Open Relationship Benefit #3: Dining companionship

"Sadder than destitution, sadder than a beggar is the man who eats alone in public. Nothing more contradicts the laws of man or beast, for animals always do each other the honor of sharing or disputing each other's food." Jean Baudrillard, French philosopher Given the large number of restaurants in existence it's easy to see that we (speaking for Americans in general) like to dine out.   Part of this is due to convenience. Given how busy our lives are between work, hobbies, and obligations, it's sometimes hard to fit in the prep and cooking time needed for food.  For others, the choice to dine out is because they themselves only have basic cooking skills, and want to try complex dishes that are created by a professional. Others still seek to experience new and ethnic cuisines. Regardless of the reason, dining out also appears to be a social activity.  Even if we are ordering different entrées,  we spend time together communing over a meal.   Mixing food with companionship not only makes the meal more enjoyable, but it allows us to reflect upon the experience of eating.   Remember the Disney movie, Lady and the Tramp?  The scene in the back alley of the restaurant wouldn't be as cool if it it was simply one of the characters eating alone.  Unless you're the type that likes to reflect upon and savor experiences in private, you probably won't have fun dining out solo. The easy answer to this, if you're in a relationship, would be to dine out with your significant other. This works if you have similar tastes, as well as similar schedules. What if one of you really enjoys a certain type of ethnic cuisine and the other abohrs it? How about if one member of the couple is a vegetarian (or vegan), and the other is a meat eater that enjoys going to Brazilian steakhouses?  In the old-school, closed relationship model, the couple would either have to go together (with one partner struggling to find something that fits their dietary preferences), the one that wants to go would have to go alone or not go at all, or they could go with same-gender friends.  (Note: This is assuming that the couple is heterosexual.) Given the implied intimacy of companionship that comes with dining together, difficulties may arise if someone that's in a socially closed relationship chooses to eat with someone that is of their gender of sexual preference.  Depending on the restrictions of the relationship, as well as the emotional security (or lack thereof) of the partners involved, the non-dining partner may feel threatened by the dining partner's companion - even if nothing happened beyond sharing food and drink and exchanging a few stories. The alternative here would be for the couple to mutually agree to open up dining companionship to allow each partner to dine with others that fit their gender of sexual preference, and to trust eachother so that when one says "we went out for food and drinks and that's it", it's left at that unless proven otherwise. I know that this seems rather basic and common sense, but sometimes couples need to blatently state this and agree upon it before this concept can actually work :) P.S.:  For those seeking dining companions - I like creative vegetarian cuisine.  The guys are more carnivorous (veggies are garnishes to flavor the meat!).