How The Happy Plate Club Came to the Table

I grew up in a family where eating together was always made a priority. As a family of 5 with chaotic schedules, from sports practices to work emergencies, my parents somehow found a way to get us all together for dinners. Sometimes we wouldn’t eat until 8 or 9, or whenever the last family member made it home. Sometimes we had to be bribed with snacks to wait. But almost always, my parents made it happen. 

As a kid I used to feel like this restricted me from other important social calls like hanging out after practice at the soccer fields or going to play flashlight tag with my friends. I didn’t realize the value of what my parents were teaching us. It wasn’t about the formality of it all or to make sure we were adequately appreciative of the new recipe my mom had made that night. It was about spending time and connecting with each other despite a busy life. From a young age my parents taught us how to step out of the daily cycle of life to simply pause and be present with each other. My parents cultivated an open door house where no topics of conversation were off limits. This lead some dinners into very interesting table-side stories but reflecting as an adult I realize it’s what made us into the close-knit family we are today. 

Now, as adults living scattered throughout different time zones, the opportunities to sit down and enjoy a meal together are less frequent but the appreciation to do so has only grown. My parents planted a seed in our brains at a young age of how truly meaningful it is to be able to sit down, pause our lives and just enjoy each others' company. That seed has grown roots in each of my siblings and I, which has in turn blossomed into a deep appreciation for time spent around the table. Now when we travel to see each other, no matter what the reason, dining together is always the main event. Brunches at home are just as cherished as the dinner reservations we made months in advance after picking the perfect spot. It’s a time where we get to share and reflect on our lives, sometimes offer unsolicited advice, tell stories and just enjoy each others’ presence. 

I created The Happy Plate Club after years of documenting moments I shared with loved ones around the table on my phone. I wrote down anything that felt memorable, from cliff side charcuterie overlooking the Adriatic Sea to unhinged things said by a family member that probably would have been better left unsaid, but warranted preserving nonetheless. Seeing my memories written down in my notes app or as 24 hour stories on my Instagram just never seemed to do the moments justice. I wanted something more  tangible to house all of the memories I hold close to me. In a world where life’s moments are posted and scrolled by within seconds, I wanted a more permanent spot to keep mine. The Happy Plate Club to me is a timeline of laughter, reflection, appreciation and all of the glimmer moments of life shared over food. I hope it’s a place where people document their own experiences to share and reflect on for years to come.

One important thing to note about being a part of the club is that we love tea. Use this first post as your personal invite to share your own stories by emailing cheers@thehappyplateclub.com and give us all something to laugh, cry or feel inspired by while we're sipping our next glass of Sauvy B. Either way, this book was born from a desire to share and preserve dining adventures, and everyone knows what goes on the internet lives forever right? So feel free to send over your juiciest dining experiences, give us some hot tips from that dinner party you hosted and slayed (or failed and give us a laugh). This blog is meant to be one big universal happy plate club dining journal for everyone who joins.

From my table to yours, thank you for being a part of the Happy Plate Club.

With love & gratitude,

Laura