In collaboration with Chef Jean Jacques Kabuya

When Chef Jean Jacques Kabuya of Rustic Roast Café & Bar approached me about creating custom tableware for the restaurant, the goal was clear: develop pieces that felt grounded, refined, and unmistakably their own.

Together, we designed a collection of co-branded plates and mugs that reflect the warmth and character of Rustic Roast while maintaining the clean, contemporary lines that define my studio practice. The plates were created to support service first and foremost; balanced in weight, durable for daily use, and proportioned to frame each dish without overpowering it. From brunch features to composed café plates, the forms were tailored to enhance presentation while standing up to the rhythm of a busy dining room.

The mugs were developed with equal intention. Thrown in a warm, speckled stoneware and finished with a comfortable, considered handle, each piece feels substantial in hand. The underside is custom-stamped with the Rustic Roast co-brand mark, reinforcing the restaurant’s identity in a subtle but lasting way.

This collaboration is a reflection of what I value most in restaurant partnerships: thoughtful dialogue, shared standards for quality, and the creation of objects that quietly elevate the dining experience.

Custom tableware is more than functional, it becomes part of the story a restaurant tells at every table.