One Company Reclaiming Food As A Means Of Communication
Does this image look familiar? Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google have produced amazing products that have benefited the world enormously. But these companies are also caught in a zero-sum race for our finite attention, which they need to make money. Constantly forced to outperform their competitors, they must use increasingly persuasive techniques to keep us glued. And glued we remain.
Mark Zuckerberg has said that Facebook is committed “to continue improving our tools to give you the power to share your experience” But what experience is that exactly? AI driven news feeds and content has ensured that we are more interested in what’s happening in the world, than what is happening right in front of you. It’s easier than ever to see what your cousin is doing travelling in Bali, than talk to your friend right in front of you.
But this extends to an even more worrying trend as historian Yuval Noah Harrari notes, “During the last century technology has been distancing us from our bodies. We have been losing our ability to pay attention to what we smell and taste. Instead we are absorbed by our smartphones.”
Does this apply to you? Maybe your head is buried so deep in this article you’re ignoring those around you. After all, you clicked on a Facebook link to get here. But before you freak out and close this, let me tell you about one small way you can chip away at this behavior. Because with every mainstream social trend, there comes a counter culture. And this one is devoted to physical communities, rather than online communities; a place where people can divert attention away from their phones, back to their senses and back to people.
One company leading the way is Social Table. Centered around good food, good wine and connecting strangers with similar interests or appetites. This form of social dining has been described as “a philosophy of using meals specifically as a means to connect with others: eat to socialize”
This isn’t about dating, although there is always that potential, this is about going out, having a social life and enjoying the almost lost arts of communication. For a brief evening people are enjoying the opportunity to live their own moments, rather than scrolling through everybody else’s.
…it was a real treat to sit at one table with a group of people who had a genuine and authentic interest in simply getting to know others. No agenda, just a desire to be social. Not an iPhone in sight, can you believe it?… Mike Galvin
With Social Table events consistently booking out across major cities in Australia it seems there is some hope for humanity yet. Apparently there is still demand to go out and have a great time without holding a phone in front of your face, taking a photo, posting it, and constantly refreshing for likes. And with events lined up such as singles nights, networking dinners, cooking classes, girls-only outings, whisky-appreciation events, LGBTI-friendly catch ups and even straightforward after-work drinks there is something for everyone.
Each event teams up with carefully selected restaurants and creates specially designed set menus. Stuff you can’t get off UberEats. These are some of the most talked about culinary experiences you can find in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth or Melbourne. And with over 150 events so far, Social Table is expanding rapidly, even holding events in New York and San Francisco.
“The headache, the hangover and the late arrival to my meeting was truly worth it!” – Tony
So, for like minded individuals we’ve teamed up with Social Table to offer:
Upcoming Events On Social Table + Newcomer Discount
