When Emily Plunket talks about food, you can hear the creativity and passion in her voice. As Executive Chef and Co-Founder of Dinner Ladies, a London-based catering, events, and venue management company, Emily has built something far beyond traditional hospitality.
Together with her business partner, Lily Cai, Emily has created a business fuelled by brilliant women, bold flavours, and the belief that great food can bring people together.
From Shanghai to Supper Clubs
The Dinner Ladies story began long before the company name existed —in Shanghai, where Emily and Lily lived together after university. Surrounded by the city’s fast- moving food scene, they found themselves inspired by its colour, energy, and fusion of flavours.
When they returned to the UK, both working in different industries, they began hosting intimate supper clubs — evenings that blended food, community, and conversation. Those gatherings sparked something bigger: a desire to create experiences that connect people through the artistry of food.
Food, Artistry, and People
Emily describes the Dinner Ladies’ philosophy as “bringing together food, artistry, and people.” It’s this combination — creativity and care, taste and texture, experience and emotion — that has become the foundation of their success.
Every menu, every table design, every event is treated as a story waiting to be told. It’s not just about feeding guests, but about crafting a moment that lingers.
Empowering People Behind the Plate
Throughout the conversation, Emily returns to one theme again and again: people. Dinner Ladies’ culture is built on autonomy, trust, and balance — giving chefs and staff the space to be creative while maintaining a healthy work-life rhythm.
As Emily puts it, empowering staff means “making them feel heard.” It’s a small statement with big impact in an industry that’s often been defined by hierarchy and pressure.
This sense of empowerment extends to the next generation too. Emily believes hospitality education should show students the exciting possibilities of the industry — combining academic learning with real world experience and mentorship.
Sustainability and Personalisation: The Future of Events
For Emily, sustainability and personalisation go hand in hand. It’s about understanding each client — what matters to them, how they want people to feel — and designing experiences that reflect that, without waste or excess.
The team’s Sharing Plates Initiative, created with The Felix Project and Streets Kitchen, brings this ethos to life. By turning surplus food into nourishing dishes for people experiencing homelessness in Camden Market, they’ve proved that hospitality can be a force for good.
A Taste of What’s Next
From elegant corporate lunches to large-scale weddings and creative collaborations, no two days look the same at Dinner Ladies. But one thing remains constant: a commitment to bold flavours, strong values, and human connection.
Emily’s vision is clear — food should be beautiful, meaningful, and shared. And for those who’ve experienced a Dinner Ladies event, that’s exactly what it is.
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