Welcome to Next Chapter
If we haven't met yet, hello. I'm Dana.
For more than twenty years, I ran a shop in Waterloo called Dana Shortt Gourmet and Gifts. What started as a personal chef business and a tiny commercial kitchen grew into something I never quite imagined: a place where people came for their Friday night dinners, holiday gift baskets, dinner party rescues, and to fill their travel coolers with homemade meals before heading to the cottage. We were there for Christmas mornings, birthdays, anniversaries, and dinner parties - but also for the harder moments. A comforting meal after the loss of a loved one. Dinner for exhausted new parents. A thoughtful gift to remind someone they weren't alone. Looking back, I realize we weren't just feeding people - we were helping people care for one another.
Over those two decades, I had the privilege of sharing in thousands of family dinners, celebrations, and everyday moments. I helped make entertaining easier, milestones more memorable, and busy weeks a little less stressful. Along the way, I welcomed customers who eventually became friends, and many of our conversations happened across the counter or while wandering the shop together.
In 2024, I made a decision that surprised even me. I sold the shop.
It wasn't an easy choice. That business was my whole heart for twenty years. But as the business grew, so did the responsibilities. Somewhere along the way, I realized that the moments I treasured most - the teaching, the gathering, the conversations, sharing beautiful food, creating memorable experiences, and having the freedom to be creative - were getting squeezed between everything it took to run the business. I didn't want to step away from hospitality. I wanted to step closer to the part of it I loved most. So I turned the page and stepped into my next chapter.
Welcome to my next chapter. I hope you'll join me.
What Next Chapter is
Next Chapter is my way of doing the thing I love most: bringing people together through beautiful experiences. Sometimes that begins around good food, sometimes around flowers, afternoon tea, travel, or a beautifully set table - but it's always about connection. It's also my chance to share everything I've learned over the past twenty years and invite you to discover something new alongside me.
Workshops. Hands-on experiences that celebrate food, flowers, entertaining, etiquette, and the simple joy of learning something new. These aren't demonstrations you watch from the back of the room - they're immersive experiences where you'll create, taste, laugh, and leave with skills, inspiration, and plenty of ideas to bring home.
Seasonal gatherings. Thoughtfully curated meals and experiences inspired by the seasons, shared around a welcoming table with people who appreciate beautiful food and meaningful conversation. It's entertaining without the pressure - and hospitality as it was always meant to feel.
Culinary travel. Carefully curated journeys built around extraordinary food, remarkable places, and the people who bring them to life. From local artisans to celebrated chefs, every itinerary is designed to help you experience a destination through its flavours, traditions, and stories.
Corporate and team experiences. Some of the best conversations don't happen in a boardroom - they happen around a table. I partner with organizations to create memorable experiences that combine exceptional hospitality with practical skills, from business etiquette and confident dining to cocktail networking and team-building workshops. Guests leave feeling more connected, more confident, and ready to put what they've learned into practice..
What I hope it does
Here's the heart of it.
I believe some of life's most meaningful moments happen when we gather together. Around a beautifully set table. Over a lovely meal. During an afternoon tea, a flower workshop, or while discovering a new corner of the world. It isn't about perfection - it's about connection.
For years, people told me I had a way of making entertaining feel approachable, helping them feel confident in the kitchen, around the table, or when welcoming others into their home. That's what I hope to continue here.
Through Next Chapter, I want to share the knowledge I've gathered over the past twenty years - not just recipes or entertaining tips, but the little details that make people feel comfortable, confident, and cared for. Whether we're learning modern dining etiquette, creating something beautiful, travelling together, or simply sharing a meal, my hope is that you'll leave inspired to slow down, gather often, and celebrate both life's milestones and its everyday moments.
After twenty years of welcoming people into my shop, I now have the privilege of welcoming them into experiences. Instead of meeting behind the counter, we get to cook together, learn together, travel together, and create new memories side by side.
I honestly couldn't be more excited for what's ahead.
So consider this your invitation and pull up a chair.
This next chapter is just getting started.
With love,
Dana
Image credit: Chris Tiessen, TOQUE Magazine