We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sharon Daniel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sharon , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
One of the most meaningful projects I have had the honor to work on was with our wonderful friends at Folks Farm & Market during their Fall Festival. This festival was a celebration of the end of the farm season with locals and vendors from all over the Moorestown, NJ, and Philly areas. There are many reasons why this project felt special. One reason is that the farmers are such great friends of mine and have a deep passion for cultivating an incredible farm that benefits their community, friends, and family. They are the salt-of-the-earth kind of people—the kind that makes you sigh with relief, remembering there are good people in the world. Another reason this project felt special was that it was one of the first times I truly had the opportunity to branch out to a larger community and showcase my work. It felt like an opportunity for people to put a name to a face they had been seeing on social media. Interacting with people who wanted to support small businesses and create wonderful memories with their families felt like such a wholesome project. It was an amazing way to connect with customers and get to know them outside of social media. I had the chance to share my story about how I got started and met some amazing people who continue to follow and celebrate all of my achievements to this day. Projects that involve community feel the most special; they remind you why you started your business in the first place. It’s about serving people, and that will always come first.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Growing up in a Indian household, you learn the art of cooking, preparing, hosting and serving very quickly. It is foundational to our community to serve others with the utmost sincerity. My mother always told me, “when you serve people food make sure that you serve them your best.” It wasn’t about perfection, it was about creating something out of genuine love. To be served in this way felt like the truest act of love a person can give. This kind of love wasn’t exclusionary, I never saw my mother give less to people she was unfamiliar with than her loved ones. It was expected to treat and serve everyone equally. Growing up this way shaped me to be mindful and thoughtful about the way I host. I incorporate these ideals in my daily life and have made it an important pillar for my business to stand on. The way we serve and take care of one another, is the way that we do life together.
Like most people, the pandemic felt like both a blessing and a curse. I had more time to myself than I knew what to do with. I never was the kind of person who truly took time for herself. I was always in a rush (still am- but I’ve gotten better), was always surrounded by people, constantly making plans to fill up my time. Although I thoroughly enjoy spending time with people, the pandemic was the first opportunity to make intentional time with myself. Like the rest of the world, I worked remotely and spent all of my time at home, you know, against my will. I’d start my days with a large glass of ice coffee and would begin clicking away at my computer until the day was over. One day I decided to make myself some breakfast- a revolutionary idea. It wasn’t much but it felt like a kind thing to do for myself. It was very simple, a handful of strawberries, blueberries, grapes and some walnuts. I placed each fruit strategically against each other like a perfect puzzle. I felt a little silly putting so much work into something that was just for ME to eat. My whole life I was always taught how important it was to serve others and that it is an honorable thing to sacrifice to yourself. I watched my mom quickly shovel food into a regular bowl and eat in the corner of a dimly lit room once her guest left. No plating, no reheating, just an amalgamation of the dinner she just graciously made, plopped into a bowl. If you served my mom the way she served her guest, she would swiftly tell you “oh please don’t, it’s JUST for me.” The pandemic taught me that yes, while it is just for you – you deserve plating, the fancy accouterments, all served under mood lighting. It became my morning routine to create something beautiful for myself. Some days it was just a plate of fruits and nuts, other days it was fancy toast, whatever it was, it was for me to enjoy in fullness and love. The variety, plating, aesthetics captured my eye and I just wanted to recreate versions of it over and over again. I gave a wonderful gift to myself every morning, not knowing that this very gift would one day turn into a beautiful business.
Food has always been a wonderful way to connect to people. It is amazing how food can bring a sense of joy, inclusivity and community. It has been such a powerful tool to use to bring people together to celebrate important moments in their life. I carry this sentiment with me as I create an experiential product for my customers to enjoy. What you are purchasing is not just a cheese board but rather an experience. A charcuterie board is meant to be shared, paired with other artisanal ingredients to experience a unique flavor in every bite. Being able to share this experience with people who appreciate food and community in this way is very special. I feel honored to provide a reason to gather around the table and create these moments that make life so sweet – thus, “The Gathering Table.”
Charcuterie was a way to express intentionality with food. From cheese pairings to design and aesthetics, all of the elements were considered carefully to curate a well-rounded experience. It is important to me that every board and box I create showcases each ingredient while also appreciating the complexities of color and texture that blend together to create a beautiful display for your guests to enjoy. My hope is that my guests are excited and thrilled to gather and host with my charcuterie. It is the perfect reason to get together and enjoy one another’s company.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding part about being a creative business owner is feeling fulfilled by your own work! I know this may sound obvious and simple, and of course it is – but I never experienced true joy in what I do until I actually used my own talents to create. It has been a life-changing experience to give myself the permission to freely create and design. I have experienced a new level of euphoria and depths of joy that I never thought I could experience in my work. Once I allowed myself to grow at a natural pace and allowed ideas to flow organically, things fell in accordance to my vision. It makes me feel confident, excited and eager to celebrate this joy with other business owners. I never considered myself as an artist or creative, but once I did finally consider my own talents, I was able to build offerings and services that felt like the business I wanted to build.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
The mission that continues to drive my creative journey is grounded in providing the opportunity for people to experience connections with one another. Food often is the subtle bridge to connection. I have had the pleasure of witnessing charcuterie be the center of relationship building, networking, catch ups and celebrations. It’s like a fancier water cooler. I often find myself brainstorming what the perfect board or grazing table would look like for my customer’s event, in hopes that it would seamlessly fit their aesthetic. I want the expression of support for local products and appreciation for food styling to translate very clearly. Most importantly I want my customers to feel at ease when they are planning their events, that something beautiful and delicious is created just for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/thegatheringtableco
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.gathering.table.co/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550335204310
Image Credits
Nichole MCH Photography, Rich MacLeod Photography