Liana in a rust apron standing in a sunlit kitchen with shelves of cookbooks

Founder and Head Chef

Liana Rubinoff

Liana is a Family Nurse Practitioner by trade, but a chef at heart. Liana grew up in an Italian family where food was the cornerstone and symbol of love, family, home and togetherness.

She started cooking at a very young age, and found herself in earlier years working in the industry as front of house staff at Standard Bakery and in various roles for Dandelion Catering Company, as a server, event manager, and event chef where she developed a reverence for the precision and art of cooking.

She has cooked for her family and friends for many years as her creative outlet, hosting birthday parties, holidays, and various celebratory or simple gatherings for people in her world. Her passion for cooking, hosting, and bringing people together over a meal transpired into her creating the seeds of Dinner x Friends, a pop-up event based business where she and her team successfully carried out events at LB Kitchen in Portland, ME and Lambs Bar in South Portland, ME.

She looks forward to taking a new direction with Dining x Friends, one that is centered around creating client inspired, curated, intentional events in private homes and spaces.

Meghan in a cream chore jacket leaning on a kitchen island

Event planner and designer

Meghan Fitzpatrick

Partner in life and counterpart of Dining x Friends, Meghan Fitzpatrick has an eye for design and an instinct for ambiance.

She has supported Liana and team with the design arm of the business, both with marketing on social media and on site at prior pop-up events. She has worked to curate masterful tablescapes featuring flowers from local farmers, local handmade ceramics, candle varieties and menu design.

An integral component to the mission and vision of Dining x Friends, Meghan strives to achieve a feeling of beauty and warmth, accentuating the atmosphere to complement the food and energy of each event.

Liana and Meghan, the team behind Dining x Friends, standing in front of an apple tree

Hosting something? Let’s talk.

Reach out and we’ll follow up by email to set up a consult call.

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