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Cassandra Di Lalla (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Is it even a party without food? I feel strongly about having food at a party . . . no matter what kind of party it is, there’s something about food that brings people together, whether it’s more of a snack food or appetizer, or a full sit-down meal. I don’t think I’ve ever gone to a party or a gathering of some sort where food wasn’t involved.

Like, who doesn’t like food? Honestly.

Here you are sitting down on a cozy chaise lounge and you get hit with this tantalizing aroma! Is it the meats and cheeses from a charcuterie board? Is it the perfectly soft and fluffy focaccia bread? Is it maple walnut salmon? Or maybe it’s just your typical “party foods” like brownies or cookies, chips and dip, popcorn, pizza & wings, etc . . . Ever heard of people “cooking up a storm”? Well, let me tell you something — I don’t mind being caught in the middle of that storm, as I’m sure many other people can agree.

Can you imagine inviting your friends and/or family over for a get-together and not having food? Oh, the absolute horror! Look, people get hungry and people get angry. They get hangry. It’s also weird though, don’t you think? Like, hosting a party but there’s no food in sight and then you sort of tell them, “Oh yes, we have a glorious selection of beverages ranging from wine and spirits, to tea and coffee, to juice and pop, or water.” I mean, cool . . . but what are people supposed to say? “Wow, this OJ really hit the spot!” Or, “Yes, this bottled water is delectable.” Also, drinking alcohol on an empty stomach — no bueno. 

Okay, maybe the party is later in the day and you already had breakfast, lunch, whatever. Or maybe not. Because you were hoping there’d be goodies at the party. HELLO, PIZZA! I mean, it’s one of those foods that are basically staples at any party, regardless of the theme or age group. Pizza’s just so versatile, and the variety is astronomical!

Have you ever gone to a party and said “I’m here to have a discussion with you about your choice of wallpaper”? I don’t think so. It would be more like, “Hey, nice to see you, and thanks for having us” — you chat for a while — then you head straight for the Doritos and the punch bowl. And honestly, nobody’s expecting you to have a fancy catered service, but people are used to having a snack here and there while they’re drinking, or something to snack on after dancing or taking part in karaoke.

Do you think that a party would still be as fun without the food? Think about it for a while, let it sink in. I don’t know why, but food usually makes for a much happier crowd . . . I guess you can say it’s a crowd pleaser, eh? But seriously, it is. People from all walks of life indulge in their favourite dishes, but when you’re at a party I find that you often end up trying new things, especially if it’s a family function or a potluck, where there’s an array of food and each person brings something different to the table, quite literally.

When you’re at a party and you see different snacks or combinations of food, much of the time you wonder what they are, so you either try something, leave it or ask questions to find out what everything is. And just like that, the food becomes a topic of conversation! You may have also made a new friend, and you can thank your curiosity for that. On that note, food is also a great icebreaker! Don’t know what to do or what to say? Talk about the bite of food you just tried and see whether or not you have the same taste buds as the person next to you.

Imagine sitting around in awkward silence waiting for someone to say something worthy of being the highlight of the night? Or you being the one having to say something in order to get your jitters out and break the awful static in the air? Yeah . . . no. What about when you’re trying to kill time until the food arrives and you end up in a very awkward conversation about the flooring in the basement or how you ended up in the coat closet thinking it was the washroom?

All in all, food definitely makes for a fun-filled day and a stomach full of flavours.

P.S. I would love to go to your party. Thanks for the invite, and I’ll catch you on the flip side!

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Cassandra Di Lalla lives life purposefully. She enjoys reading, writing and mental health initiatives. She’s an animal lover for life and an innovative individual always finding new ways to create.