Food is one of our most intimate sources of interaction every day. What we eat, how we eat and where we eat fundamentally shapes our identity, especially in how we relate to other people. By embracing food as a vehicle for emotional expression, we are able to connect with ourselves and each other with a renewed depth and sense of vulnerability. Professional chef, writer and artist who left behind a Columbia MBA to pursue culinary school. She founded Studio ATAO, a nonprofit culinary production studio that creates interdisciplinary, impact-driven content and experiences. She works with artists from all mediums, from visual art to technology to dance, to develop public events, exhibitions, installations and programming around bigger social topics they care about, especially interested in exploring different angles of unconscious bias, gender dynamics, immigration, masculinity and income inequality. The hallmark of her work is interactivity, vulnerability and poignant discomfort. Her mission is to amplify underrepresented voices, reclaiming space for artists of all backgrounds so she can enrich the world with their perspectives and talent. Since 2014, she has hosted hundreds of dinners and connected thousands of strangers across all different walks of life in cities across North America, including NYC, SF, LA and Charleston. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx