Imagine you are sitting at the table to share a delicious meal prepared by the chef with a group. But here’s the catch — You meet the other guests for the first time. The concept was particularly popular in big cities through apps such as Remaining timebut locals Marcella and Jack Kirakossian from Cooking with K have put their own personal touch to the dinner phenomenon. They started the series “Dinner with Strangers”.
Marcella, chef and owner of Cook With K, noticed that some participants in her cooking classes valued the social aspect of sharing a meal and getting to know each other. While living in New York, she heard about the trend of strangers getting together for a meal, so Cook With K hosted its first Dinner with Strangers in December 2023.
Every month, the couple invites up to 10 people to an intimate dinner at their 100-year-old farmhouse. The menus, inspired by Marcella and Jack’s travels, change each time – themes have ranged from Greek, Italian and Spanish cuisine to a 1920s-style murder mystery party.
Marcella has worked under world-renowned chefs Dominique Ansel, Wolfgang Puck, Jean-Georges and Michelin-starred Shaun Hergatt.
The motto of the event is simple: “Come as strangers and leave as friends.”
And it rings true. “We had a group where three of them had lunch together a few weeks later,” Marcella says. “We definitely want to make a friendship out of it.”
How you can participate
If you want to make new friends and experience the community-building dinner for yourself, you can Get tickets for the next Dinner with Strangers on Saturday, September 14th. A French treat awaits you with dishes such as ratatouille, boeuf bourguignon and raspberry-lemon pavlova on the menu.
bonus: Cooking with K also offers private cooking services and cooking classes.
