Care/Of Experiences— Bridget Love
When I first met Bridget in 2021, she was curating chefs, artists, and makers to host IRL corporate team experiences and workshops. Since then, I’ve watched her navigate a pandemic, pivots, growth, and the evolution of Care/Of into one of Toronto’s most thoughtful and creative culinary studios.
When I sat down with Bridget for this conversation, I wanted to understand her ethos around hosting and gathering, and how she continues to build a business that feels as intentional as the experiences she creates.
You started as a classical flautist. How did that path lead you here?
Bridget: I studied flute seriously and was on track for grad school, but as it got closer, I realized the classical world didn’t quite fit my values.
So I pivoted into cultural events, into an entry-level job at the Harbourfront Centre, worked my way up, and eventually launched into the large-scale public event world, at the City of Toronto in a municipal role, where I worked on projects like Nuit Blanche and Doors Open.
At the same time, I always had this entrepreneurial urge. Even as a kid, I ran a summer business called Tea with Harmony, baking scones, delivering tea parties, and performing flute recitals at cottages and in backyards. Looking back, that was probably the beginning of what would later become Care/Of.
What inspired you to start Care/Of?
Bridget: After years of working in cultural programming, I started to notice a gap. There was so much creative talent in Toronto, chefs, designers, artists, but so few opportunities for well-paid gigs. Public funding was shrinking, and corporate events weren’t tapping into the city’s creative potential; a meal at a restaurant chain like Joey’s was the standard.
I wanted to build a bridge for businesses to engage with local talent and experience creativity. That’s really where Care/Of began. It started with dinners, pop-ups, art collaborations, small things that grew into something bigger. Over time, I followed the interest, and the food side started to take off, especially during the pandemic, and that evolved into our identity as a culinary studio. And it makes sense, as I grew up in a big family that loves to cook and eat.
“Bringing people together is an essential service that deserves money and care. I really believe in helping people understand how important it is”.
How do you think about the importance of gathering now, especially in a post-pandemic world?
Bridget: I think gathering is more essential than ever. We live on screens, and as AI develops, where robots are spinning information and things are computer-generated, we need to build relationships that are real and human. It feels like that’s a gap.
In Toronto, especially, it takes effort to connect. The city is expensive, fast-paced, and people are stretched thin; life is hard. There’s not a lot of space for gathering in community, but it’s something that people are really missing and needing, and it contributes to mental and physical health, and drives business and profit. Bringing people together is an essential service that deserves money and care. I really believe in helping people understand how important it is.
“The more we live online, the more we crave being together in real life.”
What are people looking for when they come to you?
Bridget: I think there’s a real shift to in-person after COVID. For a while, I thought Care/Of would stay in the digital space, and I liked the idea of that flexibility, but I was wrong, and we pivoted. People are craving in-person connections. There’s nothing like being in a room with people. You can’t replicate that sense of energy and presence through a screen, and that’s why I decided to open a studio space. This year, we’re probably around 60% in-person and 40% virtual. There’s still a convenience to virtual, that allows people to be home with their families.
Is there a recent project you’re especially proud of?
Bridget: This December, we’re producing a large custom brand launch, an immersive evening where guests move through different spaces, each with its own story, guided by actors, followed by a dinner. It’s the kind of experiential events and production project that really lights me up. I’m really proud that we’re getting this type of work.
I’m also proud of the business itself. This year, we’ve been able to have consistent business and revenue to grow. I now have two full-time staff members, and I’m really enjoying the vision and management side of running the business. To be transparent, last year, I honestly wasn’t sure if we’d make it; it was a really tough year. I set some financial goals that I didn’t meet. But I told myself to give it six more months, based on my intuition and the way the industry was shifting. And now I can see it growing and thriving, and I’m proud of that resilience.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone hosting something, big or small?
Bridget: Start with the purpose and not the logistics. Before you think about the venue, the food, and the guest list, ask yourself ‘why we are doing this’ and ‘who it is for’. What do you want people to feel when they leave? Even remembering that, when you have everyone in the room, do not get bogged down by logistics and embrace how special it is to have all those minds together. I go back to “The Art of Gathering” by Priya Parker over and over; her framework really works.
And don’t get stuck chasing perfection. I think a lot of people don’t host because they’re afraid it has to look a certain way. The truth is, it doesn’t need to be complicated or perfect; it just needs to be intentional.
Start with the purpose and not the logistics. The truth is, it doesn’t need to be complicated or perfect; it just needs to be intentional.
Who or what is inspiring you in this space?
Bridget: Priya Parker, always. Some cool supper clubs are happening in Toronto, like Dinner with Strangers, and other interesting projects I’m seeing. I get inspiration from going to the symphony or theatre events.
I also take a lot of inspiration from a business in Paris, called We Are Ona. They work as a consultancy and work with different talent and build custom niche, aesthetic culinary experiences, and do really interesting work.
Can you tell me a bit about what you’re building with Stock Club?
Stock Club is a ticketed series where a chef and a creative collaborate on a concept for a themed dinner. I wanted to open something up to individuals who wanted to engage in the work we were doing, and it’s an opportunity for creatives to try something and set the example of what’s possible. We don’t take profit from it; all the proceeds go to the chef and the creative. For us, it’s a marketing engine, a creative lab, and a way to invest back into the community that inspires us, and it’s been a journey to get to a place where I can understand that purpose and have a business that can sustain it.
That generosity really comes through, both in how you host and how you build your business.
Bridget: I think it all goes back to finding your why as a business owner. Beyond helping people gather better, a core part of my business is creating opportunities for all this amazing talent and figuring out how to pay them fairly and still grow as a business. And it feels so good when it comes to life, and people connect through it.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
