AXIOS (Josephine Walker) - Solo dining finds its moment
Solo dining is having a moment, with reservations for one jumping 23% over the past year, booking app OpenTable says. Why it matters: That growth may look like another sign of America's loneliness epidemic . But many solo diners say eating alone offers a rare chance to slow down, reflect and savor the small stuff. Driving the news: Veronica Selzler, a 36-year-old Washington, D.C., resident, told Washington Post food critic Elazar Sontag — who first reported OpenTable's solo dining data — that she regularly takes herself on solo dates. - Selzler sits at the bar, brings a book or sketchpad, avoids picking up her phone, and enjoys watching the kitchen staff prepare meals. - "I think I eat slower. I pay a lot more attention to the full…