Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadia Deljou.
Hi Nadia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Thank you for this space to share! My story is multifaceted. Every aspect of my upbringing and interests has culminated under the umbrella of Delle and who I am today. I am lucky to have found a way to combine all my interests and create my own career. I grew up in an Iranian-American household and was raised in the arts industry. From a young age I was immersed in various avenues of creativity and self-expression. In college, I music directed at Album 88, and hosted my own electronic, late-night lounge show. That job took me to New York, where I managed radio campaigns for independent artists.
While in New York, I changed industries and decided to get a professional degree in the culinary arts. I had been cooking since I was eleven and it was always a way for me to connect to myself, my culture, my family and those around me. Throughout my life, cooking and music have given me a window into myself and the greater world around me. My relationship to both those mediums also helped me realize how much I love to share with others, and how that brings me joy.
I moved back to Atlanta in September 2019, after three years away from home. It was after a difficult breakup, so I cooked every day to connect back to myself and to heal from pain I didn’t really know how to unpack.
Eventually, I started my own company called Delle. It’s a Farsi word that references both the heart and stomach. The venture began as mostly vegetarian pop-up dinners for groups of ten at my parents’ house. Then, the pandemic hit and I had to stop until October 2020, when I began curating and hosting intimate private dining in our current space. Now, our approach to dining lies at the intersection of music and food. We take our guests through a sensory experience with the intention of elevating their relationship to both those mediums. Cooking itself is just as much about sound as it is taste, smell, and touch. My work intends to reframe what it means to “dine”. I want to challenge the conventional restaurant culture, as something that’s so removed from the primal, tactile qualities of cuisine and culture. When music is added to the experience, it creates a multi-dimensional experience that really pulls people into our world of taste and sound.
Since its origin, Delle has evolved with me as I’ve grown as a person, a chef, and an entrepreneur. During the last year, we’ve started offering more intentional fine dining private events, a pastry program, cooking classes, and casual pop-up dinners open to the public. The nature of the ticketed dinners creates a space where strangers become seemingly close friends. My favorite thing about them is how people connect, almost instantly. When I was younger, I used to ask my sister why it’s hard making friends. She always said friendships are formed over a common shared experience. I’d like to believe the intentional, curated space I’ve created for others to meet and experience something together is really what brings me the most joy; it’s what I needed most when I was younger. Now, it’s something I’ve created for people. A cool little full circle moment.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Yes and no. I’ve been lucky to be so supported by my community; community is everything. But as I previously mentioned, it’s a challenge educating people on what Delle is and why the specialized experience is valued at what it is. I think the concept of what I do is very new for people, most express how they’ve never experienced anything like it. So the challenge has been constantly educating and informing my followers and potential clients on what we do and why, and how it’s so much more than food. I believe we’re making progress! Guests mention, this was priceless, or this was so unique, at every event. Delle has taught me to truly believe in myself and what I do. It’s a very powerful place to be, and a constant practice.
Another struggle has definitely been learning to create work-life balance, because cooking is really what I love the most. Work doesn’t feel like work, but it still takes effort. As an entrepreneur who is very much wearing all the hats and understanding the business from multiple angles, I’m learning to count my wins, take mental-health breaks, and care for myself, first.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Delle Dining is an Atlanta-based private dining establishment. Delle is a Farsi word that references both the heart and the stomach, connecting my passion for food to my Persian roots. It is often said that the way to the heart is through food. Here at Delle, I use food as a way to awaken the heart.
Delle is a culmination of my experiences growing up in the art industry, working in the music industry, and finding myself in the culinary industry. I curate multi-cultural dining events that challenge conventional restaurant culture. At Delle, you’re encouraged to engage with my cooking through all the senses, that will inspire a greater conversation.
For foodies and non-foodies alike, I passionately draw you into my world of cuisine. I colorfully explore the flavors of a given area, paired with music from the same region. My food is bright and herbaceous. My work is intentional and authentic, as I find joy in the process of sharing with others. Beyond all, Delle is intimate, memorable, and unique.
At Delle, we offer private fine dining, public pop-up dinners, cooking classes, and provide specialty pastry & breads. We do most of our marketing and promotion on Instagram, or through word of mouth.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I’m naturally very introverted, I shoot and develop my own photography, I enjoy playing guitar and singing and a few years ago I published my own poetry book.
Current Pricing:
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Private Dining Events $135-150
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Pastry/Bread Orders $60 minimum
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Public Pop-Up Tickets range from $105-115
Contact Info:
- Email: nadia@delledining.com
- Website: www.delledining.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delledining/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qurxLSrJVLc
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUON7jp318s&feature=emb_title
