A month ago we brought together twelve strangers from two communities with one shared goal: connection. In partnership with Tiny Dinner and held in the founder Morgan's apartment, the evening embodied what Tiny Dinner is all about. Homes become gathering spaces and the birthplace of community.

That philosophy was born from Morgan's own experience. After a difficult breakup and moving to New York, he found himself searching for connection. On a flight home to Montreal, he picked up The Art of Community, a book that explored the transformative power of gathering people around the table. Inspired, Morgan began inviting people he'd meet—sometimes after only a brief conversation—over for dinner. One invitation turned into another, and before long, Tiny Dinner was conceptualized! An invite only social platform (we like to call it the “Raya of Dinner Parties” haha!)  grew into a thriving community with members hosting dinners in apartments, studios, and creative spaces all across New York.

When we asked Morgan what he's seen come from these gatherings, his answer said it all: 

“People have fallen in love, moved in together, built lasting friendships, and found communities they didn't know they were missing. Sometimes, he said, the chemistry around the table is simply magical.”

That's exactly what we experienced.

For this collaboration, our very own co-founder Ramses Rubio stepped into the kitchen, serving lamb tacos with grilled asparagus and a fresh garden salad. The final touch of this meal came from one of our guests, Chef Charles Raban who generously brought us some of his homemade ice cream from his brand, “Little Rat”. A sweet final that felt true to the collaborative and spontaneous spirit of the evening.

When we asked Morgan what makes the perfect dinner guest, his answer felt like a reflection of everyone in the room.  “Someone who is warm from the moment they arrive, curious enough to ask follow-up questions, and open enough to share who they are—not to impress, but to connect.”

At Dine with Dez, we've always believed that food is the invitation, but people are the reason we gather. Partnering with Tiny Dinner reminded us that meaningful hospitality isn't about having the biggest space or the most elaborate menu. It's about creating an environment where people feel welcomed, seen, and nurtured.

If you've ever thought about hosting a dinner of your own, consider this your sign. Whether it's your apartment, your studio, your backyard, or wherever you feel most at home, use that moment  to create relationships that last far beyond the table.

If you're looking for a community or just feeling intentionally adventurous we highly encourage you to apply to join at tiny-dinner.com!

 You might just find your next dinner invitation—or become the person who sends it.

Until next time,

This newsletter edition, as we get ready for our next series of dinners, we would never leave you all hungry! Here are some amazing summer pop-ups and food moments we are seeing in our community. Take a look below to see what is coming up and what you should check out. If you go make sure to take pictures and let us know how it went!

Check out our official Dance With Us playlist exclusively on Apple Music & Spotify updated weekly.

We want to hear from YOU! What’s your deepest secret? Where should we go next?! Want to know how you can be involved?! Tell us all of the above HERE.

“Dine With Dez”, is conceptualized by Desmond Sam an experiential event producer, publicist, and entrepreneur from NYC with co-producer-partnership and experiential creative, Ramses Rubio. This collaboration began simply as an idea to elevate how we experience each other. We’ve noticed that it wasn’t nightlife as in clubs or parties that stimulated us in comparison to breaking bread with like-minded creatives. As we start with these intimate installments we will continue to build our community and broaden the conversations needed for a brighter tomorrow!

To learn more and get a chance to be a part of our dinners/events follow us on our

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To contact us directly email all questions and inquiries to [email protected]