The RIND is about to host its second early morning Yoga Class, followed by a tasting and discussion on Mindful Eating. So what is Mindful Eating? Eating is something that unifies all of us: we all need to eat! Our Mission Statement has said since the beginning “Food can be a medium to bridge divides of culture, time, language and even ideology. We seek to strengthen connections between friends, and build connections to places and people near and far. We do this through sharing experiences face to face or sharing the story and essence of places distant. “
Eating can also be anxiety producing and bring up so many feelings, concerns, etc. I for one, after being in the food industry for 30 years, having a Culinary Arts Certificate, and being a Certified Cheese Professional never really understood nutrition. I was more likely to know the provenance than the macros of what I was eating and have spent my entire life with body image issues and struggled with my weight. While we are far from selling “health food”, I do believe our bodies respond better to traditional foods that are made on a human scale. Sometimes it's just about eating food from a company that is small enough that you can actually answer the question of what is in your food.
Mongers’ and the Rind hope to be your ally in navigating the food system. We believe that “context is delicious”. To us, mindful eating is when we engage ourselves fully in our meal. We engage all of our senses as well as our intellect. We try our best to know the people behind as much of our food as possible so we can help answer all of your questions. The brand has been set up as a ‘love letter’ to those producers, makers, and farmers. I have said for a long time, “the people who make our food are too busy working to tell their story.” I hope to be the bridge that connects you to those folks. At the RIND we have been working with local farmers since day one and Chef Andrew has continued that legacy. We are not just a small business but a constellation of many small businesses. Below is a rough list of the local producers we champion:
Maple Creek Farms, Werp Family Farm, The Detroit Farming Collective (Beaverland, Fisheye, Coriander), Give Thanks Bakery, Sheridan Farms, Share Crackers, Sanilac Creamery, Idyll Farms, Zingerman’s Candy Company, Zingerman’s Creamery, Folklore Winery, Stranger Wine Company, Sepia Coffee, Sabbath Coffee, Roost Roast, Casamara Club, Detroit City Distilling, Long Road Distillers, Valentine’s Distillery, Transient Brewing, Farm Club, and even more.
Please stop by and taste with us soon!
How to Mindfully Eat your Food:
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Learn about it first. Where did your food come from? Who grew it or made it? What is it? Does it have a cultural or geographical origin?
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Use all of your senses. We eat with our eyes first, how does it look? Smell it second, we have more olfactory receptors than we do taste buds. Only then should we taste it by eating or drinking.
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Savour or share with friends!
Food unites us all, bridging culture and language. By learning food's origins, engaging all senses, and sharing mindfully with others, we can transform eating into a meaningful, connective experience. Context is delicious!!