When you look at Earth from outer space, differences disappear. The waving flags, the walls and barbed wires that line our borders become invisible. From up there, the entire world is a big family. The most essential ritual for the concept of family is, of course, family feasts - feasts that are organized at countless homes in the innumerable cultures of 208 countries on seven continents. If we were to choose a home in any of the hundreds of countries in the world and take a picture of their feast table, the shared feeling would be one: unity! Wherever we are from, we all care about tradition to a certain extent, especially when it’s as cultural as gastronomy. We love including food in celebrations; sitting together around a single table, sharing, showing gratefulness for happy moments.
Whether it’s celebratory or just for the pleasure of it, eating is a universal act, connecting us with others and strengthening our already existing bonds. Massimo Bottura, one of the world’s most famous chefs, has led an initiative bringing the gastronomic ecosystem together around it and supporting them during hard times: The World’s Biggest Family Meal! You can access this virtual platform via worldbiggestfamilymeal.com where industry workers can come together to support each other by sharing experiences, forming strategies for the future, and celebrating their achievements. Italian chef Massimo Bottura, who has three Michelin stars, says he has initiated this platform to strengthen the bonds in the gastronomic ecosystem, one big family to him, especially during the pandemic. “First and foremost, it’s always an honour to feed our family. That’s why we created The World’s Biggest Family Meal.” Having set off with the motto “It's time to take care of those who take care of everyone else,” the platform accepts donations and organizes fun events via Zoom. It’s delighting and so hopeful, to see that a simple family meal can be so influential. We hope such inspiring works encircle our planet and acknowledge our part in all of this focusing on the question what we can do. We’ve always believed in the unifying force of food. The family of Hybrid Community has grown and bloomed around the same event tables that centre around gastronomy. We hope to meet in new family feasts once we’re past these challenging times!
