## The Art of Connection: How One Executive Uses Cooking to Transform Business Relationships
*This will be your new favorite thing,* Mitchel Zelinger says, handing off a spoon topped with a perfectly roasted tomato. As VP of Business Development at Tangram, he's pulling the rest of the sliced tomatoes from the oven in our downtown Los Angeles showroom kitchen, sharing how his grandmother would make this same dish by placing tomatoes on a tablecloth in the driveway, letting them roast slowly under the California sun. *You'll see, it's like candy.*
In the world of business development, countless dinners are part of the territory—making connections with industry professionals over food and drink is as old as the profession itself. But when Mitchel joined Tangram, he decided to put his own spin on traditional business entertaining.
## From Beverly Hills Kitchen to Business Philosophy
Mitchel's culinary journey began as a teenager in 1980, when he moved in with his Aunt Elsa in Beverly Hills. *If not for Aunt Elsa, I would not be in the kitchen,* he reflects, remembering her iconic zucchini casserole. What started as helping in the kitchen quickly became his personal expression of creativity.
*My ode to being a maker of things is this,* he says, gesturing over an array of ingredients elegantly arranged across the counter. *Food is the most sensual act. All of your senses are at play.*
For Mitchel, cooking connects him to his Jewish heritage, especially during holidays when traditional recipes take center stage. Though not traditionally Jewish, his favorite holiday dessert remains ricotta balls—which he playfully calls "Pete Schweddy Ricotta Balls" in homage to the classic Alec Baldwin SNL skit.
## Designing Spaces for Connection
*Wherever you've had your best Thanksgiving, that experience takes place in the kitchen. I like when people are just hanging out right here,* he says, gesturing to the kitchen bar where he's preparing the meal. *It's a pretty good spot.*
Mitchel understands that hospitality goes beyond serving food—it's about creating environments where genuine connections flourish. When Tangram designed their new downtown showroom, he personally ensured it included a fully-stocked kitchen specifically for this purpose. Instead of formal restaurant dinners, he creates intimate, interactive experiences by cooking for clients right in the office.
*Most people haven't had someone make a meal for them before. It shows a level of care,* Mitchel explains. *You can't get this experience in a restaurant.*
## The Personal Touch in Professional Settings
As he sprinkles kosher salt over salmon—his preferred protein for entertaining—Mitchel shares why details matter. *It has thicker granules so it's harder to over-salt. Here, feel it,* he says, offering the bowl to guests. These moments of tactile engagement transform a business meeting into something more meaningful.
His culinary passion extends beyond client relationships. At home, he cooks for his wife Ingrid and daughters Isabella and Mikaela. In fact, it was his cooking that won Ingrid over on their first date, though not quite as planned. *It takes 30 seconds to cook shrimp. I must have cooked that thing for 45 minutes. Ingrid never said a word. I had her at crappy shrimp,* he laughs.
## Creating Community in Commercial Spaces
As the aroma of apples and cinnamon fills the showroom, signaling the meal's completion, Mitchel calls over Tangram employees from their desks. *We all eat together. This is family meal time,* he says, wiping his hands on a tea towel. *Take your shoes off, have a cocktail, relax.*
This approach reveals something profound about commercial space design: the most effective business environments don't just facilitate work—they foster human connection. By incorporating a working kitchen into their showroom, Tangram created more than a meeting space; they built a place where relationships can develop naturally over shared meals and genuine conversation.
In an industry often focused on formal presentations and structured meetings, Mitchel's approach demonstrates how thoughtful hospitality and well-designed spaces can transform professional relationships into lasting partnerships.
