Food. Risky business. This essential need tested supply chains, supermarkets, restaurants and all the people along the way. Moreover, restaurants struggled to adapt and stay open. Patrons wondered if homemade food was wisest. Above all, it was clear, communal dining was a shared experience that many missed.

By mid-June, restaurants in New Jersey were allowed to arrange outdoor dining. Ironically, the combination of social-distancing and “fresh” air convinced eager patrons that exposure to an airborne virus was less risky if the tables & chairs were assembled outside. Still, capacity was capped and large gatherings were still banned. Safety protocols competed with communal dining for priority. These journal excerpts reveal how some people negotiated the politics of food during a pandemic. –Amalia Mallard, journal curator 

“My friend called me in the morning asking whether I wanted to go eat at a diner. I still do not feel comfortable doing something like that, especially since I am currently living with my parents. I am deciding whether to move out soon though. I am hoping my friend and I can move out to the beach later this semester and for next semester. I know it will be cold, but honestly I love the beach no matter what time of year it is.” –Varoon Phondge. Saturday, September 12, 2020

“I had to decline another social invitation today.  A friend invited me to go out to eat at an outdoor dining venue.  I have only recently started buying takeout again.  I spent most of the pandemic so far ordering my groceries online and fighting with my parents to keep them from going shopping.  We only recently resumed going to the grocery store / hardware store in person.” –Joe Bagod. Sunday September 6, 2020

“Around noon, my friend texted to see if I was available for dinner tonight. I decided to go just so I could stay occupied instead of sitting home and studying all day. So I got my work done in a couple hours, took a shower and left to go meet my friend at her house. We didn't greet each other the way we normally would because of social distancing rules. Instead we fist bumped each other. One of her family members offered me hand-sanitizer as soon as I entered the house. We joked about how offering hand sanitizer to others is now a common thing, and then sat down to have some dinner.” –Can. Friday September 11, 2020

“Today was my first day as a paid teacher. Although an unfortunate year to start off with, my priority still lies within ensuring that the students are safe, comfortable, and able to learn. Surprisingly, not a single one seems scared or nervous about COVID-19. I even caught students sharing chips at lunch (which was an honest mistake on their parts, but still something I corrected immediately). In early March, I remember having to constantly settle my concerned students when I was student teaching. They were terrified of the virus, now these students seem to be carefree. I wonder what could have changed.” –Alex T. Thursday, September 10, 2020

“My hometown of Rutherford, which usually is host of a rather large Labor Day street festival with food and shopping and antiques, will be quiet tomorrow. I asked a friend of mine, and she said it had been cancelled months ago, which is of course unsurprising, but also sad. Except for the years I lived in China, I have never missed the Labor Day street festival in Rutherford. Of course, it's for the best for the event to have been cancelled. But I suspect by the end of the day tomorrow, I will be in mourning for what could have been. Perhaps that is essentially why this year feels odd. Are we all in constant mourning for what could have been?”–Dominic Putko. Sunday, September 6, 2020