Table for One, Please!

Did you know that psychological experts have said that being able to go to a movie alone is an indicator of extreme confidence?  I feel like dining alone follows this same thread.

Being newer to the traveling sales representative scene, facing the prospect of time alone on the road is a new experience for me.  When the workday is through and the appointments have a neat little check next to them, all you have left is an evening of solitude.  I hope every past sales manager I've ever had is reading this.  Why even limit it to that?  I think every person who has ever known me well would all tell you the same thing.  Silence makes me uncomfortable.  I start to throw random phrases out in the air just for the sake of breaking the quiet.  Enter the phrase, "Table for one, please."  It's only logical that eating alone would cause the sweat to bead upon my brow.

I know I'm not the first traveler to experience the novelty of dining à l'une.  But I feel confident that many business travelers have had these thoughts. Sure, I could go grab a sandwich and eat in my hotel, but that's a lonely prospect as well.  Instead, I go through the inner conflict of wanting to get out and enjoy a delicious restaurant while wondering if everyone in the restaurant is looking at me thinking, "Oh that poor, sad, lonely woman eating all by herself."  That may be a bit dramatic, but I can own the fact that I am a bit neurotic (and maybe a teensy bit dramatic too).

A little liquid courage AKA The Summer Peach Mojito from Food Dance in Kalamazoo, Michigan...maybe if I am a little buzzed, no one will notice that I am dining all by my lonesome

So this whole scenario of dining solo has really thrown me for a loop.   Lunch doesn't seem to plague me the way that dinner does.  I can go to Panera, hop on the free wireless, and lose myself in work and not give it a second thought.  The dinner meal, however,  especially at a table service dining establishment, lends itself to being experienced in the company of friends and family.  I can't tell you how many times I have thought to myself, "I can't wait to call "X" about "X" restaurant...wish they could have been here," and so forth. (SIDE NOTE:  This evening, I went into Meijer to run an errand and saw a lonely Miss Michigan (Really?  Autographs a Meijer?), sitting at a special table, all prepared to sign autographs with nary a fan in sight and a man/woman dressed a dolphin (seriously) all in the space of a minute.  It's times like these that I had someone by my side to mutter those "Did you see that?!?!" comments, but I digress).  In my opinion, great food is meant to be shared.  Food is love, family and fun.  How can I take what is usually a shared experience and make it special when I'm on my own?

The answer...I am trying to embrace it.  Last night, I ate at a fabulous restaurant called Food Dance in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  This particular restaurant prides itself on its fresh, local ingredients.  As I sat alone, I focused on the food, the different complex flavors, attempting to savor each bite and appreciate each ingredient.

First up, a house specialty, Creamy Tomato soup with freshly baked foccacia and herb butter...Also notice the corner of my Kindle, every solo diner's favorite decoy. "See, I'm fine.  I'm just reading.  That's why I'm by myself.  I'm not a weirdo or anything." - a snippet from this traveler's inner dialogue

My fresh and scrumptious dinner: Grilled Fresh Artichokes, slathered with sun-dried tomatoes, roasted garlic, kalamata olive relish and Spanish extra virgin olive oil  along with a Square Dance Salad, handmade fresh farm cheese, toasted pine nuts, Michigan dried tart cherries and warm caramelized onions on top of mixed greens tossed with balsamic vinaigrette

I made sure that I asked for a great window seat so that I could observe the town that I suddenly found myself residing in for the night.  I reflected about the day, thought of things that I might do differently to be more successful in my work.  I read my book for a bit, losing myself in the world of Mac and Jerricho Barrons.  I daydreamed about our upcoming trips to Hawaii and Peru.  And you know what?  Before I knew it, dinner had flown by and what I was expecting to be an awkward situation, proved to be not only painless, but rather enjoyable. 
 
For me, the lesson in all of this is that there is something empowering about dining out alone.   For some reason, our culture definitely has an ingrained fear of being alone in any circumstance.  I, for one,  will proudly take that table for one and continue to learn that sometime one's own company can be the best kind.   
 
 
 
 
 

If you ever find yourself in the K-Zoo area, I encourage you to try the wonderfully delicious Food Dance. 
 
Pertinent Info:
401 East Michigan Avenue Kalamazoo MI
269-382-1888 fax 269-382-4901

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner – Monday-Thursday 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sunday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. (breakfast only)
Visa, Master Card, Discover and American Express accepted
http://www.fooddancecafe.com/