libi | ליבי | my heart

The Libi Project is a mission-driven community and creative studio uplifting culinary entrepreneurs and building stronger connections in the food and beverage industry.

The Libi Project is built on the belief that food is not just about what’s on the plate—it’s about the people behind it, the relationships that sustain it, and the culture that shapes it. Through our programming, we aim to bring all of that to life, fostering collaboration and celebrating the many hands that make up the food world.

Culinary Industry Nights are the heart of The Libi Project. The mission of this event series is to connect the broader culinary community with a diverse network of producers, creators, and farmers—building up the food community through partnerships, collaboration, and shared knowledge.

This quarterly gathering brings together over 150 attendees and 20 culinary creatives and producers each time. Designed for and by culinary (and culinary-adjacent) professionals, it’s a space where urban farmers, pastry chefs, cheesemongers, restaurant managers, gastronomic historians, food stylists, beekeepers, fermentation fanatics (the list goes on…) come together to build bridges across the industry.

While Culinary Industry Nights are at the core of what we do, The Libi Project also offers additional culinary-driven programming and activations that support and inspire our community—centering the craft, expertise, and creativity of culinary professionals.

Our Work

Through workshops, curated experiences, and educational events, we create opportunities for connection, learning, and sustainable career growth in food & beverage.

The Libi Project also offers a creative consulting services including First Course, a starter pack providing brand strategy, design, and photography support to help early-stage culinary entrepreneurs and creatives establish their brand and grow with confidence.

Meet the Team

  • Carli Gordon

    FOUNDER

    My career sits at the intersection of community and food. I’m Carli, a Chicago native who made my way back to NYC by way of Italy, where I earned a master’s in World Food Cultures and Mobility from The University of Gastronomic Sciences. It was there that I deepened my understanding of the cultural, political, and social intersections shaping our global food system—insights that continue to guide my work today.

    In 2021, I returned to New York City to advance my career in the city’s vibrant food and beverage industry. After gaining experience in brand, operations, and events at leading organizations such as Eataly, BentoBox, Hot Bread Kitchen, and Resident Hospitality, the end goal was always to carve out my own path and create a mission-driven food community space. I realized there weren’t enough opportunities for F&B professionals to connect, collaborate, and build partnerships in an intentional way—or for super early-stage entrepreneurs (like I once was) to find the support and resources they need to grow.

    That’s what inspired me to start The Libi Project: work dedicated to uplifting F&B professionals, fostering collaboration, and giving back to the incredible people who work tirelessly to create beautiful food experiences for the rest of our communities. Through initiatives like culinary industry nights, we highlight innovative, mission-driven work in the diverse F&B world, creating spaces for connection and storytelling. We also just want to celebrate people doing really cool work in our world.

    As I dove deeper into this work, I also started offering creative services because I believe culinary entrepreneurs deserve beautiful branding and imagery that reflects the passion and creativity they bring to their craft. From photography to strategy and branding support, it’s all about helping entrepreneurs thrive in this beautiful, passion-driven (yet often challenging) industry.

  • Omer Kaplan

    PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR

    Meet Omer, a photographer and visual artist immersed in the food and beverage industry. With a background in portraiture, Omer brings his intuitive approach to capturing the essence of chefs, restaurateurs, and culinary entrepreneurs. Whether working on editorial projects, brand campaigns, or documenting the behind-the-scenes of the culinary space, Omer's photography highlights the creativity and passion driving the industry.

    His work was featured in international magazines such as a photo essay in Vogue Italia, New York Magazine, French Fries Magazine, Exposure Haaretz, Wul, and Flanelle.