
The Picks and Shovels
A 1" heirloom-tomato gazpacho cube wrapped in prosciutto — the people who actually build the rooms
Agencies are viewed as the picks and shovels of the space right now.
Why this bite? Howard says agencies are the picks and shovels. This sturdy, honest cube is the foundational layer the whole economy stands on.
The Story
When media companies launch tentpole events and brands shift budget out of search and into experience, the people who actually build the rooms are the agencies. Givner is precise about it: agencies are the picks and shovels of the event economy. This bite is the picks-and-shovels thesis on a plate — sturdy, honest, the foundational layer that everything above it depends on. No flourish. Just the work that has to get done before anyone else can profit.
Ingredients
- Heirloom tomato gazpacho (set with agar into 1" cubes)
- Prosciutto di Parma
- Fresh basil
- Olive oil
- Maldon salt
- Cracked pepper
Preparation
- 1.Set gazpacho with agar into 1" cubes; chill firm.
- 2.Wrap each cube with a thin ribbon of prosciutto.
- 3.Crown with a single basil leaf.
- 4.Finish with olive oil, Maldon salt, and cracked pepper.
More from this collection
People — Howard Givner

The Rebirth Day
A 1" beet-cured salmon cube on rye with horseradish crème & a single dill frond — the clarity the calendar gives you when the scans come back clear

The Clubhouse at the Door
A 1" wagyu cube glazed in bordelaise on a polished mahogany coin — admission strictly curated, vendors out except as sponsors

The Narrow and Deep
A 1" foie gras torchon cube with a black truffle shaving & brioche crumb — concentrated luxury at the bottom of the funnel