dinner table conversations at the intersection of food, design, and culture.
welcome to exchange: our ongoing conversation exploring the intersection of culture, food, design – and the ever changing ways we see the world.
we think the most captivating conversations happen when friends gather at the dinner table – however dinner table may be defined. the blend of unique perspectives, unencumbered ideas, and unaligned opinions make for a discussion that is both meandering and insightful – where we can simultaneously talk about everything without rushing to reach a conclusion.
and that’s what you’ll find here: dinner party-style dialogue focused on the things we find fascinating – and that we think you will too.
Douglas – with the tagline “Corner of Delicious” – is one of Ensembl’s most beloved San Francisco spots and the ultimate corner store. We were fortunate to sit down with one of Douglas’ founders, Maggie Spicer. We chatted with her about the inspiration for Douglas, how she thinks about sourcing and seasonality when bringing in products to her store, what she considers the perfect pantry essentials, and the future of food and cooking.
The non-definitive syllabus we would create if we were teaching MAKERS 101 - aka ensembl’s favorite sources of inspiration, ideas, and education for making and understanding food.
Decades of consumerism and globalization, coupled with greater levels of individual prosperity, have made traditional markers of luxury accessible to many. As a result, experiences like travel and fine dining are not the status symbols they once were. In their place, a new social currency is emerging, and it starts with time. Why? Time affords us the ability to make something tangible. And making the most of our time – or rather, using time to create something tangible – is the ultimate luxury.
