Breaking Bread in the East End

Food has a way of getting people talking. This summer, it took us from London’s East End, to Long Island’s. From a beach hotel in Montauk to a table on the North Fork: two conversations and one shared idea that nothing brings people together quite like sitting down to eat.

In Montauk, Richard was invited to join a panel hosted by Chapter and Marram on Designing Community Through Dining, exploring how food and design can bring us together and create a sense of place.

The dialogue drew parallels between the panellists' work: Michael Yarinsky’s work at the Brooklyn Museum mirrored our own work with Corner at Tate Modern, while Charmaine Landicho Baechle’s work with non-profit Project Renewal echoed our own long-term collaboration with Shelter From The Storm.

Moderated by Jack Murphy, Editor-in-Chief of The Architect’s Newspaper, the conversation highlighted the important role food plays in bringing people together, whether for sustenance, celebration or rehabilitation.

On Long Island’s North Fork, a dinner hosted by Mastercard and Friend of Chef brought together chefs, restaurateurs and hospitality leaders to share time and knowledge at chef John Fraser’s North Fork Table & Inn.

The evening centred on the simple act of sharing food. Beautifully and theatrically presented by John and his team, designed to celebrate the local ingredients and connect guests to the North Fork: provenance served as the main event.

The visit comes as we continue to expand our portfolio of work in the US, exploring how our approach to hospitality design translates across the Atlantic.