When I set out to build CKcurated, I thought I was simply launching a small business. I had spent 30 years working in the corporate world as an architect. Some of those years were shared with incredible colleagues and clients. Others left me wondering, “What have I done to deserve this?” I knew one thing for certain: I wanted this new chapter of my life to be anti-corporate in every way. Small by design. Personal by choice. Human at the center.
Starting with a Plan, Finding a Purpose
I had a plan: define my services, understand my audience, and build a brand. I dove into the usual steps: refining a business model, identifying ideal clients, writing content, and showing up on social media. One thing that’s remained constant from the beginning is the Vision:
People share and learn through artisanally crafted food and wine; thoughtfully designed spaces; tailored travel experiences.
What I didn’t anticipate was how much of this process would be one of discovery. Not just of the market, but of the business itself — its values, its voice, and its reason for being.
An Ethos That Revealed Itself Over Time
CKcurated didn’t fully come to life on paper. It revealed itself slowly through conversations, collaborations, and quiet observations. Through iterations and refinements, much like a design process, where you return to a project with fresh eyes from time to time. Through visiting local eateries, trying out wine at family-run wineries, and chatting with small business owners, I was reminded why I started this in the first place.
What emerged was something far more personal and intentional than any pitch deck could capture. An ethos rooted in care, in curation, and in community. A belief in supporting small businesses and artisans whose work carries meaning. A desire to create experiences that reflect not just where someone is going, but what they value.
Identity, Inclusion, and Intentionality
As a gay Asian founder, I wanted to build something that reflects my lived experience and invites others to feel fully seen and welcomed. CKcurated is built on authenticity, not as a buzzword, but as a commitment to real people, real stories, and real places.
It’s shaped by a belief in diversity and inclusion — not just in who we serve, but in who we partner with, learn from, and uplift along the way. Travel, design, and food should be welcoming, not exclusive, and should reflect the richness of the world around us.
At the Center of It All: People
More than design, more than food or wine, the most important ingredient in what we do is people. The connections we make when we share a meal, laugh around a bottle of wine, walk through a neighborhood, or find something beautiful for our home. These are the moments that help us learn, build bridges, and make friends across cultures, backgrounds, and generations. That’s the true soul of this work.
Celebrating Culture Through Food & Wine
At CKcurated, food and wine are never just indulgences. They are how we celebrate the richness of local culture. We seek out chefs and artisans who are deeply connected to their culinary heritage, and offer our guests not just meals, but stories.
A guided tasting with a small-batch winemaker. A food walk through a market with a local chef. A private dinner with fellow gastronomes. These are experiences that go beyond consumption and invite genuine connection and curiosity.
Design, History, and Meaningful Spaces
We also see destinations through the lens of design, history, and cultural evolution. From the medieval alleys of Rome to hidden ateliers in Mexico City, CKcurated journeys are shaped by a deep appreciation for how people influence places — and how those places shape us in return.
That same perspective carries over into interiors. We help clients bring meaning home through unique furnishings and pieces that reflect their personal journeys.
Sharing the Journey
We never forget: the best adventures are shared. Whether it’s foraging for truffles, joining a village festival, or learning a traditional dance, these moments aren’t just memorable. They’re bonding.
Our experiences are designed to help guests reconnect with friends, build new relationships, and engage meaningfully with the people they meet along the way.
What We Resist, What We Stand For
As I shaped this business, I also became clearer about what I wanted to resist: over-tourism, cookie-cutter itineraries, and the commodification of travel. I wanted to build something smaller, more personal, more sustainable — a business where real relationships and a deep respect for people and place shape every journey. No crowds. No commissions.
A Commitment to Giving Back
It also means giving back. Wherever we go, we source locally, support community-based nonprofits like 18 Reasons, and contribute to organizations that align with our values, like local PBS stations and public media. These aren’t just gestures. They are part of a larger commitment to doing business with care and responsibility.
Rediscovering What Matters Most
In the end, building CKcurated hasn’t been about launching something new so much as uncovering something enduring. A business not just with a plan, but with a point of view.
It’s still evolving. It probably always will be. But that’s the beauty of working small and working intentionally. There’s space for reflection, for growth, and for rediscovering what matters most.
With Gratitude
To the friends who have supported this endeavor with advice, encouragement, honesty, and heart — I couldn’t have done this without you. Thank you for believing in me and in what this small business could become.
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