MARISTI CREATIVE NYC POP-UP TOUR
This past fall, Maya embarked on a pop-up tour around New York, hosting five nights of culinary experiences at various venues across the city. I had the chance to capture her in action at the Pomegranate Dinner she hosted at Verci. After she returned from her trip, I got to chat with her and reflect on the insights she gained from the pop-up tour.
ABOUT MAYA
Tell us a little bit about you and Maristi Creative!
I’m Maya Aristimuño, a 23 year old third-culture food artist. Food has been at the heart of my life since childhood, where I was introduced to the flavors and traditions of my multicultural family—my mother immigrated from Gujarat, India, my father from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and roots tracing to Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Cooking became a way to connect, nourish, and bring people together, making friends feel like family.
From 2018 to now, Maristi Creative has grown from a Gen Z creative content studio to a global creative agency bridging culture and community through IRL experiences! I founded Maristi Creative to drive meaningful impact, using food to build community and leveraging partnerships with brands and spaces to support causes we believe in.
We recently wrapped the NYC Tour—an incredible month of pop-ups featuring new menus each night, hosted in collaboration with changemakers and tastemakers. We had Plan B at the dinner table, chatted about how to mobilize our communities through food, and created space for friendship. We hosted at Frog Wine Bar, Verci, Heaven & Earth, and Sauced.
NYC POP-UP TOUR 2024
How did you come up with the idea of doing a pop-up tour?
When I decided to take Maristi Creative full-time, I aimed to deepen connections with creative communities across different cities. I’ve hosted pop-ups in Paris, Barcelona, Milan, Mallorca, and Florence, but afterward, I wasn’t sure when I would ever return. The idea of a pop-up tour allowed me to explore opportunities, maximize impact in each space, and build meaningful, lasting relationships with the people and communities who share these experiences. It’s about creating moments that resonate beyond the event itself.
What was your thought process in conceptualizing the theme and menu for each event? What did the R&D process look like?
The tour aimed to bring creatives and food lovers together through shared meals that celebrated connections and impact beyond the meal itself. Each menu was inspired by my travels and family who have influenced my cooking. In Barcelona, I learned to appreciate the flavors of shared dishes like tapas, which inspired me to incorporate olives, peppers, and anchovies into my dishes.
For the Pomegranate Dinner, my Indian grandmother guided me in perfecting kitchari — a healing Ayurvedic dish. The menu was intentionally crafted with gut-friendly, anti-inflammatory ingredients like pomegranates and turmeric. Recipe development involved blending family traditions, Ayurvedic wisdom, and vibrant, nourishing flavors into every dish. Bright red pomegranates, golden turmeric, soaking rice and lentils in my mom’s blue bowls, and warming cinnamon made for a colorful and special day of recipe testing.
The goal of the pop-up tour was to bring people together over a shared meal while crossing cultural boundaries. I aimed to include changemakers and tastemakers at each event, amplifying themes of food justice, food security, and multiculturalism. Post-election, I realized the tour needed to create an even greater impact. At every pop-up, we organized a food drive to support organizations like CHiPS, One Love Community Fridge, and The Migrant Kitchen.
For the Pomegranate Girls Dinner, I cold-emailed numerous women’s care brands until Winx joined us, providing UTI Test & Treat kits, morning-after pills, and condoms. I chose to donate the morning-after pills and condoms to the WSP Mutual Aid Fund, which distributed them to women’s shelters and other mutual aid initiatives. Graza, a long-time favorite brand, saw our work and generously provided olive oil, becoming our exclusive olive oil partner for the tour. Their support was truly heartwarming.
From the 5 nights of events, what was your favorite moment from the tour?
There were so many beautiful moments! Circle Time during the Third Culture Dinner Party was a really special one. It was one of the most vulnerable and connected experiences I’ve ever witnessed in our community through any pop-up. This dinner was held in collaboration with a food drive for One Love Community Fridge, and we invited changemakers and tastemakers from various fields to lead a guided conversation during the first course.
We rearranged the chairs into a large circle in the natural wine bar and engaged in a dialogue with Chef Nadia Irshaid Gilbert, Chef Will Coleman, and Climate Activist Niha Elety. They asked thought-provoking questions about fostering connections, cultural inclusivity, and building community, which inspired everyone to share their personal experiences.
“As I quietly prepped serrano-infused amatriciana over polenta, I watched the most beautiful stories unfold. Creating a space for such meaningful connections was truly extraordinary.”
Probably the walk-in pop-ups. All our previous events had been invite-only for our creative community, but this time, we decided to open the doors for walk-ins during our opening weekend. While it was exciting and brought a lot of energy, it was challenging to create the intimate connections that are so central to our gatherings in such a large space. It was fun, but I definitely learned that a true Maristi Creative pop-up is about shared dining experiences where people can make genuine connections.
NYC vs Barcelona vs Paris — Did you feel differently while doing pop-ups in each city? What were your observations regarding the similarities and differences in food and pop-up culture between US and Europe?
Totally different! Paris was incredibly intentional and beautiful — it was my first time there, and getting to travel and cook for two pop-ups was a dream come true. At Touki Bouki, we were fully booked on reservations but allowed last-minute walk-ins. The space was packed, and we set up a long table in the front for solo diners to connect. It was amazing to see the front table filled with people who resonated with that aspect, while families, couples, and groups joined along for the food.
Barcelona’s pop-up scene is also really taking off. Over the summer, I hosted one at Vereda Bar with a full multicultural menu, collaborating with the incredible chefs there. Achaar x Baby Jalebi was also a special moment — guests arrived as strangers at the long table, but by the end of the night, families and groups moved together in the second room, forming one big communal group.
Pop-up culture is thriving in NYC. Since returning, I’ve noticed an explosion of events — it’s amazing to see how accessible and vibrant the scene has become. The energy in NYC is very DIY and fast-paced, while in Europe (at least in the places I’ve worked), there’s a deeper emphasis on intentionality and craft. Both approaches are inspiring in their own ways, and I feel so fortunate to create in both worlds.
Winter pop-ups in Barcelona... Another exciting NYC tour in the spring... And for the summer — did someone say Maristi Creative culinary retreats on the Mediterranean Sea?