" To share a meal is to undoubtedly experience one of life's great joys. Yet this doesn't mean that there can't be some kind of connection when we eat alone, be it with ourselves, what's around us, or a higher power. UNESCO states that French gastronomy emphasizes 'the pleasure of taste,' and that some of the essential elements involve utilizing local products, pairing food with wine, and taking the time to smell and taste items at the table. Alone, we can plumb local markets and examine their wares closely. We can breathe in and relish the flavors in a sauce, or the coolness of a pitcher of cream. We don't necessarily take time to do these things in the presence of company, particularly during lively conversation. A solo meal is an opportunity to go slow; to savor. "

― Stephanie Rosenbloom , Alone Time: Four Seasons, Four Cities, and the Pleasures of Solitude