Compared with previous generations, Gen Z may be less socially connected in traditional spaces and more accustomed to online communities. But that does not mean they never go out and have fun with their social circles.
Thanks to various niche communities, Gen Z does have social circles outside the usual online spaces, and food-centric events are taking advantage of that desire for shared experiences.
This month, ZEEN, with Ayala Malls Market! Market! as co-presenter, held the first-ever “ZEEN and Tasted Food Festival,” a food and culture experience featuring brands and flavors recommended for Gen Z and young food enthusiasts.
Dining and community: the Supper clubs
IMAGE CREDIT: Magnific
Having communities and gatherings around food is nothing new — in fact, they are part of a much bigger picture.
People are drawn together by specific common interests, and oftentimes, they gather at a particular place where they can connect with one another.
In particular, it could be something like a restaurant, or even a cafeteria, where communities can indulge in a heartwarming feast while fellowshipping with one another. This tradition is known as communal or social dining, or as supper clubs.
Supper clubs are communities where people — whether they are meeting for the first time or already know one another — gather over a feast, sharing a communal meal built around a single menu.
“I think the biggest thing is the sense of community,” said Justine, founder of the Monday Supper Club. “It (honestly) started with me just cooking for my friends. Then it became friends of friends, and eventually people we had never met before.”
Dining and festivities: The food festivals
IMAGE CREDIT: Magnific
In the Philippines, there are festivals held specifically to celebrate food, thanks to the country’s diverse culinary traditions and local specialties.
In particular, provinces across the country have food festivals dedicated to celebrating their local delicacies. For example, in the provinces of Batangas and Iligan, lechon festivals are celebrated during January and September, respectively.
These food festivals bring local communities together to celebrate with parades, games, and cooking contests. They are also attractions for tourists, especially food enthusiasts.
Dining & Gen Z: Combining festivities, social gatherings
IMAGE CREDIT: Freepik
This August, ZEEN held the ZEEN and Tasted Food Festival, a food festival catering to the younger generation, particularly Gen Z.
The event, which was held on August 8 and 9, aimed to create a lively destination where good food could be seen, tasted, celebrated, and recognized.
The event featured guest performers and visitors, including DJ John Gabriel, who warmed up event-goers in the morning while they sipped coffee provided by McDonald’s McCafé, as well as renowned chefs from the Philippines and abroad.
The event also hosted an awards show, with awardees including Nadine Lustre’s Dehusk, Ryan Bang’s Paldo, and Liz Uy’s Mood Food.
Dining and the ties that bind people
A meal can start with something as simple as sharing a table. However, with a little time, it can become an opportunity to meet new people, discover something different, or simply spend time with the people who matter to us.
Gen Z may be more accustomed to connecting through online spaces, but that does not mean real-world social experiences have lost their place. Gatherings built around something as simple as food show that there is still something special about sitting down, eating together, and sharing an experience beyond a screen.
Whether it is a supper club, a local food festival, or an event like the ZEEN and Tasted Food Festival, food gives people a reason to come together. Sometimes, that shared experience is what turns an ordinary meal into something worth remembering.
