A taste of love: how food connects us at work

Is food the universal love language? And could it become the love language of our workplaces?

This month, I was invited back to one of my old workplaces, the Grattan Institute, to share soup. If you’re a Grattanite, you’ll know the sacred ritual of Monday soup. It’s part initiation ceremony, part culinary contest, and wholly a chance to break bread with colleagues. It’s where people show off their kitchen skills, debate the best crusty loaf, and most importantly, connect.

All the way back to my first day

On my very first day as Head of People and Development at Grattan, I baked a cake. Now, I’m not a baker and I’d much rather eat than cook but even during the interview process, it was clear that food was a love language at Grattan. It was how people expressed care, creativity, and community.

The logistics of soup

The Monday soup tradition is legendary. Each week, two volunteers cook two soups: one meat-based, one vegetarian. On my recent visit, the menu featured potato, leek and ham soup alongside caponata with casarecce and ricotta fresca.

But it’s not just soup. There’s always fresh bread, butter, and a spread of thoughtful garnishes. At 12:30pm sharp, a familiar bell rings, calling everyone to gather at long, beautifully set tables. It’s not just lunch, it’s ceremony.

Soup is just the beginning

Food at Grattan didn’t stop at soup. The then-CEO, John Daley, often arrived with armfuls of produce from his hobby farm, giant zucchinis, mostly. He’d challenge the team to get creative with them. I once attempted “giant zucchini meat boats” (not a winner, sadly). But, as with everything at Grattan, the challenge was met seriously and playfully.

When food became our connector

Even during Melbourne’s long lockdowns, when we were physically apart, food kept us connected. We launched a virtual cooking competition that quickly escalated to MasterChef-level productions. Some of us showcased our cultural heritage, my contribution was knafeh.

In another challenge, we were paired up and given a budget to send a surprise lunch to a teammate’s home. These small gestures created real connection in a disconnected time.

Let them eat cake

And then there are the “report cakes.” When a new report is released, someone often bakes a cake inspired by the report's theme. Think Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book meets public policy with cakes shaped like Medicare cards and train networks, to name a few. These sweet rituals celebrate creativity, teamwork, and mark milestone moments.

Of course, birthdays are celebrated too, with more cake!

The communication hub

After 30 minutes of getting soup, adding garnishes, buttering toast, and catching up with colleagues, Monday soup also becomes the communication hub. The meal transitions into a loosely structured check-in: a rotating and meaningful Acknowledgment of Country, a CEO update, a spotlight on a team’s work, and people-related news. 

Beneath it all

But beneath all these food traditions is something deeper. It's not really about the soup, the cakes, or the zucchini. It is about what those things symbolise. Food is a way of saying: we care.

It is love, in all its humble, heartfelt forms.

So, as you reflect on your own workplace, ask yourself:

What role has food played in fostering connection?

And how might you invite more of that kind of love into your workplace culture?