Food lights me up. I love cooking, sharing, eating, and talking about it. Whether in form or conceptually, working with food is my creative and experimental space. It’s one where I bring my whole self to the table to create something unique. Sometimes it’s an event, a dining experience, a dish or a beverage. Other times it’s a painting, a photo, or something written. On this website you’ll find a sprinkling of my creations.
but, i wasn’t always this into food…
Hi there, I’m Diana — for years I worked in public policy and governance, but after eight years, I realized it wasn’t my forever career. It took time and immense energy to brave a leap of faith into the culinary space in search for more meaning, alignment, and fulfillment. You can read about that journey here.
I love to research, connect the dots, and uncover stories behind seemingly ordinary things. I’ve found food to be an incredible vehicle and lens to explore the world, from day-to-day life to examining social, political, cultural and environmental issues.
Nowadays, I do a lot of things, but I love these the most: writing, cooking, and designing experiences that bring people together. I have hosted supper clubs and pop-up events, which you can learn more about under Events & Experiences. You can also follow TheGatheringSpot416 on Instagram or subscribe to stay up-to-date on upcoming events here. I create my own menus, dishes, and recipes for events that I run and cater.
I’m detailed and methodical, and I bring that approach to all my work whether it be experience curation, recipe creation, research, strategy or writing.
My Substack is where I share stories and reflections from my life. Consider it a space that’s part memoir and creative non-fiction.
Diana Chu 