Photo by Anna Wolf

Diana Yen and Lisel Arroyo share a vision that combines the love of cooking with the beauty of everyday things. Both came from homes where food was the central focus of family gatherings, bringing a sense of warmth, tradition, and community.  

Originally from California, Diana graduated from CCA with a degree in product design and has been working in the home and textile industry since 2005. She has worked for Williams-Sonoma, Crate and Barrel, Birsel+Seck and Betesh Group in New York. During her years in San Francisco she became inspired by the seasonal food and lifestyle movement pioneered by Alice Waters and the importance of sharing fresh simple meals with friends. 

Lisel, a native of Puerto Rico moved to the states to pursue her degree of graphic design at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Since then she has worked for American Greetings, mark., Colin Cowie and Fulton Street Design–giving her a wide variety of creative disciplines. Although her interest in food began at a small age, it wasn’t until living in New York where she gained an increased understanding and appreciation for quality ingredients and new cooking techniques.

Diana and Lisel met in New York while designing home collections for Colin Cowie, leading celebrity wedding planner. Their passion for lifestyle design and food brought them together creating The Jewels of New York a mission to uncover the hidden treasures New York has to offer and share them with friends through a collection of seasonal recipes and specialty holiday cookies.