A ritual is a series of actions that aim to connect people, and they can be stronger if food is used as a tool. The challenge was to re-connect people despite the forced physical distance caused by Covid19.

Kitchen Exchange is the experiment of a ritual which, through the power of food, creates a moment of connection between people, cultures, and traditions from all over the world. Covid19 put more distance in a society where the gap among human beings was already (or still) strong and present. This project wants to make a small step into the acceptance “of the different”.

I imagined a “food meeting app” that would put two different people from distinct countries in touch. Each of the subjects shared in advance a recipe of a traditional dish from their own countries, and when the match happens, a virtual meeting is set up. During the video call, the two participants cook together, one the recipe of the other, following the instructions and suggestion of the ritual-mate. They are also invited to share a story about the dish, during the cooking process. The call ends with the subjects sharing the moment of the meal.

In conclusion of the experiment, Rita said: “Even if the other one is a stranger, you never feel uncomfortable because you have a common point, that is cooking.”

And that proves how powerful food is.