As much as I treasure a delicious meal to host a gathering at home offers benefits beyond the food, gifts often overlooked. If work requires gathering at a restaurant, the same applies: bringing people together provides promises beyond what’s served on the plate. Even serving a favorite, boxed macaroni is fine if we’re enthused about … Read more
This past weekend Slow Food Denver and A Table In Time offered its second “Dine-Around” opportunity focused on the theme, “Celebrate Local”. Guests, most meeting for the first time, gathered at nine different houses for lively conversation and a delicious meal. Gracious hosts prepared food sourced from their gardens, farmers markets and favorite vendors. Questions … Read more
It hasn’t always been this way…that we could “Google map” the nearest coffee shop and quickly identify where to find our morning liquid gold. Only recently has coffee become readily available. In an interview with Phil Goodlaxson, owner of Corvus Coffee, he reminded me that coffee houses historically have been a place for political discussions, … Read more
Some friends are very comfortable sharing their political views on Social Media, rallying others together, and expressing an opinion. I’m more reticent which isn’t to say that I don’t have an opinion. Frankly I can loose my sense of humor sometimes, which shuts down the conversation. And, I just don’t know all the facts! Although … Read more
Often I have wondered how my work as a teacher overlaps with my conversational consulting at A Table In Time. As it turns out experiencing lunchtime with three and four year olds provides insights for how we as “grown-ups” might enable conversation over a meal. Let me explain. Once hands are washed, lunch boxes unzipped, … Read more
A conversational Relish contains thoughtful interactions between hosts and guests. Delicious exchanges hinge on how each role is played. As host… it’s important to relish whoever is joining you at the table: co-workers, friends, family, acquaintances, fellow volunteers, loved ones, for example. If you’re entertaining employees, it’s almost more crucial to be fully present. A normally … Read more
Last minute details can derail us. Corporate dinners, for example, require us to know who needs to be recognized, decide who sits next to whom, and offer an appropriate toast or a few short words of gratitude. Similarly at home we scurry around the kitchen to finish meal preparations. Do we really need that sprig … Read more
Often we become caught up in meal preparations, a “fancy” table, and too many logistics. We let a busy corporate culture dissuade us from creating meaningful social time with co-workers. For some, organizing details derails us and we postpone entertaining all together. For others, we don’t extend an invitation because hosting appears cost prohibitive or … Read more
In this election year, politicians attempt to define the national dialog and convince us to join their “side”. Their success hinges on knowing what to talk about and asking the right questions. Yet, when questions are posed, do we feel heard? Asking the right questions and listening well is how we learn and connect with … Read more
When friends learn about A Table In Time they ooze nostalgically for family dinners. Happy memories spill out, long buried beneath our techno-consciousness. Is it that sitting down face-to-face and enjoying conversation, even if only for a quick bite, seems rare these days? Many of us ate dinner as a family night after night. Based … Read more