Several months ago, Jim Bonaminio sat down for dinner at Moy Moy's - with a bunch of total strangers.

Surrounding the 24-year-old Fairfield resident was a variety of people, including a couple in their mid-30s, an older single gentleman, a woman his own age. Their careers ranged from artistic to medical. They came from all parts of town.

And they were all linked by the Food Chain.

At its core, Food Chain - started by Shauna McKenzie, 30, of Pleasant Ridge - combines a love for ethnic food and meeting new people. Forming great relationships is an added bonus.

"Food is a good way for getting people out and feeling comfortable," she said. "And once you start doing that, you begin building all these intimate connections around Cincinnati."

Shauna McKenzie, 30, of Pleasant Ridge, sits in the living room of her home with a selection of menus from ethnic restaurants she has patronized through her organization called, "Food Chain, Cincinnati." (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

Interested people just need to e-mail McKenzie to get listed in the database. She will respond with an e-mail, listing the schedule of dates (this month it's July 16-19 at 7 p.m.) and participating restaurants. Let her know when you're available through another e-mail.

A group facilitator then places you in a random group of six to eight people, and will contact you with the who, what and when about your night out on the town.

All that's left to you is to show up, eat and talk. Easy enough.

"It's not like going to camp. There's no schedule," Bonaminio said.

Some of the participating eateries have been East African Restaurant, Simone's, Udipi and Beluga.

"Many of the restaurants offer some very different food, so you're all experiencing something new together," McKenzie said. "That immediately bonds people."

She strongly believes ethnic food builds cultural understanding.

"We can take away so much just from experiencing new food," she said. "I want the same love the restaurants prepare the food with to spread around the table and eventually go even beyond that."

Food Chain is not a singles' group. It's merely a way to meet some new people, share some conversation and try a new dish.

"You get out of it what you want," said Bonaminio, now an active facilitator for the organization. "When the meal's over, you can leave, you can exchange numbers or you can go out with everyone afterward. It's very simple."

Food Chain is also ideal for people like Carol Heideman, 56. The widowed Blue Ash resident is self-employed, and welcomes every opportunity to meet new folks.

"The dinners help you meet people you would never meet otherwise," she said.

The organization began one year ago as McKenzie's project for a leadership workshop. During the first month, 65 people signed on.

Food Chain has since evolved into a successful social network for Tristate people of all ages, races and classes. The database now numbers close to 400.

In the future, Food Chain will expand with a Web site, which will make scheduling dinners easier.

McKenzie also expects to launch a teen division within the next couple of months to link students of different age groups and schools. Possible ideas include pizza dinners to let inner-city school children and those from private schools form friendships and a summer camp where children can learn about different cultures.

She even wants to head global with the Food Chain project. So, for example, if someone was taking a sky-diving trip to Europe, they could easily locate natives willing to grab a meal and share in conversation.

Who knew some chow might spark international understanding?

"When you sit down and start talking to someone, you never know what you're going to get," McKenzie said. "You never know who could be your next good friend."

To participate in Food Chain

E-mail Shauna at foodchaincincinnati@yahoo.com.

You will then receive a response that includes the dates for the next month's Food Chain dinners. Reply with a message that includes the date you are available and your phone number.

A group facilitator will call or e-mail you before your selected dinner date to give you the name of your restaurant, directions, the number of people in your group and an estimated cost guide.

If you do not cancel your reservation via e-mail or by phone within 24 hours before your dinner date, you will be removed from the Food Chain participant list for two months.

E-mail mdowns@enquirer.com