LUNCH AND DINNER WERE SERVED IN THE DINING ROOM. BREAKFAST WAS SERVED ON THE SECOND FLOOR (OR IN THE KITCHEN FOR THE CHILDREN). THE DINING ROOM TABLE COULD BE EXTENDED OR SHORTENED DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF GUESTS. THERE WERE ALWAYS SEVERAL GUESTS AT THE TABLE: MANUFACTURERS OF GOODS AND SUPPLIERS FROM ALL PARTS OF JAPAN, CUSTOMERS WHO CAME ON BUSINESS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND, OF COURSE, FAMILY AND FRIENDS. BUSINESS, CURRENT EVENTS, THE LATEST MOTION PICTURES AND ROMANCES WERE SUBJECTS OF DISCUSSION AT THE DINNER TABLE. MEALS WERE COOKED IN THE KITCHEN AND BROUGHT AS FAR AS THE HALLWAY BY THE KITCHEN STAFF. NOTICE THE PASS-THROUGH IN THE DINING ROOM. THROUGH THIS SLIDING DOOR, DISHES WERE PASSED TO THE SERVING PERSON WHOSE DUTY IT WAS TO SERVE THE FOOD TO THE GUESTS AND TO POUR THE DRINKS. LADIES WOULD BE SERVED FIRST, THEN GENTLEMEN AND THEN THE CHILDREN. EZRA CHOUEKE WOULD BE SEATED AT THE HEAD OF THE TABLE, AT THE FAR END OF THE ROOM. POLISSA (LUCY) CHOUEKE WOULD SIT AT THE OPPOSITE END. FAMILY AND GUESTS WOULD TAKE THEIR PLACES IN THE MIDDLE. THE FRENCH CONSULATE WAS NEXT DOOR AND THERE WERE ALWAYS DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR GUESTS WHO WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DELICIOUS FOOD THAT WAS COOKED FRESHLY EACH DAY IN THE KITCHEN.

MANY SETS OF TABLEWARE, GLASSWARE AND ENGLISH AND MEXICAN SILVERWARE WERE KEPT FOR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, INCLUDING A FULL SET OF RARE SATSUMAWARE. NOW ON THE TABLE IS THE NORITAKE, PRIZE-WINNING SET THAT WAS DISPLAYED AT THE EXPO 70 IN OSAKA.

MEALS IN THIS ROOM COULD BE FORMAL OR CASUAL. IT WAS A PLACE WHERE THE FAMILY COULD SPEND TIME TOGETHER ON A DAILY BASIS.