Meet Me at the Table: Daisy’s Resilience, Heart & the Power of Community

Some people build businesses. Others build experiences. And every once in a while, you meet someone who is doing both while creating something that brings people together.

That was Daisy.

Through Daisy’s Black LA Food Tour, I got to witness something that stayed with me long after the food was gone: resilience in motion, a charismatic spirit that never seemed to dim, and a genuine heart for people, community, Los Angeles, and good food.

Before we even pulled away, there was prayer.

It was a simple moment, but it set the tone for the day and gave me a glimpse into the foundation behind what Daisy is building. Faith. Community. Connection.

Daisy shared with me that the idea for the food tour began during Black History Month. Every day, she highlighted an influential Black person, but she realized she didn't want to simply do all the talking about their stories. She was inspired by what she was learning and wanted to create a way to bridge the gap between influential business owners and the people in the community.

And from that idea, the food tour was born.

Now, about a year into the business, that idea has grown into something much bigger.

But what impressed me most wasn't simply what Daisy has built.

It was watching how she showed up.

The tour was originally planned for three buses, but it became four.

I watched Daisy process the unexpected, make the necessary calls, arrange another vehicle, and keep moving. There was no panic. No frustration taking over the moment.

Instead, I heard her say, “This is a blessing.”

And then she got to work.

She didn't turn people away. She didn't allow the unexpected to change the energy of the experience. She figured it out.

That moment reminded me that entrepreneurship isn't about everything going according to plan. It's about what you do when it doesn't.

And Daisy moved with purpose.

She was checking on people, talking with creators, serving, laughing, hugging, answering questions, and making sure people were taken care of. Yet somehow, through all of it, she never seemed to lose her joy.

She was thriving in her element.

And you could feel that she genuinely loved what she was doing.

Creating Intimacy Through Connection

When I asked Daisy what she wanted people to experience that they may not get elsewhere, she said intimacy.

After experiencing the tour, I understood.

The chefs weren't simply handing us food. They were sharing pieces of their stories, their backgrounds, their businesses, and how they came to be.

That access matters.

Daisy has created a bridge between the people who are building these businesses and the people who want to support them.

And that's bigger than food.

It's community.

It's connection.

It's giving people a reason to discover businesses they may never have found otherwise.

What I Saw in Daisy

I didn't get the long, intimate conversation with Daisy that I originally hoped for. She was busy doing what a business owner does…running her business.

But maybe that was the conversation I needed.

Instead of simply hearing Daisy tell me who she was, I got to watch her be it.

I watched her handle the unexpected.

I watched her serve people.

I watched her connect.

I watched her smile.

And I watched her keep going.

By the end of the tour, we were taking pictures together like we had known each other for years.

That's Daisy.

She has a vibrancy that draws you in and a genuine heart for people that makes you want to support what she's building.

And maybe that's why this particular Meet Me at the Table story feels so personal to me.

Because I see some of myself in what she's building.

We may be doing different things, but the heart is familiar:

People. Connection. Community. Food.

Creating spaces where people feel welcome.

Start Before You're Ready

Daisy has only been doing this for about a year.

And look at what can happen in a year when you give an idea room to grow.

Her vision is already expanding beyond Los Angeles, with hopes of taking the experience internationally.

That made me think about all the people who have an idea but keep telling themselves they're not ready.

Maybe you don't have the perfect plan.

Maybe everything won't be perfect when you begin.

Maybe you'll have to adjust.

Maybe you'll learn things along the way.

But you can still start.

Because sometimes you don't get to see how far an idea can go until you actually give it a chance.

Daisy reminded me that you can start with a vision, learn as you go, serve people well, build relationships, and keep moving forward.

And sometimes, the thing you thought you were simply creating for others becomes something that inspires you, too.

That's what happened to me.

I came to experience a food tour.

I left inspired by the woman behind it.

And that, to me, is what Meet Me at the Table is all about.

It's not just about what is on the table.

It's about the people who create the table, the stories they bring to it, the communities they build around it, and the connections that happen when we choose to sit down together.

Daisy is building something worth watching.

Something worth supporting.

And something that reminds us all:

You don't have to have everything figured out to begin.

Sometimes, you just have to start.

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