DINNER WITH FRIENDS.
After graduation, I took a leap of faith and moved to New York without knowing anyone. Living alone, I felt very isolated in such a bustling city, and I longed to build a community. That is why I joined Dinner with Friends as a dinner host and started bringing together 11 strangers every month to enjoy a meal and each other’s company.
Role: Experience Designer and Dinner Host
Dinner with Friends New York Times Feature
DINNER PARTY EXPERIENCE
1. I start the dinner off with a hug at the door and a toast, thanking everyone for spending their night with me.
2. When we sit down, I serve a passion fruit green tea cocktail, a drink I’ve had growing up in Taiwan.
3. While serving the three courses, I reveal that I made all the dinnerware + vases. This personalizes the experience and acts as a conversation starter.
4. I end every experience by handing out a postcard I designed with the event’s menu, so guests can bring a piece of the dinner home.
post-dinner EXPERIENCE
My goal is to help people make friends and foster a community. To facilitate this, I created a chat to ensure we can continue to connect with each other after every dinner.
After every dinner, I create a group chat so everyone can keep in touch.
Group Hike to See the Fall Foliage