The rise of companies enabling people to share rooms, cars and other services such as Airbnb and Uber is not only letting people make more efficient use of resources, but is also reshaping interpersonal relationships and how we live our lives.

Now the trend has reached the dining table. Zuijiao, a local entrepreneurial business, aims to reshape dining habits by helping cookery enthusiasts open their menus and their homes to diners in Shanghai.

In contrast to high-end private lounges that charge large amounts for a private feast, Zuijiao aims to provide a new affordable dining opportunity by letting people share skills and efficiently allocate resources.

The Global Times recently took part in one of the banquets organized by Zuijiao.

Dishes served during a meal booked at a private cook's home

Homemade delicacies

Banquet times are set by hosts, and usually fall on the weekends. There is a wide range of cuisines on offer, including European, Japanese and Chinese. Prices range from 68 yuan ($10.95) to 128 yuan per person.

The number of diners is usually limited to 10 per banquet. Diners can peruse menus and hosts online before making their choice.

The Global Times and three other diners booked a traditional Yangzhou meal hosted by a cook named Qiang Yuting.

Born in Yangzhou, Qiang works in the finance industry. Like most cooks on Zuijiao, Qiang works full time during the week, but still manages to find time to cook at weekends. She feels cooking is not a burden but a thing that she enjoys doing and sharing with others.

She joined Zuijiao over a month ago and specializes in Spanish and Yangzhou cuisines.

"What the diners look for on Zuijiao is a cozy environment, healthier food and a family atmosphere, and what I am looking for is friends who share the same love of life as me. This bond brings us together," said Qiang.

 Qiang pays much attention to the details of her meals. She will choose different plates and napkins for different dishes, and welcomes her guests with fresh flowers and jazz music.

For her, cooking is not only a harmonious composition of color, fragrance and taste, but also involves communication between diners and a welcoming atmosphere.

On the morning of a banquet day, Qiang buys fresh ingredients from the market. She seasons her meals with spices she buys during overseas trips.

"Wherever I travel I will take home some unique spices. I can always create a new flavor by combining different spices together," said Qiang.

For the banquet the Global Times attended, there were two cold dishes, shrimp with asparagus, red-braised meat, large meatballs, shredded dry tofu, chicken soup and dessert.

Shredded dry tofu and large meatballs are famous Yangzhou dishes. The traditional way to make the meatballs is to mix pork and crab meat. However, Qiang added black fungus and water chestnut to give a crunchy texture. She then stewed the balls for two hours in chicken soup with mushrooms and baby Chinese cabbage.

"If the dishes I cook follow the same recipes as those of the restaurants, then there is no point in eating here. It is the taste, the private environment and the love of life that attracts people to Zuijiao," said Qiang.

For Qiang the greatest benefit of being a host is to share the happiness of a good meal and make new friends.

She says she often stays in touch with diners. "We will chat on WeChat and share the skills and resources of different aspects of life, which I think is good," said Qiang.

A group of diners enjoying a meal booked via Zuijiao Photos: Qi Xijia/GT

Table friends

While some people join Zuijiao to experience new tastes, for others the primary reason is to make friends.

"There are no strangers, just friends who are preparing to know each other," Yuan Xiaomeng, the marketing head of Zuijiao, told the Global Times. "It allows strangers to share one table and creates sparks of friendship beyond age and industry, which I think is the most attractive part of the sharing economy."

Qiang's banquets attract diners of different ages and walks of life. As the dishes are served one after another, the topic of conversation goes beyond the fine food.

"What I like most about this model is that one can not only enjoy the delicious food but at the same time make friends with each other on this platform," said Zhao Qian, a guest at the banquet who works in the travel industry.

Ryan Chen, who works in the new energy industry, told the Global Times that he is deeply attracted by this business model.

"To eat with strangers is a very fresh idea. It allows us to set aside our cellphones while eating, which is amazing. I am very satisfied with the dishes, and glad to know these people. It was a very nice party," said Chen.

In the future Zuijiao plans to introduce an interface that supports multiple languages and also enlarge its pool of cooks.