For Daniella Kahane, hosting is not about perfection. It’s about purpose. As a Peabody Award–winning producer, co-founder of Atoof, and founder of global negotiation platform WIN, Daniella brings the same intentionality to her table that she brings to her work. Each gathering begins with a question of meaning. Why are we coming together, and how do we want to feel when we leave?

Whether she’s baking challah for Shabbat, curating candlelight for a dinner party, or inviting guests into a screen-free evening of presence, Daniella believes the most memorable gatherings nourish mind, body, and soul. Her philosophy is grounded yet elevated, spiritual without being prescriptive, and always centered on connection. Here, she shares how to host with intention, ease perfectionism, and create spaces where real magic can unfold.

Q: When you plan a gathering, where do you start?

A: I always start with the intention—the deeper “why” behind the gathering. Before I think about menus, décor, themes, or logistics, I ask myself what the purpose is and what I want people to feel when they arrive, while they’re there, and after they leave.

Once that emotional or spiritual anchor is clear, everything else flows from it. The meaning becomes the organizing principle. It’s what elevates a routine birthday, milestone, or Shabbat dinner into something quietly transformative. The food and décor matter, but they’re in service of something deeper. I start with intention and let every detail express that.

Q: Your favorite way to break the ice?

A: I avoid performative icebreakers. I’m not interested in putting people on the spot or asking questions that flatten complexity. Instead, I choose prompts that invite honesty and reflection.

At an Atoof challah bake around the Jewish New Year, we asked guests what they wanted to start, continue, and stop doing. The room softened immediately. People shared from the heart and suddenly felt part of something meaningful.

More than any activity, I believe in leading with vulnerability as the host. When I speak sincerely about why we’re gathered, it sets the emotional tone. Presence without pressure, depth without heaviness. That’s always the goal.

Q: Limited budget tablescape must-haves?

A: Fresh flowers. Always. Trader Joe’s is my go-to florist. I love designing my own arrangements. It becomes part of the hosting ritual. If it’s evening, then candles, candles, candles. Soft light transforms everything. With just flowers and candlelight, you can create warmth and intimacy without spending much at all.

Q: What makes a gathering truly memorable?

A: Hosting is storytelling. There’s a beginning, a middle, and an ending that lingers. What makes it unforgettable is the afterglow. When people leave feeling nourished on multiple levels.

I love when guests meet someone new who becomes a collaborator, a partner, or even a date. Those intersections are the quiet magic of gathering. Contrast matters too. A moment of surprise, a poem, a blessing. Something that interrupts autopilot and invites presence.

Ultimately, it’s not the menu that lasts. It’s the feeling that something meaningful happened in the room.

Q: Advice for overwhelmed hosts?

A: First, validate the feeling. Hosting can be stressful. Then name the perfectionism and soften it. A little honesty humanizes you and relaxes everyone else.

If things aren’t done, invite guests to help. It creates belonging. And shift your focus from perfection to presence. People remember how they felt, not whether the napkins matched.

Simplify. Be human. Lead with intention, not expectation.

Q: Your signature recipe?

A: Challah and chicken soup. I’ve been baking challah almost every week for eight years. It’s grounding and meaningful.

Vegan Challah Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 cups warm water
• 1 cup sugar
• 8 teaspoons yeast
• 5 lb flour (bread flour, all-purpose, or white whole wheat; I often mix varieties)
• 2 tablespoons sea salt
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup avocado oil
• Optional: seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, hemp, flax, chia)

Instructions

1. Dissolve the sugar into the warm water. Add the yeast and let it sit for about 5 minutes, until bubbly.
   
   
2. Add just shy of the 5 lb of flour in thirds, mixing as you go. Incorporate the oils and salt as the dough begins to form.
   
   
3. Knead for 10–20 minutes, until the dough feels well worked and springs back when gently pressed.
   
   
4. If you have a personal ritual or moment of intention you like to include—expressing gratitude, setting a hope for the week, or anything meaningful to you—this is a lovely time for it. Then braid your challot.
   
   
5. Let the braided loaves rest for another 20 minutes.
   
   
6. Brush with egg wash if you’re not keeping it fully vegan.
   
   
7. Bake at 400°F for 18–22 minutes, depending on the size of the challot.

It’s simple, grounding, and a beautiful addition to the table—one of the rituals I cherish most when hosting.

Q: Go-to dinner party soundtrack?

A: It depends on the vibe. If I have time, I make a custom playlist. If not, I love Sabah’s playlists. They’re chic and warm. Sometimes I let guests DJ with a shared playlist. It subtly invites inclusion and joy.

Q: Favorite party trick?

A: We go screen-free during Shabbat. It’s not enforced, just invited. And people are always relieved. Phones down changes everything. Conversations deepen. Time slows. Presence returns. It’s the most powerful atmosphere-setter I know.

Q: What do you love about Partytrick?

A: Partytrick facilitates real moments of togetherness. It removes friction so we can follow through on gathering. I love how it translates an idea into an experience, keeping the focus on connection rather than logistics.

Q: Most memorable gathering you’ve hosted?

A: My daughter’s week-long Bat Mitzvah trip in Israel. It reflected her values so deeply. It was joyful, meaningful, and expansive. A living blessing.

Q: Favorite hosting products?

A: I love using Maison d’Etto candles, Bitossi Home colorful wine goblets, Goldie Home grey marble napkins, and our Atoof Issachar Day Challah Cover (or any of our challah covers) for Shabbat meals. For more practical pieces, I rely on affordable H&M placemats—I have them in a million colors. And for a large pitcher of delicious iced coffee, I keep Cometeer pods in my freezer.

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To explore Daniella Kahane’s intentional approach to gathering, ritual, and design, follow her on Instagram at @atoof.co, and @winsummit, or visit www.atoofcollective.com and www.winsummit.com to learn more about her work.

Feeling inspired to host your own gathering? Partytrick makes it easy to bring people together with customizable templates, expert guidance, and everything you need to plan beautifully in one place. Create a free Partytrick account and start hosting with intention.

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