The Ritual of Communal Meals at Kalart

In a nutshell:

In this article we will learn how communal meals at Kalart are more than food, they are a daily ritual that strengthens bonds and nurtures wellbeing. We will explore how shared cooking and diverse cultural recipes create opportunities for connection, learning, and personal expression. Ultimately, we’ll discover why eating together is a core pillar of co-living and collective growth at Kalart.

Time to read: 2 min.

Eating together, growing together.

In Catalonia, and throughout Mediterranean culture, food is far more than nourishment. It is a cultural ritual: a moment to be together, to share stories, to create bonds, and to let conversations stretch into the unhurried “sobremesa.” At Kalart, this daily moment is an essential pillar of community life. We feed the body, but we also nurture the relationships between those who live together here.

At 2:00 PM sharp, we gather to share lunch. The meals at Kalart are primarily vegetarian, with gluten-free and lactose-free options, and often vegan alternatives as well. Occasionally meat or fish is served, but always separately, so that every resident can enjoy their meal comfortably and fully. We care deeply about ingredients and flavors, but even more about the act of sitting together around the table.

One of the most meaningful aspects of our meals is what happens before we even sit down to eat: the preparation. In Kalart, everyone cooks and everyone eats together. Lunch becomes a shared responsibility, carried out in rotation. Each resident takes on the role of “chef for a day” once every three weeks, preparing a full meal for the community of fifteen people.

For many, cooking for such a large group is a personal challenge and a learning experience. It is also a unique opportunity to reveal a part of oneself: one’s creativity, culture, and origins. The chef of the day often chooses a favorite or traditional recipe—something from home to offer as a gift to the community. And whenever needed, the founders are there to help with quantities, timing, and the flow of the cooking process, ensuring a successful and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Thus, every lunch becomes a journey of discovery on multiple levels. We learn about the chef of the day by seeing which flavors move them and which recipes connect them to their roots. We discover cuisine that comes from India, Japan, Hungary, France, Greece, Spain, and many other places. Imagine discovering each other through Dal Tadka, Okonomiyaki, Goulash, Ratatouille, Moussaka… Conversations often begin by talking about food and end with stories about family, culture, childhood, and ways of living. Meals naturally expand into moments where we share who we truly are.

Because at Kalart, eating is co-living. And co-living is learning, inspiring one another, and growing together.