COME DINE WITH ME: GEOGRAPHIES OF PRIVATE HOME DINING IN SINGAPORE
SHARMAINE TOH XIAO MIN
SHARMAINE TOH XIAO MIN
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Abstract
Private home dining (PHD), a relatively new mode of consumption that incorporates fine
dining into a home setting is gaining popularity. It is a sharing economy where home chefs
invite guests to their homes for an experiential and exotic meal. Despite this being a growing
phenomenon, it is a subject that has yet to be studied widely by researchers. This paper
explores PHD in Singapore through the concepts of spatialities and socialities. Analysis of
PHD production and consumption from the perspectives of hosts and guests supports this work.
These will be discussed under hosts’ production of a ‘new home’ and ‘novel identity’, as well
as guests’ experience of place and consumption beyond the tangible. Semi-structured
interviews and participant observation were conducted at or after the various PHD events and
subsequently examined. The findings reveal that PHD (1) transforms the home space yet
retains the essence of home; (2) compels members dwelling in it to perform multiple identities
at the same time; (3) facilitates the process of cultural representation and place making, albeit
occasionally unsuccessful, and (4) encourages guests to engage in performance and be co
producers of their own experiences.
Keywords
private home dining, spatialities, socialities, production, consumption, experience
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Date
2020-01-13
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