How It All Began For as long as I can remember, I’ve tied my self-worth to being useful to others. Now, at 32, I’m rewriting that narrative—I don’t want to be useful; instead, I want to add value. Studio Bumi began in my studio apartment in Park Slope in the fall of 2023. I had moved to the US in the summer of 2021 for grad school, leaving behind a legal career in Indonesia. I was navigating life in New York City, balancing new opportunities with the challenges of starting over in a new country. By the fall of 2023, I was laid off from my job at a law firm—a moment that left me grappling with uncertainty but also gave me space to reimagine what I wanted my life to be. The transition was daunting, but I reminded myself how lucky I was to uproot my life at 29, fly halfway across the world, and build something new—not just to make a living but to create a life. Cooking for Others for the First Time After I got laid off, I suddenly had all the time in the world. Between bouts of anxiety, I turned to cooking as a creative outlet. I binge-watched TikTok and YouTube tutorials, bought way too many kitchen gadgets, and threw myself into experimenting in the kitchen. I wouldn’t call myself a natural chef, but I’d always been comfortable in the kitchen—helping my family prep meals or clean up after dinner. That familiarity gave me the confidence to start. I began inviting friends over for lunch, serving dishes that I’d learned or improvised. Those lunches quickly became the highlight of my week (I hope they felt the same). For me, the meals weren’t just about food—they were about slowing down, creating something, and fostering a sense of connection. Week by week, I became more confident in the kitchen and more energized by the idea of creating a space for others to share a meal. How It Became a Communal Dining Project A few months after going full-time with Studio Bumi, I crossed paths with Monica and Jackson from ThirdSpace NYC. They were building this beautiful project in Bushwick—in a loft dedicated to reimagining public spaces and fostering intentional community events through financially accessible programs and collaborations with other local communities. It felt like the perfect sign. Every Friday, I’d show up at ThirdSpace, post the menu online, and cook. At first, there were five guests. Soon, it grew to a steady 15 people every week for the next nine months. It was surreal. From every person I cooked with and shared stories with, celebrating my 32nd birthday, learning how to give "chef's remarks," meeting some of the first volunteers for the studio, even becoming the co-founder of the project itself, connecting with new friends I know will be in my life for a long time, and making connections that will last me a lifetime. This chapter of my life was like living a dream while wide awake. From these community lunches, I started hearing stories from people who felt isolated in the city. New York can be overwhelming and lonely. Those conversations inspired me to create something more intentional: a space where people could come together over a meal, not just to eat but to connect meaningfully. A New Kind of Pop-Up: Guided Conversations Over Dinner At Studio Bumi, the food is just the gateway. What truly sets our communal dining apart is the element of guided conversation—an intentional effort to help my guests connect on a deeper level, or at least close to it. Unlike regular pop-ups, where strangers may sit side by side without ever exchanging a word, I am always adamant about inviting my guests to share something about themselves. Before dinner, I let them know they’ll be part of a guided conversation, with questions like, “Can you share your name and one good thing that happened to you this week?” This simple prompt often becomes a thread for the evening. Guests pick up on each other’s stories, and conversations ripple across the table—even reaching those sitting all the way on the other side. By the end of the night, many guests find themselves still talking about the good things they shared. During the dinner, while I have my partners and volunteers prep the food, I try to work the room. I support guests who may look a little lost, help them connect with their neighbors, and encourage the conversation to flow organically from one part of the table to another. It’s about creating a space where everyone feels seen and heard. The Connection Continues Post-Dinner The communal dining doesn’t just stop at dinner. After each event, guests receive a link where they can submit short blurbs about themselves—anything they’d like to share. These submissions are then compiled and shared with the other attendees, creating a space for conversations to continue or even new ones to begin. Whether it’s connecting over shared interests or revisiting an unfinished dinner conversation, this follow-up allows the community to grow beyond the table. It’s a way to bridge the gaps in the room and ensure no connection is left unexplored. Rooted in Home I chose to focus on Indonesian food for two reasons. First, because it felt close to home—and honestly, I’m my own toughest critic. Second, because I wanted to reconnect with a part of myself I had spent the past two years trying to detach from: home. I was so focused on trying to “make it in New York City” that I was already forgetting where I came from, what my stories meant, and what values I could add. This is why the communal dining experience is rooted in the Indonesian tradition of family-style meals. These events aim to bring strangers together in a meaningful way. For me, every event is more than just a meal—it’s an opportunity to connect, share thoughtful conversations, and build lasting relationships. The key is creating a consistent space where connections can start to flourish and doing it over and over again. Where We Are Today One year later, Studio Bumi has served over 300 clients through its Indonesian lunch sets, hosted five communal dining events with more than 150 dinner guests, held 30 community lunches at ThirdSpace, and made some occasional corporate appearances. Most notably, our last communal dining was hosted at the Indonesian Consulate—at their invitation! It was surreal to imagine, and honestly, everything felt like a blur. Looking ahead, we want to continue making our dining experiences more accessible—whether through increased frequency, regularity, or financial accessibility. This December, we’re excited to host our first restaurant pop-up at Rodeo in Crown Heights in collaboration with our friends at Off-Menu Magazine and Fellows Collective, and in the new year, we plan to expand our communal dining events and introduce even more exciting offerings. I never imagined I’d be able to start a business that’s also a labor of love—let alone in this city. Every single day is an opportunity to learn, and I feel incredibly lucky to do this. The food is just the beginning. It’s the people who make Studio Bumi what it is, and I’m endlessly grateful for every single person who has joined me at the table.