What is the concept of a supper club? How sharing a meal brings people and cultures together.
The Dinner Table Doctor blog is all about gathering at the dinner table and exchanging information. Sitting and eating with other people is so much more than sustenance; it is experiencing all of our senses in an intimate manner. An encounter over dinner has the potential to be magical, depending on the food, the setting, the people and the conversation. DTD and I recently had a remarkable dinner experience at a Persian-themed supper club.
The Persian Journey Supper Club
A friend who also happens to live in our neighborhood recently started a new business: The Persian Journey Supper Club. Shima was born in Iran and left at a young age several years ago to escape the war. She lost loved ones and saw many atrocities, yet she remains a vibrant and positive person who connects with strangers almost immediately due to her open nature and winning smile. After living in Sweden for several years, she met and married a man from the Netherlands, had two lovely children and ended up in our small Ohio town as the family relocated for her husband’s job. Her girls were raised here, and Shima recently became an American citizen. Against the backdrop of renewed conflict and growing tensions between the United States and Iran, she started the supper club to foster understanding and connection through the universal experience of a shared meal.
The Supper Club Concept
Supper Clubs have been a thing for years in public establishments as a way for people to gather for a slow, leisurely dinner fostering conversation and connection. Now supper clubs are often found in private homes and are more intimate and curated experiences. Your ticket to The Persian Journey Supper Club includes an exclusive invitation to Shima’s home to share a menu of traditional Persian dishes. Shima not only cooks the meal but also explains the significance of each course and shares her personal experiences as well as information about her home country.
The Doctor is IN
This particular supper club is right down the street from our house and hosted by our friend, so we already knew a few people in attendance, but most of the group were new to us. Shima does a great job making all guests feel welcome and comfortable. We learned about her inspiring life and enjoyed the delicious Persian food she prepared, plus had a lively discussion about a variety of subjects with several questions directed to the doctor at the table. Topics included the Mediterranean Diet, dementia and Alzheimer’s, high cholesterol and statins, weight loss drugs, vegetarianism, plant-based diets, ADHD, sleep hygiene, menopause, Viagra, sexual identity, masturbation and I’m sure more that I can’t remember. There wasn’t a shy person at the table! DTD shared all sorts of medical tidbits. It was very difficult to decide which topic to write about for this post, and I eventually realized the experience of the shared meal was more important than any of the medical information DTD covered. The simple process of a group of acquaintances and strangers warming to each other at the table and slowly opening up throughout a conversation is healing in itself. The sight, of the lovely table setting and presentation of each dish, the new smells and tastes all contributed to a magical evening laughing with new friends.
Bonding Over a Meal
Loneliness and social isolation can negatively affect your health. Our brains are wired for interacting with others and sharing a meal is one easy and fulfilling way to meet this need. The supper club experience truly highlights the importance of sharing experiences through food. It is a reminder to gather with others over a meal as often as possible. Whether we are hosting, a guest in someone’s home, or meeting others at a restaurant, the more we can take the time to talk and listen and connect with people, the more we will foster understanding. Trying new food from around the world is an integral part of this knowledge and appreciation. Our supper club table included guests from the US, Mexico, Honduras, Iran and the Netherlands. It was wonderful to discuss the similarities and differences of food from other parts of the world. We all have so much more in common than we realize. Clearly our world needs more understanding and less conflict.
Gather with family, friends, acquaintances and strangers around the dinner table and try new foods as often as you can because it is good for your health. You may be surprised at what you discover about yourself and others. If you’re in Northeast Ohio, I highly recommend The Persian Journey Supper Club as a way to meet interesting people, enjoy delectable dishes, and learn about Persian culture and cuisine. You can find more information about this supper club on Facebook and Instagram. Of course, if you want some free medical advice, invite DTD! Perhaps I’ll tag along for new material for future posts.
Don’t forget to check out some of my past posts that cover many of the topics we discussed during our supper club experience. Subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!
Dinner Table Doctor 
Amazing evening with an amazing hostess
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