When asked what her cultural love language is, Matisse Laida’s answer came naturally: “Food baby! Feed me, let me feed you.” For Matisse, food is memory, care, storytelling and one of the strongest ways she connects back to her Mauritian heritage.

Now based in Naarm (Melbourne), Matisse exists within a wide network of radical organisers, artists and activists who continue to shape both her politics and creative practice. She speaks openly about the privilege of being surrounded by communities committed to mutual aid, advocacy and collective care, while also creating space for queerness, culture and experimentation to thrive.

That energy runs through We Eatin’ Good – a grassroots cooking platform amplifying the voices and stories of young QTIBIPOC communities through food and conversation. What began in the kitchen has since expanded into something far larger: film, exhibitions, writing, workshops, podcasts, dinners and communal breakfasts.

At the centre of it all is a desire to preserve and share culture through joy, pride and access. While she dreams of one day bringing We Eatin’ Good to a larger screen, the heart of the project remains unchanged – creating spaces where people feel nourished, seen and connected through stories too often left out of mainstream Australian media.