A community-based, cross-cultural food justice movement inspired by James Beard Award Hall of Fame winner Chef Pierre Thiam and his lifetime work of advocating for healthy eating across the globe.

Gastrodiplomacy for the People

UMAMI MEETS SOUL:
Our first activation focuses on the intersection between Japanese and African diasporic food traditions—two cultures with deep culinary roots.

We believe in the power of food to restore our relationship to our health, to each other, and to the planet.

We see food as an act of diplomacy. An invitation to sit at the same table and build empathy through shared experiences. By highlighting underutilized, nutrient-rich ingredients, we aim to diversify the food we eat, reconnect with the wisdom of our ancestors, and exchange cultural ideas.

OUR PROGRAM AREAS

Program Area 1:

Access to Healthy Cultural Food Experiences

We offer unique dining pop-ups in restaurants, gardens, and community spaces that spotlight nutrient-rich, underutilized ingredients—starting with Japanese and African diaspora traditions. These experiences serve the public and partner communities, creating space for cross-cultural learning, storytelling, and shared meals that build empathy and understanding across lines of difference. By honoring the people and histories behind each dish, we use food as a tool for cultural diplomacy and health equity.

Program Area 2:

Food Education & Storytelling

Our hands-on cooking classes reach students and families in under-resourced schools and community centers, bringing nutrition education and cultural knowledge to places where it’s often missing. We help all people see food not just as fuel, but as a living reflection of heritage, environment, and identity. Through chef visits, garden integration, and culturally rooted lessons, students build confidence in the kitchen and deeper connection to the food they grow, prepare, and share with others.

Program Area 3:

Youth-Led Global Flavor Pairings

We invite middle and high school students to explore the global history of food through a youth-led culinary challenge. Students select two food cultures to pair—such as Japan × West Africa—and collaborate with chefs to research, cook, and present original recipes to their community. This program cultivates leadership, critical thinking, and cultural literacy, giving students a platform to share stories of migration, land, and identity through the universal language of food.

WHO WE ARE

Founder
Author, strategist, and co-founder of L+P. Lisa brings deep experience in creative leadership, nonprofit management, and Japan–U.S. cultural programming. She previously co-founded The Tofu Project, led initiatives at the MIT Media Lab, and is now an executive at Japanese tech company Digital Garage.

Founder
Senegal-born, California-based chef, author, and culinary entrepreneur. Pierre is the visionary behind award-winning restaurants and Teranga NYC, and the co-founder of Yolélé Foods, which brought the ancient African grain fonio to shelves across the U.S. Through his work, he champions food as an act of love—for self, community, and the planet.

Project Manager / Events

Justine Lucas

Advisor

Ginger Wange

Design

Ben Apatow

One of the most powerful ways that Gastrodiplomacy shows up in the world is through our interactive, food-based events that connect cultures with each other.