Imagine you’re meeting with someone you don’t really know at a coffee shop. When the conversation starts to naturally fade out, or a slight pause ensues, the temptation to look at your phone becomes extremely strong. That’s why, at our Darling Dinners, we encourage everyone to put their phones away, allowing our brains to get creative and find points of connection with mostly strangers.
Last month, we had the pleasure of hosting yet another Darling Dinner at the House of Marigold—our first time in Louisville, KY.
As guests entered, they were greeted by our brand ambassadors, Natalie Bickel and Gwen Galeza, as well as with a glass of prosecco. The green and floral painted walls created a calm atmosphere, as 15 women from all over, including Los Angeles, Nashville, and Lexington, came together to experience an evening of deeper connection.
As each person marked their spot at the dinner table, they also got to pick out a pair of designer sunglasses from Kenmark Eyewear, use the handmade harvest scented hand sanitizer from Maddox & Rose, and visit Lackadazee, which was set up close by — a local, sustainable jeweler that provided permanent jewelry for the guests that evening.
People naturally gravitated toward each other, and seats were taken shortly. Chef Zac introduced himself and was thrilled to get to show off with his curated four-course menu. The evening began with Natalie and Gwen, telling the history of Darling and the cadence for the evening, four courses paired with four questions centered around the theme of “Getting Unstuck.”
As the first course was being placed in front of the women—a Cauliflower Vichysoisse with Crispy Garam Masala Chickpeas and Micro Cilantro, the icebreaker question was posed:
If you could have an alternative life right now, what would that look like?
Many of us dreamt about living in Europe, Hawaii, and living simpler, quieter, more intentional lives.
Question two took us to the heart of the theme, paired with Grilled Melon with Preserved Lemon and Mint Crystals.
What do you feel like is the most stagnant or stuck part of your life?
This one really opened us up, as women shared about feeling stuck in a career, stuck in life stages, or even in a mindset like lack of motivation. It was amazing to know that none of us are alone in having these feelings.
Question three, paired with Seared Gigante Bean Croquette (or Diver Scallops) with Roasted Berries, Golden Peppadew Romanesco, Rapini, Fried Rosemary and Juniper Crunchies, and Micro Greens brought us to solutions around the issue of being stuck:
How can you shift your reality or perspective around your situation?
We each jumped in to provide wisdom from our own experiences and affirm one another on our efforts to move forward, recognizing the strength already within each of us.
And for dessert, we complimented the women we got to know over a brief time, noting their resilience, creativity,Â
The conversations flowed so naturally. By the end, women who walked in as strangers were leaving with real connections, which felt really special. Some even exchanged contact information.
We are so excited to continue these dinners in Los Angeles and also other cities, if you’d like to join the next one, please join the waitlist here.
Photos by Sav Hope
