The most prevalent trend to hit the table in recent decades is the group activity. The term ‘Adulting’ used to describe those things we take on as we transition from being hapless students to starting to do things adults would do has influenced ‘adult’ gatherings by bringing with it some of the same free-form lifestyles that characterized our youth. Group activity foods can be seen as an adult evolution of the college pizza making party. Layer onto that the interest in farmer’s Markets, organic ingredients, ‘bespoke’ culture, the Maker Movement, and the smart-phone-induced impulse to proclaim knowledge of obscure and esoteric things to impress one another and you suddenly have a perfect recipe for activity dishes like Vietnamese Wraps (shown below), gourmet quesadilla making parties, taco making parties, charcuterie spreads, Shabu parties and yes the revival of fondue parties. The entire focus is on conversation and expressing and displaying your creativity and adventuresome spirit. To support this new trend in home gatherings a whole new range of tableware items have appeared. Long planks on which to display the pallet of ingredients, mini bowls to hold obscure and precious chutneys and spices, handmade glassware and utensils have all risen to the top as new types of tableware. Non-Matching and contrasting materials like wooden bowls express the “Farm to Table” origins of this trend.
Dig in! Create! Invent! This is the broadest departure from entertaining tradition in the past century!
