience that this type of small talk among strangers is more common in the US.
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A long time ago I got into the habit of eating just two meals a day, alone at my dinette table. It never bothers me, although if some photojournalist were studying me I think it would.
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Posted: |
Jul 24, 2014 - 4:19 AM
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By: |
Francis
(Member)
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For me, the issue isn't so much the eating at restaurants alone, but rather post-dinner issues, like sitting in a pub alone. This can be nice for peoplewatching, but you can only do that for so long. And I'm not one to strike up a conversation with strangers, especially not if they're already in a group. I don't want to be intrusive and/or perceived as "the crazy lonely guy at the bar". However, it is my understanding and experience that this type of small talk among strangers is more common in the US.
I do feel inhibited to eat alone at a restaurant, seems socially awkward. A lunch place where I can eat a sandwich and read the paper I'm not as bothered with.
I agree about American hospitality, it surprised me as well how quick Americans are at striking a conversation, and also how helpful they were whenever we needed directions.
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Interesting this comes up on this forum now, just as this article appears on the BBC News website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28292651
Thanks for this, Ian J. There was a refreshing and unique 'take' on the single diner that I never really considered - we choose to eat where we do because of the food and amenities - not because we have no other choice. Here in rural Montana though, it's an entirely different matter. Everyone (seemingly) is either a party of two, or, a family of four. But, I still don't get bothered over it because here in rural Montana, I can cook much better than most of the restaurants around me. Except for the 'Triple Creek Ranch' in Darby, of course. And if you compare the sensibilities of today to say, that scene from 'The Lonely Guy' with Steve Martin who tells the wait-staff he's 'alone'...
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I almost always eat alone when dining out. In fact, there was one restaurant where I don't think I'd ever eaten with another person -- I remember showing up with some friends and the waiter, with whom I'd chatted on numerous occasions, joking that I DID have friends after all.
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The ingestion of food and beverages is to provide the human body with the required nutrients it needs to sustain itself.
It is not an activity that requires company.
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While one of my great pleasures in life is eating with friends -- we love trying new restaurants almost as much as we love cooking together -- I'm also happy to eat alone, at home or out. I have no shame in going to a restaurant with a book.
Me neither. Often, I'll bring along my accumulated Sunday New York Times'es, and spread them all over the table as I'm eating. I really enjoy the time I can get, just eating dinner, and going through all the sections of that Sunday paper, taking my time, if I want to, to read entire articles. Or, tackling the book I also always bring, just in case....
It's very enjoyable.
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