One of the ways that many people are introduced to new cultures is through food. Whether at a friends house or a restaurant, we take in new tastes, sometimes with trepidation, sometimes with excitement. Often there is a feeling of disorientation, what goes with what? What should I eat first? Will it be spicy? What is the texture like?

For the curious, these are bridging moments. Small, but real. Questions about food begin communication across differences. In Washington, DC a group of restauranters are organizing a series of special events called “Tables Without Borders” in which, “Professional chefs in Washington, D.C., were paired with refugee and asylum-seeker chefs this past week so that the refugees could give guests a taste of their home countries through food.” For more, listen to this story from National Public Radio.