I always find it bizarre, however unfortunate it may sound when you let it sink in. Its when you’re with all these people and nobody had reached for their phone.
No one was checking messages under the table. No one was taking a quick photo before the food disappeared. We were simply sitting there, talking about everything and nothing at the same time.
It was not planned. In fact, most of our dinners usually begin differently. Someone arrives late, someone checks a notification, and someone inevitably says, “Let me just reply to this.”
And I don’t know how but, that night felt different.
The plates kept arriving, conversations moved from work to old stories, and somehow the phones became less important. We were too busy arguing about which dish was the best, laughing at memories we had already told before, and convincing each other to try one more bite.
Then when you realize it, that adrenaline kicks in. Where you silently wish no one would break that moment. I do remember the dropping of phones when the sentence, “Rate the dish from 1-10” started spreading around. The next thing you know, everyone’s throwing the most outrageous and over the top descriptions to one up the other’s review.
That’s the thing about good food. Whether it is sharing zi char dishes in the middle of a crowded table or ordering several plates at a restaurant we have been wanting to try, food has always had a way of bringing people back into the same space.
The best meals are sometimes the ones where we forget to record the moment because we are too busy living it.
Technology has become part of how we experience food now. We search for recommendations, save restaurants, and share photos. There is nothing wrong with that. But every once in a while, it feels good to remember why we gathered in the first place.
Not for the perfect picture. Not for the update.
Just for the people sitting across from us.
If you’re looking for more food-led stories and dining moments, explore more on Singapore Best Restaurants.
