He makes it out to these things every once in while, but he never wants to stay for too long.  This is a special occasion: the last cooking before a friend crosses the pond.  That’s why he’s here.  To say goodbye. For now.  But friends come home or back eventually.  He says goodbye more than once, never knowing which will be the last.

But now, he places emphasis, perhaps undue, on the first meetings.  He only gets one of those for everyone.  And it might be the last goodbye.