How cooking in the desert reshaped my creative life.

And the start of Mise En Plate

Hi, I’m Noelani — a creative producer, chef, and outdoors lover based in Southern California. For years, I worked in advertising, creative strategy, and video production, shaping brand content and campaigns that demanded conversion. But somewhere along the way, I started to crave something more grounded. More nourishing. More human.

That desire led me to start Mise En Plate, a culinary, experiential and creative studio rooted in food design, storytelling, and most importantly, community.

At Mise En Plate, we celebrate what nature provides. Each menu is crafted to tell a story, and each meal is thoughtfully styled to spark connection, reflection, and joy. Every detail is intentional. It’s a way of saying: you’re welcome here.

Because at our core, we believe meals build community — and community is what shapes a better world.

A Grill, Dust, Sun, and a Collective Goal

Most recently, this studio has taken root in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, where I’ve been hosting meals and community gatherings at natural building workshops. These are raw, off-grid environments — filled with dust, sun, laughter, and purpose.

As participants learn to build earthen structures by hand, I prepare and host shared meals that become a kind of soft landing — a place to rest, reflect, and recharge. Feeding people in these spaces has been one of the most grounding and joyful things I’ve ever done.

So far this year, I’ve served more than 75 participants across three immersive 10-day workshops. Together, we’ve built four of five domes on a 10-acre homestead — spaces made from the earth they stand on, shaped by the hands of a community.

We’ll complete the fifth and final dome this November. I will definitely be posting a blog specifically dedicated to this when we finish- so stay tuned!

More Than a Meal

The meals I create in these settings aren’t just about feeding people — they’re about fueling momentum. About creating connections. A reminder that even in the most remote places, a seat at the table is always waiting.

What’s Next

As Mise En Plate evolves, I’m beginning to blend my background in advertising and brand storytelling with this new, grounded lens on hospitality and human connection.

What’s next? A new wave of brand activations, community gatherings, and storytelling campaigns — experiences rooted in culture, care, and a deep sense of belonging. I’ll be working with brands to create intimate, meaningful events that center real people, local ingredients, and creative expression — not just content for content’s sake.

This isn’t the old playbook. It’s storytelling that lives on the table, in the land, and in the way we gather.

Let’s build something beautiful, together.

— Noelani