Eating at the counter is casual and comfortable and a great way to share a spontaneous meal with a friend. I've found that some simple, dig-in kind of foods actually taste better eaten at the counter.
My best friend growing up came from a family of six kids. Rather than attempt the impossible: to get all six of them to sit down at the table at once, their mom set dinner on the counter and the kids ate whenever they came in. I've since realized that some foods — especially simple ones: soup, sandwiches, and foods you eat with your hands — just seem as if they're meant to be eaten at a counter.
A couple of my friends stop by; they're both musicians, and I manage to show these dedicated non-cooks how easy it is to cook. Meanwhile, they make sure I don't take myself too seriously, by spontaneously making up songs and creating general mayhem. Somehow, we do manage to clean Dungeness Crab while they continually ham it up. You have to see this show to believe it, so tune in.
My Famous (in St. Helena, at least) Roast Garlic Crab is my very favorite "participation" dish. Everyone eats with their hands and you need big, big napkins. Potato Soup with Warm Clam Salad is a good "counter culture" dish, too. The soup's a sort of sauce for the clams piled in the middle of the bowl. Grilled Flank Steak with Roasted Peppers in Tomato Sauce is another casual favorite that I grill right in the kitchen fireplace.
