Unfolding

In 2014, I invited folks to join me for an analog-digital sensation, an Instameet. Remember those? Instead of just taking photos by yourself and sharing them in those little IG squares, you’d invite anyone who’d like to meet in person, say hello in real life, and click away in the same place creating collaboratively.

Living in such a beautiful city, I chose the Chicago Cultural Center as our meeting spot for its grand spaces, excellent views inside and out, concerts, exhibitions, Chicago history, its central location, accessible public transportation, and its exquisite Tiffany Dome.

I brought Firecakes Donuts and Intelligentsia Coffee. We are in Chicago after all.

150 people said they would join my mom and me. One person showed up.

This stranger chatted, laughed, and shared her stories. We found out that we had a mutual love of hot sauce, bikes!, coffee, travel, EATING food, and our transplanted city. She described herself as an eater with less experience in the kitchen. What she still has is boundless curiosity, persistence, creativity, a commitment to equity, and the kindest heart.

Later in our friendship and then publicly, she talked about losing her corporate job and wondering what was next.

Over the years, she often asked me for advice as she explored becoming a food professional. I said then as I say now: there are so many paths open to us. Margaret Pak started learning how to cook professionally in 2015/2016.

With her husband, Vinod Kalathil, she now co-owns a Keralan restaurant called Thattu. It was a 2020 James Beard Foundation Semifinalist for Best New Restaurant in the country, 2020 Food & Wine Best New Restaurant, NYT’s Restaurant List 2023 of the 50 places in the UNITED STATES, and a 2024 The New York Times “Best Restaurants in Chicago” amongst many other accolades.

More recently, we were able to see her in action at the James Beard Chef & Restaurant Awards in 2022 where she and her team plated countless tastes of one her signature dishes.

Again, just two weeks ago, she was serving delicious seafood cakes at the 2024 JBF Media Awards. In-between, of course, there have been coffees, visits, and innumerable laughs.

Chef Pak is many things: restauranteur, small business owner, innovator, pay advocate, and storyteller. I’m pleased to say that she’s also a fantastic friend.

Here’s to pursuing our wildest dreams!