Neighbourhood meals

That sounds lovely bjd. We don't tend to do anything like that in the UK, at least not where I live, but I am very tempted to suggest it to my neighbours as we get on really well with them. Just not sure who would play though, I'm guessing some just wouldn't be bothered.

#10 Not everybody here bothers either. Some people just never participate in anything, even if it takes place on their doorstep. But it's nice to put names to faces you sometimes just pass on the street, and after having eaten together and chatted, people become friendlier when you meet them on the street. You could start small with just a few neighbours who get along -- others might want to join in.

In fact, I think when it started in Toulouse, it was by a guy who thought that people in apartment buildings didn't know each other. So making a meal together (in a building with a common area like a courtyard) would get people knowing their neighbours. And also, getting older people living on their own known to the others so that the others would be aware of them. Here, of course, it's often the older people who won't participate.

However, our neighbour from behind (80 years old) brought his accordeon and played music from the 1940s and 1950s, from the time he played semi-professionally.

A few articles I found on the internet:
repas de quartier

Montreuil

Edited by: bjd

Do any of you have something like that where you live?

Not in Sweden, or in Stockholm in my situation.
Swedes tend to be more formal, or reserved, which for other nationals living in Sweden, including myself. is sometimes an obstacle.
Basically, you need a reason to get together. It cannot be just like that. So, in my situation, the only way of socialising with my neighbours is spring- and autumn cleaning, when the courtyard and adjoining common facilities are cleaned and tided up.
When the work is done, bbq's are lighted up and after a while hot dogs are served, along with fruit juice and wine. Wine in this kind of situation is unusal though. It's all arranged and paid from common funds of the association of the building.

It's probably my husband who will be the biggest party pooper ;) I might invite a few round for a BBQ and suggest it and see what they say. It's a lot easier if one person isn't doing all the cooking/drink providing. I guess we would have to take turns hosting in our houses though as no communal areas bar the street. I thought about organising a street party for the Royal Wedding in April but I remember my Mum doing it for Charles and Diana's wedding and the moaning because she ended up doing everything, haha.

I live in New Zealand. The area I grew up in now has shared meals at its local community centre. Often they are in conjunction with local new migrant groups and the local community board.

The small area of the suburb I grew up in used to have something similar at our primary school. Often this meant we got to eat something from India, Fiji (Fijian Indian food), Japanese and Greek food. That's about it. Not a huge selection at that time!!

Otherwise, my parents would have a Christmas BBQ and invite the neighbours. But that's probably not what you are thinking of.

My parents live on a very friendly street in the suburbs of Montreal and I can remember doing that as a kid many times. We would just go around to the neighbours and tell them we were firing up the grill and they would bring sausage, hamburgers, hot dogs, veggies, salad, etc. and we would all have a feast in my back yard. Then another neighbour would do it at his/her house and the kids would all go swimming while the adults just chit chatted.

There is also something that I haven't seen in ages, called a "progressive meal." This is usually done by 3 or 4 families. Everyone goes to House #1 for drinks & appetizers, House #2 for a starter course, House #3 for a main course, & House #4 for dessert.

I was part of a group that did a progressive in Memphis, and it worked pretty well. When we tried it in Los Angeles, it was a bust -- too much drive time between houses. It seems to be one of those things that sounds good in the abstract, but not so good on the ground.

One of my sons who likes to cook occasionally participates in "chaos cooking". A bunch of friends get together in one kitchen (usually his) and all cook something different to make a complete meal.