"We wanted to explore the ways that food can be a muse.” Jamila Robinson
Looking through the pages of Bon Appétit’s inaugural Art & Design issue (May 2025), I realized that I wasn’t just reading. Each spread and story resonated with me, reminding me why the hospitality industry initially appealed to me. Yes, great food is essential, but equally important is the way a place makes people feel: the atmosphere, the intention, and the story that lives in the walls and on the plate when it all comes together.
With every place I've been involved with, as the final touches and tastings were prepared for friends and family before the first day of serving the public, I would sit in nearly every seat just to feel and observe the room from each vantage point. That same care and design philosophy was baked into every inch of this issue. Whether it was a story about Marcus Samuelsson’s return to Ethiopia, with his restaurant atop the tallest building in East Africa—or the role of color psychology—I felt a visceral connection.
Exploring the intersection of food, design, and cultural storytelling with Jamila Robinson, Editor-in-Chief of Bon Appétit and Epicurious, offers a masterclass on how food media can be both visually stunning and meaningful. She and her team made print feel luxurious again, bringing culture closer and reminding us that food isn't just sustenance, it's connection, it’s memory, it's music, it's art.
This special issue is a collector's item.
HOW WE MOVE
Stay tuned to the end of the guest interview when international speaker, writer and diplomat Ambassador Shabazz (daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz) spends a few moments unpacking the discussion and highlights some of the interesting people, places, and things that have her attention.
Instagram: @Corner Table Talk and @Post and Beam Hospitality
LinkedIn: Brad Johnson Hospitality
E.Mail: brad@postandbeamhospitality.com
For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/
Theme Music: Bryce Vine
Produced by: Corner Table Media, a division of Brad Johnson Ventures LLC
Corner Table™ is a trademark of Brad Johnson Ventures LLC
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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