"I first became aware of Chef Diana at the Abundance Setting panel discussion in 2023 the weekend before the James Beard Awards. She was a panelist and also a finalist for best chef Great Lakes that year. I remember vividly sensing the passion she had for her food and her children. It amazed me how she discussed negotiating her love and commitment to both, completely embodying the beauty of Abundance Setting’s mission. It was clear to me that for her it was simple: her children and her restaurant were her life. After the event ended, chefs Sarah Stegner (Prairie Grass Cafe), Tigist Reda (Demera), Chicago Chefs Cook co-founder Eda Davidman, and I went to Mi Tocaya Antojeria, her restaurant, for dinner. I will never forget how in awe I was of that dining experience. Her food opened my eyes to new possibilities. It was inspiring, beautiful, and gave me access to her culinary genius that I desired to lean into for my own growth. Everything I seek out of a dining experience I felt that evening. This year when I was contemplating who I wanted to invite to a chef station at Eat and Evolve, our annual fundraiser, she was at the top of that list. When I reached out to her about stationing for it, she asked me to call her. I was nervous calling, but once we were on the phone her first question really captivated me and deepened my respect for her. She didn’t ask for details about the event, she asked me about The Evolved Network, what it is and who it serves. That our mission aligned with some of the efforts she chose to support wasn’t the only thing I respected… It was that she cared to know. It is easy to support charity blindly and just show up. It shows a different level of commitment when you seek to understand what those efforts are and how it aligns with what we want in and for the world and for whom. Though this collaboration is a fundraiser for The Evolved Network, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to my own selfish desires to want to cook with her and experience her genius in collaboration. It is truly the honor of a lifetime to cook with you, Chef. I promise I won’t steal all your secrets, but will spread our shared love of food and its possibilities with every student The Evolved Network serves."