The Power of Food
Bringing People Together
By Hazel Frame, Owner of In The Frame Catering
Food has always been at the centre of the entertainment industry. Throughout history celebrations have forever gone hand in hand with a ‘lavish feast’, from flowing wine and frothing ale in the Middle Ages to the modern, gourmet 10-course tasting menus of today. As humans, our lives are centred around food – it’s the most communal and binding thing in almost every single culture in the world.
Every culture has their own traditions when it comes to preparing, cooking, serving and eating however a common theme runs true; food brings us together. Whether we are eating as a family or as a town, it has the power to connect individuals and the practice of sharing meals is deeply rooted in our human nature. A lot of our fondest memories will involve food; baking with your grandparents, your mum or dad trying to teach you how to prepare a family recipe or even an early birthday party with your favourite cake. These are some of the most special moments in our lives.
For me, I can distinctly remember my first trip to Italy, packed off age 12 to stay with the Italian side of the family. I can't say I was enthusiastic about the whole affair, that was until dinner was served! That trip completely opened my senses to a whole world of flavours I had never experienced before, mostly due to my Italian uncle Carlo's cooking who, God rest his soul, was a fantastic cook and teacher.
“There is communion of more than our bodies when bread is broken and wine drunk”
When we cook and eat together, we connect on a very personal level, and the food we choose to share with others shows a little of who we are. It reflects our own personal history, where we’re from, where we’ve been and what culinary delights we’ve experienced, all of which leave lasting impressions on our guests. Food has the power to trigger these heart-warming memories, allowing the conversation to flow freely and creating a deep connection between one another’s lives. When we have the opportunity to share these memories, we give a little of ourselves in return for the connection it brings.
After working for five years in the heart of London, I decided it was time to broaden the taste buds and set out to travel the world with my newly-wed husband in tow. Starting out in his home of South Africa we journeyed through India, Nepal, Hong Kong, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia and lastly New Zealand. Whilst traveling I experienced so many new foods, flavours and cooking techniques I would need to write a novel to tell you about them all! Let’s just say it was an enjoyable education and ever since I have been throwing myself into creating amazing dishes in domestic kitchens, to ensure my clients have a wonderful culinary experience and connect over great food.
Hospitality thrives on meaningful connection. As a species, we are more isolated now than we have ever been. There’s no better way to foster these connections we so deeply crave than to bond over shared a meal, meaningful conversation and togetherness.
As we start to emerge out of lockdown, In The Frame and CAPE will be hosting private & corporate catering services to provide beautiful gourmet dishes for events throughout the year.
See more from In the Frame at their website or get in touch with us today to discuss your next event.