I love Ambience. Anywhere I can create it, I will. Most people tend to like it, whether they realize it or not. It’s one of the reasons SO MANY people flock to Disneyland ever year.
The Magical Kingdom absolutely nails this. The right temperature, music (type, volume), scents, sight lines, colors, etc. All the little things that create a sense of excitement, coziness, and make you feel just plain happy.
Dinner time is important for families and friends. It is a time of connection and bonding, even if it’s just a simple meal. Several years back I had the idea of including music to add to the dinner ambience.
But not just any music. I specifically pick genres that match the type of food we are eating. Much like an ethnic or themed restaurant might do in order to make the experience feel more authentic.
I feel its a great way to introduce different cultures and ideas to one’s own way of doing things. I love learning from other cultures and adopting different ways to try new things. It’s become a thing I’m known for at meals, and people seem to take to it nicely.
Here are some of my ideas I use:
1. Mexican Food
Taco Tuesday, Homemade beans and rice, Tex-Mex and the like. I use a great station on Pandora under Mariachi Music (a genre that is quintessentially from Mexico from what I was able to glean, from the 1930s, although it is now found globally). It’s a fan favorite for people who come over.
2. Italian Food
Pizza night, spaghetti, or whatever. I love Pandora’s Traditional Italian station. It has that great authentic Italian sound from classic music you didn’t even think you knew but subconsciously learned from different movies and background music in stores, malls and such.
3. Middle-Eastern/Arabian Cuisine
Of course this is a broad arena of food and cultures, but mostly we use it for my homemade hummus (make this, you’ll thank me later), which I love! My wife makes chicken shawarma with pita bread and we play classic Arabian-style music for this. Pandora has a pretty good playlist as well. Its lovely.
4. Burger Night
For this American classic, we do Pandora’s Doo-Wop to somewhat emulate a 50’s era diner vibe. If you want to go all out here you can add homemade milkshakes.
5. Irish Food
Irish Stew, Soda Bread, Boxty, and Shepherd’s Pie just go better with some Traditional Irish Tunes. Pandora has a St. Patrick’s Day station that fits this genre nicely. And might I suggest one of my favorite dishes for the occasion, Guinness Beef Stew (a bit of an effort, but sooooo worth it). There are several online versions of this, but I prefer America’s Test Kitchen. You can get a free 14 day access if you like to get the recipe, or choose another online version if you like. This one also had great reviews!
6. Asian Food
Another broad and diverse set of culture with many different food and music styles. We do the classic and traditional styles of these genres. Pandora has a decent traditional Chinese and Japanese selection.
7. Pretty much Any Region in the World you can order or cook from
Folk Cloud is a well-hidden gem of a website that has a music catalog from most any region in the world. Just click on a country and it provides a list of traditional folk songs from that region. It also allows you to create playlists! You can spice up a take-out night, or google recipes from all over the world!
8. Disney Food Night Anyone?
While there are countless Disney food recipes available all over the internet, the following music options will add to that special Disney ambience. Pandora of course does have a Disney station that plays all the songs from their movies and parks, and can be a lot of fun.
For a more fine-dining or relaxing feel, they also have Disney themed peaceful guitar, piano, and even ukulele.
For a more specific themed experience, Sounds Of Disneyland is just what you need. This amazing site has all the Disney park music categorized by areas and rides in the park. If you heard it in the park, it’s probably on the site.
9. My Go To Dinner Music Playlist for any Meal
Sometimes when we’re eating dinner there really is no specific or obvious theme. That’s okay! Whatever music feels warm and cozy does just fine. I personally use French Women Radio from Pandora (A French Cafe/Accordion station). It has a relaxing, ‘I’m sitting at a cafe in France’ vibe IMO. Or, you can always make your own!
Conclusion
I hope this adds to your dinnertime fun, whomever you’re breaking bread with! It adds just a little something to the routine that seems to lubricate conversation and relaxation after a long day.
Have you experimented with any dinnertime ambience? Please share your ideas below! Any other topics you’d like covered? Let me know!
Enjoy your sacred dinnertime with your people. Until next time, stay cozy my friends.
