Every Meal is a Story – The Language We All Speak

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Like our stories, food is something we share to build common ground. Food and stories have a unique way of holding time—sometimes the story is in the food itself and how it came to be; other times, it’s in the company around the table. Together, they nourish both our bodies and souls.

For some time, I’ve been imagining a storytelling and food experience that could bring people from different backgrounds together for intimate conversations. A few months ago, colleagues at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Ariana Vigil and Michelle Rolanda (my brilliant co-designer), reached out to ask if I would help them imagine and facilitate such an event. Naturally, I said yes.

After weeks of planning, it all came together. Local chefs shared their dishes and joined in discussions on food, gender-related justice, and environmental rights. We delved into food as a human right, with music inspired by the chefs' culinary roots.

We explored questions—on “easy,” “medium,” and “hot spice” topics—to examine how food can heal, disrupt, and transform society. We discussed how our relationship with food and justice has changed or stayed the same over time.

We shared a three-course meal prepared by three amazing chefs: Yah-I Sinclair of Vegan Flava Cafe, Vimala Rajendran of Vimala's Curryblossom Café, and Nikolas Spaulding of Pure Soul. Each chef shared how their culinary traditions have inspired them, why they do what they do, and how their craft contributes to cultivating joy and the world they’re envisioning.

As the event’s host and emcee, I also had the opportunity to share some personal stories and offer a taste of my own family’s masala sauce.

My deepest gratitude to UNC’s Department of Women and Gender Studies, our host venue—The Sonja Hanyes Stone Center for Black Culture and History—and the Mellon Foundation for their funding support.

Thanks to all the guests from the campus community and beyond who helped make this experience so beautiful.

Every meal is a story—an opportunity to share our humanity and serve one another.

I’m writing up this event to add to my Storytelling; A Gift of Hope community toolkit. I hope that others might use it to host a Thanksgiving dinner, or a gathering that invites neighbors—or even strangers—to explore kitchen table storytelling. In my opinion, it is the best form of storytelling.