That Long Table Again

8/12/2017

The dreaded long table - which poor suckers get to sit at the end, lonely, abandoned, neglected?

I went to a new restaurant last week, enjoyed it and complimented them on a long table set for a party of 14. There were six chairs on each side and one at each end. Perfect.

During this season of festivities, I hope the muse of conviviality protects you from sitting at a table like the one above. Why do they do it? If you find yourself before this badly set table and are free to seat yourself, take a chair down the side, in the middle. If the seating has been pre-arranged, and you are seated at the end, you'll have to live with the fact that you are not a favoured person in this group, you are an outsider, and you are missing out, yes, missing out all evening! Turn to the right and there's no-one to talk to and it will be difficult for you to be part of any conversation, even to the left, because they've set up their own little group without you. You are abandoned on the shore of neglected hospitality.
As I said before, why do they do it? Why has no-one thought this through? Why do we accept it?

7 Comments

LUCI

11/12/2017 06:58:33 pm

Had that experience last week being placed at the end/middle of the table. Amused myself by ordering a cocktail called "Naked and famous" finally received the attention and conversation I deserved..

Cath link

11/12/2017 08:52:44 pm

Thank you for posting. I love the look of your cocktail and I'll print the recipe in a future blog post. Can't envisage where you were sitting. Was it at the end with no-one to talk to on one side or at the end in the middle of the table with people on both sides?
Whatever, announcing your cocktail would have been a winner!

12/12/2017 02:19:55 pm

I was seated at the head of the table with respect for my age.
The guests much younger, the noise level high, so I was already at a disadvantage.
I look forward to your recipe of my cocktail and hope it delivers.
Your blogs are fabulous.

.

12/12/2017 05:09:04 pm

Ah ha - so you were at the head, with someone on both sides of you. This isn't as bad as at the end of the long line of chairs with no-one at the end, as in the photo. But, unfortunately you were surrounded by young people who didn't know they were meant to talk to you, then turn to the other side and talk to their fellow, keeping the conversation going, back and forth.
Good job you found that cocktail. I'll be trying it and giving the recipe.

13/12/2017 09:22:48 am

Concerned that I haven't explained myself well. A long table should still give the sense of a circle with people down the sides and one (or two) at the ends, closing everyone inwards. Sitting at the end of a line of chairs with someone on your right but not on your left is so lonely. If you're seated at the head, which is seen as an honour(!) you do have people on both sides and you can look down the table. Readers - tell me

Frank McWilliams

12/12/2017 07:38:51 pm

Hi Cath
On food combos that make me cringe...
I feel sad when I bring a curry to a “curry night” and it gets slopped onto a plate alongside 4 or 5 other curries.
I prefer to make several trips to the table and seek advice from the creator/cook on how best to enjoy their curry. Taking small serves and taking my time to savour each one.
I bet you agree with me. 😊
I love your blog. It’s fabulous.
Frank

17/12/2017 05:09:59 pm

I certainly agree Frank, but what can you do?
This is one of the problems of "bring something along". A good idea in principal but there's too much food or no variety, not enough raitas,no idlis, no naan etc. But asking about the other curries is perhaps a good way of breaking down this assumption that curries are all just spicy stews.
Perhaps a post on a good set of dishes for a curry meal?
Thank you for contributing.

That Long Table Again

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