At the Table - 2 dinners in Treehouse
What happens when 24 strangers sit at the same table to share their most personal food memories? As part of the exhibition "Embrace your inner Brussels sprout," we invited people from all over the world to peel back their layers through the stories of the dishes they love. From Norwegian heart-waffles to Colombian "independence" soups, discover how a simple meal turned a group of strangers into a community.
EVENTS!RECIPE BOOK
3/14/20262 min read
The Alchemy of the Table: How 24 Strangers Became a Community
In the heart of Amsterdam’s NDSM wharf, inside the creative sanctuary of Treehouse, something remarkable happened over due evenings this March. As part of the exhibition "Embrace your inner Brussels sprout," we decided to conduct a simple social experiment.
The premise was: If we are all made of layers, can sharing a meal help us peel them back?
Beyond the Menu
The project, titled "At the Table," wasn't just about dinner. It was an invitation to 24 individuals from vastly different walks of life to sit down as strangers and leave as something more.
We didn't just serve food; we served memories. Every guest was asked to share a recipe or a culinary memory that defined a piece of their history. What followed was a journey through personal stories that, despite coming from different corners of the world, felt incredibly familiar to us all.
From Memories to the Plate
As the nights unfolded, the table became a space where very different lives met. We heard about mothers with the "superpower" to recreate any taste, childhood birthday cakes shaped like arms, and the slow, rhythmic ritual of stirring polenta on a wood-fired stove.
We talked about Colombian soups born from a mother's "tough love," Norwegian waffles made with a traveling iron, and the spicy, cleansing broths of South India. We discovered that while our ingredients change—from bitter chicory to sweet poppy seeds—the reason we cook is the same: to care for someone, to remember home, and to find a place where we belong.
The Power of the Shared Moment
The most beautiful part of "At the Table" wasn't the food itself, but the way the atmosphere changed. It was the moment a guest from Vietnam realized their childhood treat shared a soul with a memory from Italy. It was the realization that, for a few hours, the labels we carry outside didn't matter. At the table, we were simply humans with a shared desire to listen and be heard.
Bring the Table Home (Free Download)
I wanted these stories to live beyond the walls of Treehouse. So, I have gathered all the recipes and stories we shared into a digital booklet.
I’ve adapted these recipes into plant-based versions to reflect my own kitchen, but I’ve carefully preserved the "Animal Extra" notes for each one, honoring the traditional ingredients that were part of the original memories.
Whether you're looking for a comforting soup, a festive cake, or a simple childhood snack, this collection is my gift to you.
👉DOWNLOAD THE "AT THE TABLE" BOOKLET FOR FREE
Join the Conversation
Food is a conversation that never ends. I invite you to download the booklet, try the recipes in your own kitchen, and perhaps invite a stranger to your table.
