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While Entertaining shares the stories of Black food and beverage professionals whose experiences are often marginalized in traditional food media. Through stories and recipes, we dive deeply into the flavors, styles, and traditions of African and Caribbean descendants, paying homage to their long history of influence on food culture in America.
Yet, their voices are reduced to a whisper in food media outlets, and the expansiveness of Black food is limited to just a few mainstream representations. At the same time, home entertaining magazines also fail to include multicultural perspectives. We were frustrated with this lack of representation and knew others would be, too. We created While Entertaining to bring fresh perspectives to your table.
At first glance, the word ‘entertaining’ sounds like a serious spectacle - and for some it is. For others, it’s a small gathering. It’s making a meal for two, or three, or just one. It’s a cookout. It’s an evening with friends. It’s a family reunion. It’s a random Tuesday night. We believe ‘entertaining’ is a heart condition. It’s a simple desire to welcome someone into your home, cook for them, and exchange stories. We help you do that.
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Presented through the lens of the modern, multicultural host(ess), While Entertaining is a source of inspiration for preparing beautiful meals and hosting at home. Through stories and recipes, we dive deeply into diverse flavors, styles, and traditions -- making it easy to explore Black culture in food and home entertaining.
Buy Digital Magazine NowThe first issue of While Entertaining brings you along for candid conversations with Black chefs and beverage professionals.
With fresh voices, recipes and recommendations for every season, While Entertaining is a year-long guide for more thoughtful eating and drinking at home.
With food and drink recipes for every season, While Entertaining is your year-long host(ess) guide. Issue One is filled to the brim with stories, recipes, and tips to elevate your next gathering.
Buy Digital Magazine NowEach purchase of our digital issue brings us one step closer to a print issue in 2021. We need to sell 5000 more copies to reach our goal!
The Entertaining for One Box Kit helps you spice up a solo weeknight dinner with a margarita mix, a chef-made sauce, a chef-made spice rub, a sauce basting brush and recipes!
Bonus: Each box helps us raise funding to go to print in 2021! Thank you for your support!
Buy Box Set NowFounder Amber Mayfield started To Be Hosted when she saw a need for dining experiences that would excite and connect multicultural audiences. In 2017, she began by inviting 24 strangers to an unexpected location for a dinner party with live music and a few other surprises promised. By the end of the event, these strangers were talking, laughing, and exchanging stories like they were old friends. From this night, a community was born.
Since then, To Be Hosted has grown into a boutique agency specializing in intimate and immersive experiences for foodies. Through event services and home entertaining resources, To Be Hosted aims to bring people together intentionally, while doing our part to elevate multicultural perspectives in food and entertaining.
Amber Mayfield is a multidisciplinary event planner and dinner party enthusiast. Through To Be Hosted, she combines her love of food, music, and the arts, to produce events that people will remember.
Well known brands turn to Amber to make their events exciting and buzzworthy. Whether she is working with corporate clients or
couples, Amber pours her passion into every detail, and thrives
when faced with complex event logistics. In all that she does, she is celebrated for creating memorable experiences that make people feel deeply valued.
Amber lives in Brooklyn with her pup Nova. In her freetime, she enjoys hosting, baking, painting, and watching action TV shows.
Founder Amber Mayfield started To Be Hosted when she saw a need for dining experiences that would excite and connect multicultural audiences. In 2017, she began by inviting 24 strangers to an unexpected location for a dinner party with live music and a few other surprises promised. By the end of the event, these strangers were talking, laughing, and exchanging stories like they were old friends. From this night, a community was born.
Since then, To Be Hosted has grown into a boutique agency specializing in intimate and immersive experiences for foodies. Through event services and home entertaining resources, To Be Hosted aims to bring people together intentionally, while doing our part to elevate multicultural perspectives in food and entertaining.
Amber Mayfield is a multidisciplinary event planner and dinner party enthusiast. Through To Be Hosted, she combines her love of food, music, and the arts, to produce events that people will remember.
Well known brands turn to Amber to make their events exciting and buzzworthy. Whether she is working with corporate clients or couples, Amber pours her passion into every detail, and thrives when faced with complex event logistics. In all that she does, she is celebrated for creating memorable experiences that make people feel deeply valued.
Amber lives in Brooklyn with her pup Nova. In her freetime, she enjoys hosting, baking, painting, and watching action TV shows.
