Toronto's pop-up dinner host cooks for strangers in a neighbour's apartment

Daniel Tuba D'Souza has spent the past two years hosting intimate dinner parties for strangers in a neighbour's apartment in Toronto. The dinners seat 20 people and run as six-course meals with menus inspired by D'Souza's travels — think Japanese, Portuguese, and other international cuisines.

"It feels like you're at a friend's house," D'Souza said.

The idea started when D'Souza wanted his friends to connect and hosted a dinner with 10-12 dishes. The concept grew from there. He began inviting people he'd just met, colleagues from work — anyone looking to make new friends over food. His neighbour, Charles Voon, offered his larger apartment as the host venue, with D'Souza cooking in his own place.

The dinners operate on BYOP (Bring Your Own Plate) and BYOB rules. Guests bring a six-inch individual plate, then serve themselves from each course — appetizers, heavier foods like grains and meat, and dessert. After eating, diners place their plate back for cleaning, and it's ready for the next course.

"It's really like a big communal type of event," D'Souza explained.

Shows typically run Sundays at 2 p.m. or Saturdays at 7 p.m. The next dinner is Saturday, June 27. There's no profit motive — just good food and new friendships formed around a table.