What makes you feel at home?

A breakdown of our third curated dining experience with Soho Friends, revolving around the concept of what fosters one's sense of belonging.

The concept of belonging has been a fundamental human desire since time immemorial. Traditionally, a sense of belonging was defined by one's geographical context - the people, culture, and traditions of the place they called home. However, the rapid pace of globalisation, the ease of travel, growing diversity, and the omnipresence of the internet have given birth to many more unconventional factors that contribute to one's Sense of belonging. Yet, ironically, the abundance of these factors has had the opposite effect, making it more challenging than ever before to understand where one truly belongs.

The pandemic, with its prolonged isolation and restrictions, further aggravated this problem, leading to a peak in the number of people struggling to find or navigate their Sense of belonging. For three long years, we were forced to stay "home.", making space for ourselves and, in doing so, realizing the void that existed within us. For some, it even meant navigating unfamiliar places, people, and sensations and endeavouring to find the essence of "home" in them. 

It's safe to say that we had the time and space to contemplate and challenge the concept of "home" - what it means and the role that it plays within our lives.

The curated dining experience aimed to bring the focus on what fosters a sense of belonging in an individual. The idea of belonging can be broken down into four themes: time, place, people, and self. By exploring these themes, we can better understand what makes us feel like we belong.

For the Sense of Time theme, nostalgia was a driving factor;  nostalgia can be a powerful driver of emotions and can create a feeling of belonging and connection to the past. Upon entering the dining room, guests were greeted with a breakfast spread reminiscent of leisurely weekend mornings from childhood. The buffet included a variety of jams, butters, breads, and egg dishes universally recognizable as essential breakfast foods. Playing with sweet and savory flavors, the spread aimed to put a twist on standard breakfast elements; for example, a caramelized onion and blueberry jam, citrus-tarragon butter, buttery egg salad, and hard-boiled eggs were several among the many options presented on the table. Additionally, each individual was given a crayon, which they used to draw on a tablecloth that also served as a canvas during this course. The course and discourse were designed to evoke childhood memories and the associated feelings of comfort and familiarity. This is because our understanding of belonging is most authentic during childhood.

The Sense of Place theme explores how the geographical context of a person's upbringing and current location can contribute to their sense of belonging. It contrasts the familiar surroundings of their past with the people and places of their present. The theme highlights the diverse landscapes and regions that exist and how each can influence a person's sense of belonging in unique ways. By examining these differences, we can gain a better understanding of how our environment shapes our identity and sense of belonging. The course consisted of several salad bites from distinct cuisines. Each guest was served a plate of four small salads – a Japanese hijiki salad, Lebanese tabbouleh, Mexican nopal and mango salad, and a French potato salad. While technically variations of the same dish, a salad, this selection highlighted the cultural and geographic diversity of ingredients and flavors. The decor used in the experience aimed to convey a narrative that explored diverse landscapes and regions. The narrative was conveyed through the use of contradictory elements that symbolized these different places while also harmoniously bringing them together. By experiencing this decor, participants were encouraged to gain a deeper understanding of the various factors that shape our sense of place, including geographical location, cultural influences, and personal experiences. Through the use of these elements, the experience aimed to inspire a greater appreciation for the complexity and diversity of the places that make up our world, and how each of them can contribute to our sense of belonging.

 
We then transitioned to the main course, in more ways than one, redirecting the narrative to focus on a Sense of Self and the importance of self-love, -introspection, and -acceptance in creating a Sense of Belonging. The guests were served a plate of butternut squash, and herb pesto Rotolo (an Italian coiled pasta) doused in a brown butter sage sauce. The pasta, which has the form of a colorful coil with visible layers and uneven textures throughout, served as a visual depiction of our inner selves. Furthermore, the decor encouraged guests to reflect on themselves figuratively, by using a literal reminder in the form of mirrors; a was the central element of the set. By forcing guests to look at their own reflection, we aimed to encourage a sense of ease within oneself, which is the key to successfully navigating the final theme and what it conveys.

The Sense of People theme emphasised the importance of the right relationships and connections and how they contribute to one's Sense of Belonging. Bringing back the crayon from the first theme, guests had to find the person with the same color crayon and work together to create their dessert. Each pair was given one serving of ice cream and had to work together to build a sundae with the available toppings. While lighthearted, this partner activity allowed guests to develop a sense of community and connection through interaction and collaboration by reflecting on their shared experiences throughout the evening.

 The experience was more than just a meal; it was an opportunity to elucidate the elusive concept of belonging, explored through a culinary lens. By weaving together nostalgia, geography, self-reflection, and community, the experience created a multi-sensory tapestry that highlighted the complex and nuanced factors that shape our idea of home and encouraged guests to challenge and redefine this concept for themselves. The world as we know it continues to change in many ways; we hope this experience serves as a reminder of the importance of cultivating a Sense of Belonging, wherever we may find ourselves.

Concept, art direction, execution : Two Odd, Akshita Garud, Brenda Debattista 
Chef : Sofia Gnabasik, Aadil Kumar
At Soho House Berlin with Soho Friends 
Words by Aadil Kumar