Fear is a curious force—it can either freeze you in place or propel you forward. For almost five years, I allowed it to keep me stuck, consumed with worries of the"what-ifs" instead of seeking the “let’s find outs.” Despite a burning desire to forge my own path and bring something meaningful into the world, my aspirations to create something of my own remained scribbles of ink in a journal and fleeting thoughts in my phone.

With ten years of experience in marketing and event planning, plus a prior decade in hospitality, I knew what I was skilled at. Outside my professional life, I knew that travel fueled my soul and that I had an eye for identifying what made a hotel or restaurant stand out. Lists would form in my mind of how an establishment excelled and ways they could enhance their guest experience. My friends and family always noticed my ability to observe the “little” details and how I naturally created meaningful gatherings - a superpower I didn’t realize was my calling.

It wasn’t until I decided to live in Lisbon, Portugal for a short period of time when it suddenly dawned on me. I was at a restaurant called Da Noi; a hidden gem located in a cobblestone alleyway with no sign but the engraving of their name on the door. The place was buzzing with locals, despite the discreet location. From the moment I arrived, it felt like an experience I would have designed.  

There were only ten tables in the entire space. The chairs were suede, the tableware was eclectic and the music was posh and edgy. The walls were filled with black and white photographs and they had vintage candlesticks in every nook and cranny of the space. (For those who know me, I’m a sucker for candlelight). There was a window that separated the bar from the road where they served cocktails and small plates to those who had to wait an hour (maybe even two) to get a table. Surprisingly, however, no one seemed to be bothered by the wait…that’s how special and unique the vibe of Da Noi is.

The host Tomas, who I later found out was the owner, graciously allowed my friend and I to skip the wait and sat us at what Da Noi calls The Chef’s Table. It’s a three-seat counter connected to their kitchen where you can watch the chef’s create their magic. From the moment we sat down, we were treated like family. Their head sous chef, Guilherme (Gui), immediately gave us a warm welcome, taking us through their thoughtfully curated menu and sharing his latest favorites. He even offered us complimentary homemade duck prosciutto, his most recent creation.

The remainder of the evening unfolded with six more delightful courses (one being a white bean cacio e pepe which still lingers in my thoughts), accompanied by a second bottle of Douro. A fellow New Yorker, Daniel, took the third seat at The Chef’s Table and seamlessly became part of our camaraderie and conversation. And finally there was Nina, our contagiously cheerful server, who was a complete embodiment of genuine hospitality. 

So here I am,  sitting with my best friend, in the middle of Lisbon, having a soul-connecting conversation with strangers, and I thought, THIS is the space I’m meant to be in. This is what I am meant to do. I want to work with hospitality businesses and help them gather people and create experiences that evoke the senses, just like this one. I want to help more businesses remember the true essence of hospitality, not the one size fits all mold that so many have become accustomed to.  

Now, there is quite a bit that happened from that moment to when I arrived back in NY, to this very second as I write this story. But, I will spare you the details and end with this. Looking back, I am so very grateful for those five years - for every challenge, every accomplishment, every connection, every godwink, every breadcrumb, every sign, and every inspirational moment that turned up on my path during that time. It was each and every one of those serendipitous moments that helped me turn the what-ifs into the let’s find out that became Posh Revelry.