TOGS Holiday Gathering - The Flavor of Us

Every flavor holds a memory. Every table holds a story.
The Flavor of Us is a global tasting experience created to help us close the year with warmth, reflection, and connection. Inside your box are snacks from around the world and a berbere spice blend crafted for this gathering—an invitation into comfort, curiosity, and joy.

This page will serve as your guide for our time together.
Here you’ll find:

  • The Zoom link for the session

  • Flavor of Us playlist, curated from some your songs of joy and a few of my own

  • Recipes inspired by the flavors you shared in the survey

  • A list of everything included in your box, from spices to global treats

During our session, I’ll share a cooking demonstration of a dish that holds meaning for me—a simple chicken (or mushroom) and rice meal shaped by childhood and home. Together, we’ll taste, play, listen, and celebrate the everyday stories that make us who we are.

Settle in, choose the song that fits your mood, and I’ll meet you on Zoom.

A Global Box of Joy

Your box brings together flavors from across the world — warm, familiar, surprising, and nostalgic. Each item was chosen to reflect a feeling of home, comfort, or discovery. Here’s what you’ll find inside:

🍟 Comfort & Crunch

  • Zapp’s Potato Chips
    A bold, Louisiana-born classic with plenty of personality.

  • Zambos Chile Limón Plantain Chips
    Bright, tangy, and beloved across Central America — a perfect balance of heat and citrus.

🍬 Sweet Moments

  • Daelmans Stroopwafel + Rip Van Wafels Stroopwafel
    Two takes on the classic Dutch caramel waffle cookie — soft, chewy, and perfect with tea or coffee.

  • Diamond Bakery Hawaiian Shortbread Cookies
    A buttery, tender island favorite that brings a little sunshine to your day.

  • Raaka Chocolate
    Unroasted, bean-to-bar chocolate — rich, complex, and made with intention.

  • Hongyuan Guava Candy (Chinese Classic Series)
    A tropical, fragrant hard candy with roots across Asia and Latin America — sweet, bright, and nostalgic.

  • Pulparindo Tamarind Candy
    A Mexican classic: sweet, sour, a little spicy, and deeply beloved.

🍜 Warm & Savory

  • Sapporo Ichiban Ramen
    A cozy, nostalgic Japanese staple — the base for today’s demo.

  • Sempio Seaweed Snacks
    Light, salty, and full of umami — a perfect topper or snack on its own.

  • Crispy Garlic & Onion Mix + Dried Mushroom & Zucchini
    A custom add-in for your ramen bowl — layered texture, warmth, and earthiness.

🔥 From The Stew

  • Handmade Berbere Spice
    Our Ethiopian-inspired blend crafted especially for this gathering — warm, aromatic, and full of depth.

CLICK TO GET ACcESS TO RECIPES

RECEIPE .01

Bebere Chicken (Mushroom) and Rice

RECEIPE .02

Coconut Sweet Potatoes

RECEIPE .03

Citrus & Ginger Ramen

RECEIPE .04

Berbere Spiced Chickpeas

RECEIPE .05

Guava & Ginger Mocktail

Joy Playlist

These songs were submitted by the team and helped shape the playlist for our gathering. Each one reflects a memory, a feeling, or a moment that brings someone joy.

Randy Newcomb UFO — Olivia Dean

Kendall Bossert Witchoo — Durand Jones & The Indications

Submitted in honor of Nancy (via Kendall): Be the Wheel — Theo Katzman

Liliana Giffen Count Your Blessings — Nas & Damian Marley

Pat Christen This Little Light of Mine — Miles Caton (from Sinners)

Jasmine Mora Happy — Pharrell Williams

Carrie Campbell Come and Get Your Love — Redbone

Trish Quan September — Earth, Wind & Fire

Nikhil Dugal Ayonha — Hamid Al Shaeri

Quincey Smith Sunshine — D.O.D., RAHH

Becky Ryder This Year — Emily King

Kiran Ahuja Happy — Pharrell Williams and Golden — Jill Scott

Leta Fisher Pink Pony Club — Chappell Roan

Char Chang Daydream Believer — The Monkees

Kat Lee Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays — NSYNC

TOGS Holiday Gathering Agenda

  • Welcome + Context Setting
    We’ll open with purpose, grounding, and what we hope to create together.

  • Icebreaker — “What’s On Your Table?”
    A quick, energizing way to connect and warm up as a group.

  • Cooking Demo + Cultural Significance
    A guided demonstration that explores both the dish and the story behind it.

  • Music Break
    A short reset to stretch, breathe, and enjoy a curated playlist.

  • Game Experience
    A playful, collaborative activity designed to spark creativity and connection.

  • Closing Reflections
    Space to share insights and close out the experience together.

  • Socializing

A two-hour interactive experience (December 11th) exploring culture, connection, and creativity through food, storytelling, and play.

Zoom Link Below

Join Us