this engagement party was a reminder that the best events are built through collaboration. 🥀
this couple came to me with a clear vision, thoughtful references, and a strong sense of how they wanted the evening to feel. my role was to take that direction and translate it into something warm, polished, and memorable through food and its presentation & flow.
with no on-site kitchen, every detail had to be strategic. menus were designed around what could be prepped in advance, finished quickly, and served seamlessly in the space. hidden warmers beneath linens, mobile ovens in another room, carefully timed tray rotations, and nonstop movement behind the scenes made the evening feel effortless.
from sourcing serving pieces and shaping the tablescape, to staffing server & bartender, to executing each round of passed bites and stations, this one asked for many different skill sets at once. (the kind of challenge i love most 😉)
i’m sooo grateful to have worked with two people - the lovely couple, @emalis and @jafet__h who had such a clear creative point of view and trusted me to help bring it to life.
film photographs featured throughout were captured by @kelvins.scale
for clarity: this post reflects the culinary elements i was personally responsible for, as noted throughout the carousel.
cheers to Emalis & Jafet and their enduring love ♾️
private events • catering • creative direction inquiries via dm
This weekend felt like a desperately needed reset.
I went upstate and spent a few days in a quiet cabin, cooking slowly and intentionally- no rush, no pressure, just following ideas as they came. I’ve been wanting to approach food more like a diary, and this felt like the right place to start.
This is the first entry in what I’m calling A Moving Table - a series of meals shaped by where I am, what I have, and what I’m feeling in the moment. Expect a lot more of this: different places, different menus, same intention.
Thanks for being here 🤍
“There is livelihood in immigrants and children of immigrants.” ♥️
The community came out on Saturday, March 21 to the first-ever Made In Manilla Market, which was a community market to raise funds for immigrant families.
✨We spoke to Vianca of @_manillamanilla and Melissa @melcam_ , who co-hosted the event in collaboration with @sol.jerseycity and held at @neighborsstudio__ . The two emphasized their goals of giving back to those in need while also celebrating the “spirit” of the community.
➡️All donations were made to @firstfriendsofnjny
📢 Couldn’t make it out? You can still donate or share resources! Click the link in our bio!
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_________________
📹: @adrienne.jro@amandacurlss@kgtrphotography
#hudsoncounty #hudsoncountynj #jerseycity #knowyourrights
Yerrrrr!! We’re less than one week away from our Made in Manilla Market! Are y’all even ready?!
We’ve put together some of the best of jersey city and bringing it all to you at @neighborsstudio__ this Saturday, March 21st from 11am to 4pm.
Come for a good time, stay for a good cause.
✨ Enjoy live sets by @fuck.noah , @andylvlac , & @j0rdelin
✨ Learn from our partners at the @sol.jerseycity info booth
✨ Shop our fave local businesses & food vendors
✨ Contribute to our Community Goods Table where 100% of proceeds support immigrant families
✨ Enter the raffle and win awesome prizes from our friends all over town!
All donations will be made to @firstfriendsofnjny to assist with:
✅ visitation
✅ commissary funds
✅ emotional support
✅ advocacy & case support
✅ assistance with pathway to release
If you can’t make it and would still like to contribute, you can make donations to our venmo (@manillamanilla_ ).
Huge shoutout to our sponsors for making this event happen. Your support means everything to us and the community. Our hearts are so full and we’re just getting started.
@doublebatchbakery , @oharasjc , @find_curate , @_faitmaisonofficial , @sundayscaries.party , @oralemk , @jerseybanhmi , @narra.collective ❤️
(sidenote - can we just say we aatteee these flyers @_vianca & @melcam_ 😤)
my mother’s birthplace - half of my family and all of my heart.
in a moment when so many in our latino community are being targeted, feared, or forced to live quietly, being home on the island with my family this time around made me feel more connected to our roots than ever. our culture is joy, resilience, music, food, language, and deep love for one another & it should not be repressed. here’s a tiny glimpse :)
#shotonfujifilm #puertorico
this concert, culture, music, island, spirit & political cause means more to me than I could ever put into words. @badbunnypr no me quiero ir de aqui ❤️🔥
for papi, his old dominos
for mami, la Flor de Maga
for benito, ballerinas
