Founder Feature: Anita Michaud
When I first launched Dinner with Friends in May 2022, little did I ever expect these gatherings to expand into a community spanning across NYC (and perhaps even further in the future!). Read on for more reflections…
Hi, my name is Anita Michaud and I’m the founder of Dinner with Friends.
When I first moved to New York City in July of 2021, I expected it to be easy to meet new people; after all, NYC has eight million people…how hard could it be? It quickly became apparent that this was not the case, and the reality of the situation is that making genuine friendships regardless of age or phase of life is hard no matter where you are.
I realize now through countless conversations with guests at my dinner table that this is a common experience - and the reason that I started Dinner with Friends.
Tell us about your passion project:
Social interaction is like a muscle: if you go from using it every day to rarely, it atrophies. For the past several years, my social interactions looked very different than they did pre-Covid, existing mainly through Zoom “happy” hours and more. One day I was thinking to myself, “What is my ideal friendship first date?” For me, the answer was clear: dinner! But dinner is such an intimate occasion to meet someone for the first time. I wondered if there was a way to combine the intimacy of dinner, a more casual environment, and just the right amount of people. It was this idea that sparked Dinner with Friends: a dinner party of strangers turned friends over the course of the evening.
As the Dinner with Friends community continues to expand, I remain steadfastly focused on this. I firmly believe that food is one of the best ways to get to know someone. When you enjoy a homemade meal together, you gain an understanding a person’s background, culture, heritage, and more. Dinner with Friends gatherings are purposefully kept small to allow for connection and conversation to truly flourish. What I think makes Dinner with Friends so special is that your host is right there eating with you! There’s no separation between the food and the experience - it’s all enjoyed right with the person who made it for you.
Best advice you’ve ever received?
I read a quote recently that really resonated with me: “The way you spend your days is the way you live your life.” It’s easy to keep waiting for something spectacular to happen that will change your life, but life is really just about living your best life (whatever that may be) every day and finding joy in each moment.
Favorite activity in NYC?
I love a museum visit! It’s easy to forget that New York has some of the best museums in the world right in our own backyard for art, history, and more. My favorites are MOMA, The Met, and the Tenement Museum. Plus, a casual, unhurried lunch somewhere delicious.
Biggest risk you’ve taken?
Inviting 8 strangers into my home to eat dinner with me!
What is your favorite meal that someone has cooked for you?
My parents owned a bistro and my grandparents’ ran a Chinese restaurant, so I was very lucky to try delicious foods from all over the world from a young age. My favorite home cooked meal in recent memory from home is a mushroom risotto or bouillabaisse.
What’s your dream travel destination?
I’m a huge traveler and set a goal for myself to visit every country in Europe by the time I turn 30. The next big destination I’d love to visit though is Japan or New Zealand! I think either would be totally different than any place I’ve ever been before.
Favorite restaurant in NYC?
A tough one! I don’t think I can pick just one, so I’ll share some of my favorites: Vanessa’s Dumpling House in LES, Soothr in EV, & Big Tiny in Cobble Hill.
