Eating with other people

I just wondered how other people feel about this and thought it might be a good topic to discuss.  There are many factors,  aside from the sensory and communication aspects. I have come to realise as I get older, just how much it is a social thing over a refuelling thing.

Is eating a social occasion or a functional occasion for you? Or a bit of both, or context dependant? I'm not talking just about dining out or special occasions but, for example, eating lunch with colleagues etc.

I was going to post more but I'd like to see what others say first