A straight-talking Southern chef has delivered a blunt verdict on modern American dining – and it has nothing to do with what’s on the menu.
Kent Rollins, the self-styled ‘Cast Iron Cowboy’, says diners today are not only glued to their phones, but have also abandoned the simple ritual of giving thanks before a meal.
‘There are more people sitting at a table now, whether it’s a restaurant or at home, holding a cellphone instead of a fork,’ Rollins said.
He said these distractions prevent families from really connecting and appreciating their ‘blessings.’
‘America would be a better place all the way around if we still all gathered around the table, took our hats off, held hands, thanked God for… for the meal and the hands that prepared it,’ Rollins told Fox News Digital.
Psychiatrist Dr Carole Lieberman wholeheartedly agreed with the chef, saying the concept of family dinner ‘has gone AWOL.’
‘Parents need to be parents and make it a rule that everyone has to make family dinner a priority and to leave their phones in another room,’ Dr Lieberman told the Daily Mail.
She added that saying ‘grace’ helps remind people to be grateful, especially for ‘food, a roof over their head and a loving family.’
Kent Rollins, also known as the ‘Cast Iron Cowboy,’ suggests people put their phone away at the dinner table and ‘don’t forget to bless’ their food
Meanwhile, Rabbi Brad Hirschfield told The Daily Mail that the simple act of gathering still matters – even if perfection isn’t the goal.
He said: ‘Breaking Bread together is good, as is less screen time. Expressing gratitude increases personal happiness, and as a Rabbi, I am a fan of prayer.’
‘That said, let’s not allow what some of us may see as perfect, be the enemy of what all of us can see as good.’
In other words, the Rabbi is saying families do not need to recreate a picture-perfect, prayer-filled dinner every night – but simply sitting down together, without distractions, still has real value.
When it comes to meals at home, Rollins said his fondest memories were Sunday dinners after church, when his family gathered in the kitchen to share a meal together.
‘Whether it be an old pot roast that they pulled out of an oven or a double fried chicken with gravy and mashed potatoes, beans, you know, and bread and cobbler, and you sit down – that’s family,’ he said.
The warning comes as technology becomes increasingly embedded in the dining experience.
Chains like Burger King have introduced AI-powered systems that monitor how polite employees are.
The Southern comfort food chain Cracker Barrel saw a drop in sales a they announced a ‘woke’ rebrand
‘Food isn’t just about nourishing our bodies, it’s about gathering together and nourishing our relationships with each other,’ Rollins told the Daily Mail.
‘Mexican culture has a term called Sobremesa,’ he added. ‘It refers to the time spent after a meal visiting. In America, we don’t even have a comparable term. We need to change that.’
Meanwhile Chipotle has revamped its rewards program to encourage more phone use, offering customers free food for playing games on its app.
According to a 2025 survey by You Gov, a staggering 63 percent of Americans watch TV while they eat dinner.
Less than half, 41 percent, talk to whoever they’re eating with, while 28 percent admitted to looking at the phone while eating.
Of those adults looking at their phone, most are under 30 years old – 42 percent as opposed to 24 percent of over 30-year-olds. Some of those people are even listening to music or podcasts while dining.
Even on social media, some users preferred to eat in front of a screen instead of with their families. One Reddit poster said: ‘I never really talked with my family like that, that I can remember, nor was I ever interested in doing so. I’m still not, honestly.’
Discover more from PressNewsAgency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.