The Deep "Dish": Cultivating Curiosity with Cuisine
Dine with Strangers. Skip the Small Talk.
• Self-Trust • Intentional Action • Commitment to Depth
The Deep Dish is a curated dinner experience built for real conversation and meaningful connection. Ten to twenty strangers come together around a shared table, guided through an evening that invites presence, story, and truth. It’s a unique dining experience where curiosity leads, masks drop, and connection becomes the main course.
Is This Your Kind of Evening?
This experience is ideal for those who:
- Crave genuine conversation and want more of it in their lives
- Are new in town or ready to form deeper relationships where they live
- Value personal growth and prefer depth over hype
- Are building a bold life and want to be around others doing the same
- Believe in the power of story and want to be part of one
What to Expect
You Show Up & Exhale
You’re greeted with curiosity and warmth. No resumes, no small talk, and definitely no work talk. Just humans ready to connect.Curated Conversation
The evening follows a carefully structured flow that invites ease, curiosity, and meaningful dialogue. Share as much or as little as you like. Listening counts just as much as speaking.Gather ’Round the Table
Melissa, your host, guide, and professional bullshit-caller, introduces the evening’s theme and creates the container for what unfolds next.Real, Raw & Life-Giving
You’ll share. You’ll witness. You’ll laugh. You might even cry. And you’ll remember what it feels like to actually connect with other humans.Strangers to Family
Picture a table of gutsy, glorious strangers: part dinner party, part deep conversation, all real. By dessert, it just might feel like family.Leave Connected
You’ll walk away with new perspectives, real connections, and a reminder of what happens when people show up as themselves.
What's on the Menu
Welcome Cocktail or Mocktail
Take the edge off and ease into the evening with a beautifully crafted drink to help you settle in.Thoughtfully Prepared Appetizers
Small bites that set the tone for an exceptional culinary experience.Multi-Course, Family-Style Dinner
Curated by talented local chefs, every meal is designed to bring people together around exceptional food.Local Wine & Handcrafted Beverages
Carefully selected drinks that complement the meal and enhance the connection.Decadent Dessert
The perfect sweet ending to an unforgettable evening.The Main Course: Heart-Opening Conversation
Guided discussion you’ll remember long after dessert. It’s the real reason you’re here.
Why This Matters
Every Deep Dish is a living example of how I work. Around the table, you practice the three capacities at the heart of the S.I.C. Framework (Success Is Counterintuitive):
Self-Trust in showing up without knowing what will happen
Intentional Action in choosing depth over small talk
Commitment to Depth through the stories you share and witness
This is about remembering who you are when the masks come off. When you’re no longer performing. When you don’t need to prove anything. When you’re simply present, real, and seen.
Perfect for Teams Who Are Ready to Lead with Curiosity
This experience is designed for teams who are:
- Growing fast and want to build the kind of trust that keeps communication strong as they scale
- Navigating change and want stronger connection to stay aligned
- High-performing and ready for more human-to-human connection
- Creative and collaborative, and know that real innovation comes from open dialogue
- Diverse in roles or backgrounds and ready to understand each other more deeply
- Ready for a culture that feels real, meaningful, and energizing
This is for leaders and teams that want results and a better way of working together.
Ready to Attend?
The Deep “Dish”: Cultivating Curiosity with Cuisine is hosted in unique locations spanning nearly every corner of the U.S. Choose a city and date near you, and prepare for an evening that may change how you think about connection.
Limited Time Offer: $99 per seat (regularly $222)
Want to Host?
Yes, you can bring this magic to your people and your city. Host a unique dining experience and create a space where strangers become friends and small talk turns into meaningful connection.
Important Details for Hosts:
Hosts outside of Washington State must have a minimum of 10 confirmed paid attendees 30 days prior to event date
International inquiries require a minimum of 3 back-to-back events with a minimum of 10 people within 7 days (paid in full 30 days in advance) and will be scheduled via phone or email
No refunds for U.S. events: We book venues, chefs, and make travel arrangements based on your commitment
Credit issued toward a future event if plans change
International refunds evaluated case-by-case
Flexibility available: Want to book for under 10 people? Let’s chat about your vision
Ready for Your Deep Dish Experience?
Your next meaningful connection is waiting around a table with strangers who might just become some of your favorite people. This is your invitation to show up as you are and make real connections.
This is where good food meets real conversation. This is where strangers become family.
Whether you’re attending solo or bringing your team, hosting in your city or traveling to experience it somewhere new, your seat at the table is ready.
Come hungry. Leave full. Come curious. Leave connected.