She Dines

She Dines

She Dines is more than a series about restaurants. It is an invitation to experience the world through food, culture, conversation, and the quiet confidence of a woman who is completely at home in her own company.

Born under the umbrella of And the Women Gather, She Dines exists because not every meaningful meal happens at lunch. While Just Lunch brings women together around a shared table, She Dines follows my own culinary journeys when I travel—whether for dinner, afternoon tea, or an unforgettable meal in a city halfway around the world.

At its heart, She Dines celebrates the simple yet profound act of dining alone. There is something wonderfully liberating about taking a table for one, lingering over beautifully prepared food, engaging with the people around you, and allowing yourself to be fully present. Dining alone is not about solitude; it is about self-assurance, curiosity, and the joy of discovering the world on your own terms.

This is not a traditional restaurant review.

Instead, She Dines explores the stories behind every meal. It is about the culture that shapes a cuisine, the traditions that have been passed from one generation to another, the ingredients that tell the story of a place, and the remarkable people whose passion transforms food into an experience.

Whenever possible, I hope to sit at the tables of extraordinary women who are redefining the culinary world. From Michelin-starred kitchens to James Beard Award-winning restaurants, from celebrated chefs to rising culinary innovators, I want to shine a light on women whose creativity, leadership, and vision are changing the way we eat. Their stories deserve to be told alongside the beautiful meals they create.

Food has always been one of the world’s great connectors. It transcends language, geography, and culture. Around a table, strangers become friends, stories are shared, and communities are built. That belief has always been at the heart of And the Women Gather, and She Dines simply extends that table across cities, countries, and continents.

So, tell me about the remarkable women chefs in your city. Introduce me to the restaurants that celebrate culture with authenticity, elegance, and heart. Share the hidden gems, the celebrated dining rooms, and the unforgettable experiences that deserve to be discovered.

Perhaps our paths will cross somewhere in the world.

Until then, pull up a chair.

Join me at the table, where She Dines.

July 28,2026

LOTUS NOODLE BAR- ST AUGUSTINE

She Dines | The Meal I Was Determined Not to Miss

Some meals begin long before the first bite.

This one began with hope, anticipation, and just a little bit of anxiety.

I had driven to St. Augustine for a book signing at Midnight Moons Books & Boutique, and I was genuinely looking forward to meeting readers. There is something profoundly humbling about watching someone pick up Becoming Whole, Letters to the Woman I am and Desert Sage Wonderful World of Tea pause to speak with me, and decide to take my words home with them. It is a privilege I never take for granted.

But quietly sitting beside that excitement all week was another anticipation.

Lotus Noodle Bar.

I had been reading about Chef Barry Honan and knew I wanted to experience his food. The challenge was that the tiny restaurant is reservation-only, and because I had no idea when my book signing would end, I couldn’t commit to a time. I emailed the restaurant explaining that I was in town for the signing and hoping, somehow, they might find room for one very hopeful diner. Then I noticed on the website that the phones opened at 3:30 p.m. Sharp.

At exactly 3:30, I called.

To my delight, they found me a seat at the bar for five o’clock.

Mission accomplished.

I arrived thirty minutes early—not because I had to, but because I simply couldn’t wait.

From the moment I sat down, I knew I had found exactly the kind of place I love. Small. Intimate. Personal. The bartender welcomed me warmly, and we fell into easy conversation. I chose a beautifully crisp non-alcoholic rosé that paired perfectly with the evening and reminded me that thoughtful hospitality is never about alcohol—it’s about care.

Then something unexpected happened.

Chef Barry Honan walked over.

He smiled and said he recognized me from the email I had sent. We began talking—not only about food, but about purpose. He spoke about wanting to cook from the soul, about keeping food honest and uncomplicated, allowing beautiful ingredients to speak for themselves.

Immediately, I understood him.

Because that is exactly how I think about life.

Simple. Intentional. Authentic.

Our conversation felt less like meeting a chef and more like meeting a fellow storyteller who happens to use ingredients instead of words.

The evening unfolded course by course.

The first dish was served personally by Chef Honan himself—a stunning composition of heirloom tomatoes, creamy burrata, bright citrus supremes, fragrant shiso and mint, finished with a delicate citrus-truffle infusion and a whisper of Okinawan sea salt. Every bite balanced richness with freshness, elegance with restraint.

The entrée was his celebrated Garlic Noodle Mazemen—silky noodles coated in fragrant koji butter, sweet blue crab, ajitama, toasted sesame, fried garlic, cilantro, and scallions. It was deeply comforting while remaining remarkably refined, proving that simplicity, when executed with precision, can be extraordinary.

Dessert was a playful interpretation of a cobbler: torched strawberries and lychee resting on sweet tofu cream with Okinawan brown sugar streusel, finished with strawberry furikake and tiny shiso leaves.

By the end of the evening, Chef Honan invited me into his kitchen.

Standing there among the rhythm of service, we talked a little longer, took a photograph together, and promised that one day we would create something together.

And that, perhaps more than anything else, explains She Dines.

This isn’t about chasing Michelin stars or collecting restaurant reviews.

It is about finding the people behind the plates.

It is about discovering chefs whose food reflects their values, whose kitchens become places of connection, and whose stories deserve to be told.

Sometimes the most memorable part of a meal isn’t what is served.

It’s the conversation.

It’s the generosity.

It’s the moment two people discover that, although one writes books and the other writes menus, they have been telling the very same story all along.

Food made with soul has a way of bringing strangers together.

And that is exactly why She Dines exists.

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