IMHO: On Dining Alone

Joseph Lorusso, Dining alone

I was always taught (and still believe) that food tastes best when shared. There’s no sense stealing away to a dark corner in order to enjoy the last piece of chocolate cake. The experience of ‘the last piece of cake’ just seems more satisfying when split with someone deserving. So when I made the conscious decision to go to dinner solo, I wondered what had changed. Then I remembered what it is like to dine alone and mentally rehearsed the steps as I did so.

When I enter the restaurant, and as the host walks up with a questioning and mildly concerned look, I raise my index finger to signify what he’s already guessed. He (out of politesse) removes the extra place setting and hands me my menu. I raise it up in front of my face like people do when they read the newspaper and steal glances at diners at surrounding tables. What are their stories? I listen intently to people at adjacent tables, and giggle at their conversation topics. Yes, it’s rude, but only when they can hear you. I then turn my attention back to the menu and quickly scan what’s on offer. I stop at the first plate that catches my eye, since there is no sense in being indecisive when dining alone (in doing so you only keep yourself waiting). While waiting I look out the window, at the ceiling, at the wait staff and check the overall cleanliness of my environment. When the dish comes, I forget myself and all that surrounds me and see only the food. I can’t describe what comes next but it is the most in tune with my feelings I will feel for some time and it gives me great pleasure.

Eve must have eaten apples before her offer to Adam. What with how good it feels, it makes sense then that dining alone could have been the original sin.