Food for Thought: A Sắp Sửa Dining Experience Supporting FUDGE Mental Health
About the Event
Food for Thought is an intimate evening of food, storytelling, and connection. With just 30 seats around our outdoor table hosted at Deep Space Drive-In, you’ll have the chance to slow down, settle in, and experience four unique dishes that hold a special place in Chef Ni Nguyen’s culinary and mental health journey.
Come as you are. Stay curious. Bring an appetite and leave room for conversation.
Ticket proceeds go to FUDGE Mental Health.
Four courses.
Chef Ni’s stories.
Good conversation.
An intimate outdoor table.
And a little time to slow down.
The Schedule
- 5:30 pm
Doors Open + Unwind
Doors open. Grab a beverage, explore our host's (Deep Space Drive-In) space, and settle into the evening. Take a moment to decompress from the day, mingle with fellow guests, or simply enjoy a little time to yourself.
- 6:15 pm
Welcome + Settle In
We’ll gather around the table, take a breath, and officially welcome you into the evening.
- 6:30 pm
Dinner + Led Conversation with Chef Ni
Dinner begins. Enjoy four specialty courses, each connected to a meaningful chapter in Chef Ni’s culinary and mental health journey. Throughout the meal, Chef Ni will share the stories, memories, and meaning behind each dish, creating space for conversation and reflection along the way.
- 8:00 pm
Until Next Time...
Event ends. We’ll wrap up the evening and send you on your way — with a full belly, something to think about, and hopefully a few new connections.
The Space
Deep Space Drive-In is a design studio focused on shaping immersive art/interactive design experiences while offering arts education, residencies, and community programming in Denver, Colorado.
They provide a complete experience from content creation to presentation while taking a user-centered approach to collaboration. DSDI is active with local artists and organizations looking for emerging forms of engagement furthering social good.
About Sắp Sửa & Chef Ni Nguyen
sắp sửa means ‘about to be’ or ‘almost'. It reflects their philosophy that you’ll never be the best version of yourself. It should inspire you to never be complacent, and always strive to be better than you were yesterday.
Chef Ni Nguyen grew up working the pho station in his mother's Vietnamese restaurant, falling in love with the energy of kitchen life from a young age before training in traditional Japanese cuisine at Hachi Ju Hachi in the Bay Area and working his way up to sous chef at Animal in Los Angeles. After the pandemic upended his plans to help open Nancy Silverton's newest concept, Ni returned to Colorado to build something of his own: sắp sửa, a restaurant shaped by his lens as a first-generation Vietnamese American, marrying traditional flavors with the memories of his childhood. Since opening in Denver's East Colfax neighborhood in June 2023, sắp sửa has been named Best New Restaurant by Esquire (2023) and Bon Appétit (2024), recognition that speaks to a restaurant known as much for its values as for its food. sắp sửa is proof of what an equitable, radically hospitable workplace can look like, rejecting industry norms that treat labor as an afterthought in favor of fair wages, dignity, and a real voice for his staff. Beyond his own kitchen, Ni is an outspoken advocate for BIPOC and immigrant restaurant workers, using his platform to push the industry toward a future where more people like him can lead on their own terms.
About FUDGE Mental Health
FUDGE is a mental health organization built to empower honest mental health conversations and experiences — the messy, overwhelming, complicated parts we’re usually told to hide. They believe feelings like anxiety, burnout, and quiet struggles aren’t problems to fix, but signals to understand.
What FUDGE does:
· Curate community events with companies and brands that prioritize mental wellbeing as a core value.
· Create opportunities for people to engage in mental health experiences that fit their unique wellness journey, rather than forcing them into a rigid mold.
· Hosts pay-what-you-can events that make mental health accessible and inclusive.
· Foster unfiltered conversations about real-life mental health experiences.
· Build judgment-free spaces for navigating the messy, authentic realities of life.
Learn more!
Meet the Founder:
Becky Mickletz is the founder of FUDGE Mental Health, where she merges her background in brand design and strategy with a strong commitment to community mental wellness. Her work lives at the intersection of creativity and care, using thoughtful design, storytelling, and shared experiences to make conversations around mental health more accessible, engaging, and human.
She were first certified in Mental Health First Aid in 2019 and became a certified instructor in 2025. Since then, she has led and hosted community-centered events that create space for honest dialogue, education, and connection. Through FUDGE Mental Health, she focuses on breaking down stigma, strengthening community, and equipping individuals with the tools and confidence to support themselves and others.
FAQs
- Where should I park?
We encourage guests to use rideshare services like COOP or carpool when possible. Street parking is also available in the surrounding area, as well as a paid parking lot next to DSDI at the corner of Curtis St. and Park Ave.
- Will the menu be announced ahead of time?
Part of the experience is discovering each dish as it arrives! The four-course menu will not be announced in full ahead of time.
- How many people will be there?
The experience is intentionally intimate, with a maximum of 30 guests.
- What time should I arrive?
Doors open at 5:30 PM. We encourage you to arrive early, give yourself time to park, grab a drink, explore the space, and take some time to unwind before we welcome everyone at 6:15 PM.
- What can I expect during dinner?
Dinner includes four specialty courses, with Chef Ni sharing the stories and experiences connected to each dish throughout the evening. Expect a relaxed, conversational dining experience rather than a traditional seated restaurant service. NA drinks will also be provided and included in the ticket cost.
- Is this event indoors or outdoors?
Food for Thought is an outdoor dining experience. Please dress comfortably and appropriately for the weather.
- What should I wear?
Come comfortable and ready to relax. Since we'll be dining outdoors, we recommend checking the weather and bringing an extra layer if needed.
- Can you accommodate dietary restrictions or allergies?
We want everyone to feel welcome at the table. If you have an dietary restrictions or allergies, please email hello@fudgementalhealth.com by September 30th.
Please note that, given the nature of the menu, we may not be able to accommodate every allergy or dietary restriction.
- What happens if it rains?
Because this is an outdoor event, if we experience inclement weather it will be rescheduled. We’ll communicate any changes to ticket holders as early as possible and refunds will be offered.
- Is this a fundraiser?
Yes. A portion of proceeds from Food for Thought will support mental health resources in our community through FUDGE Mental Health.
- Is the venue wheelchair accessible?
Yes!
- Are dogs allowed?
We love pups! But only service animals for this party.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
