Interviewing strangers over a meal since 2008 (as featured in the Washington Post)
For the 132nd meal with a stranger, I met Naomi Paxton in London for an enjoyable brunch. She’s an academic, researcher, magician, performer and more, always on the move as she hustles for her various interests. It means she wears many hats, the most obvious being the literal colorful hats,…
After an almost five year hiatus, Dining With Strangers is back! For the two or three people still reading this site (thanks mum and dad), I’m glad to restart the dinner interviews. The site launched in 2008, and I met many strangers for meals, writing 130 profiles. When the pandemic…
Back in February, before social distancing, I visited Atlanta for three dinner interviews — including today’s update, the 130th interview, featuring Chef Deborah VanTrece who owns the Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours. Her goal is to reinvent what people think of soul food, and based off the accolades she’s racked…
The phrase “one-of-a-kind” is used far too often to describe people, but it’s a precise way to describe the outgoing, creative, joyful and thoughtful Adrian (he goes by only his first name). He’s a 26-year-old content creator based in Atlanta who makes a living through podcasts, YouTube videos, online writing,…
Here’s the 128th dinner with a stranger! A few weeks ago I met Monika Pickett for an evening meal at Neramitra Thai Cuisine in Arlington, Virginia. The main topic of our conversation was her decision to try writing erotic lesbian fiction novels, but after spending more than an our with…
The first dinner interview with a stranger this year is with Charles Cecil, the co-founder of British software company Revolution Games. They specialize in adventure games, including the globally popular Broken Sword series and Beneath a Steel Sky, among other titles. I met Charles earlier this month in York, England, where he lives…
Rayceen Pendarvis is an instantly recognizable face for many people living in Washington, DC. For several decades Rayceen has worked as an activist on issues including homelessness, HIV, gentrification, and transgender rights. And recent work also includes being an emcee and finding success as the host of a popular music,…
Here’s the 125th dinner interview! A few years ago, chef Brandon Williams was at a cookout and trying to think of something to make for his pescatarian mother. Instead of doing the typical baked or fried fish, he decided to turn high quality fish into patties and serve them up…
Sampson McCormick is a 33-year-old gay black comedian who doesn’t like being told what he can and can’t say. Born in Washington, DC, he bombed at his first few gigs using routines that relied on tired, unfunny jokes. Then he shifted to talking about finding the humor in bad experiences,…
When NFL player Ryan O’Callaghan was at the top of his game, all he could think of was suicide. His working days in the league were spent as an offensive tackle for the New England Patriots and later the Kansas City Chiefs. But at other times all he could think…