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Meet Barbie Sommars of High Dining

Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbie Sommars.

Founded in 2016 in California by a collective of cannabis advocates led by Barbie Sommars, High Dining conjures artistic, engaging events featuring the cannabis-infused cuisine of specialized chefs, in both public and private realms. High Dining’s mission is to produce responsible, educational and enchanting cannabis fine dining experiences. Having been featured in Rolling Stone, High Times, The San Francisco Chronicle and Palm Springs Life Magazine, High Dining is widely recognized for two ongoing signature events: the award-winning Moonlit Moveable Feast and The Sushi + Doobie Rolling Workshop.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Banking regulations, special event costs, and mainstream fear have been limiting but we find ways to navigate through the ever-changing cannabis industry.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about High Dining – what should we know?
High Dining takes fine dining to new heights by creating an art form around cannabis-infused dining with various chefs in various locations with a refined approach to creating elevated mood states that will enchant and inspire you.

What sets us aside? We are friends with most who are considered our “competition” and we love collaborating with them too! Because we can! We’re not “chef-driven” we work with multiple amazing chefs and consider ourselves “experience-driven”. We’re also focused on education as many questions come along with the legalization of the herb and science has new information, seemingly on a daily basis these days. Every infusion is an educational opportunity for us. Infusions are optional and not all of them are psychotropic. We believe in whole plant medicine, not just isolates and we love the opportunity to educate on raw cannabis, terpenes, and lesser-known cannabinoids. I do believe we are the only dining company that is #infusedwitheducation.

Oh and we’ve also received some awards!

– Barbie Sommars received the Rozene Supple Visionary Award – 2018 Palm Springs Cannabis Film Festival and Summit.
– Excellence in Experiences for the High Dining Moonlit Moveable Feast by Green State, 2018.
– High Dining was the recipient of a Grant Award from The Grow Project by Nugg in 2018
– High Dining was the recipient of an OC Weekly “Best Of” Award for 2018

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
All of the cannabis and food activists who are driven to ensure safe access to clean food and cannabis. The same standards apply to both worlds for us. All of the trailblazers, rebels, and revolutionaries, in the name of fine food and flower, we salute you!

High Dining is a “family” consisting of cannabis advocates and educators and the dream doesn’t happen without the team.

Pricing:

  • Sushi + Doobie Rolling Workshop $200
  • Moonlit Moveable Feast $500

Contact Info:


Image Credit:

Puff Puff Pass Co.

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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