#29 John Rivera | Lûmé

In a very six degrees of separation moment, as I wait to talk to John Rivera at Lûmé, his sous chef, Michael comes out to say hello. Michael is Jodie Odrowaz’s (last conversation) boyfriend and when I talk to John about that, he tells me Valentin (conversation before Jodie) is coming in for dinner that night. My mind is blown and I love it. It feels right that all worlds should collide here. John is passionate about bringing people together and creating a sense of community amongst chefs, especially the younger generation. He wants to make a difference and I can feel that intention through the way he speaks about cooking, collaborating and learning more.