From Sanará, the Real Coconut, Sana, and more

Where I have been, and where I am now…

Hello, from Daniella.

It’s been some time since I have been in contact with this community, brought together through Sanará, Real Coconut, Sana Foods, By Daniella Hunter, or through me directly. I felt that this was the moment to consolidate all the wonderful connections that have been forged over the course of almost fifteen years and to give you an update on where I have been, and where I am now.

I start with gratitude for this global network: for all of you who have followed my work and growth; those who appreciated and spent time in the spaces; and those who loved the recipes, the food, and the products that I created and nurtured. Many of you were able to eat, once, or regularly, in the flagship Real Coconut Kitchen, overlooking the beautiful Tulum beach, or to immerse in the experience of Sanará as a guest or visitor, and can reminisce on the idyllic days we spent amongst the coconut palms and soft white sand.

For others, perhaps we connected at the Real Coconut Malibu or through a pop-up event. Maybe you purchased tortillas or chips, either as the Real Coconut or, after the transition, as Sana Foods. You might even have a ByDH item in your closet or home. We may have met in community at one of our gatherings in Tulum or Los Angeles, worked together, or simply found our paths crossing somewhere in the world. Thank you for whatever part you have played in this story so far.

The question…

All of my brands, spaces, and projects began with a question: an idea for a way to approach things differently and somehow, through the flow of the creative process, they were brought forward into tangible form to be shared and experienced, each in its time. The question was simple: ‘how do we care for, and nourish ourselves at the deepest level, while also caring for each other and our world?’.

Though the physical spaces and brands no longer exist in their previous forms, and the products are not currently in production, the essence of what brought everything into being remains, and the same question still drives me to continue to live a life of purpose.

Where I have been…

To face the reality of letting go of all that I had created over these past fifteen years was one of the hardest and also most impactful lessons of my life. To sit with the personal disappointment, and the judgement of feeling that I had let many down, was something that I had to process and then, with time, to pick myself up and trust that I could create once again in a new chapter of my life. Now, after several years of respite and reflection, I find myself ready to re-emerge.

Hosting and curating experiential spaces, and innovating in food and wellbeing remain my greatest passions. It has felt strange not to have the home bases where I was able to paint on the canvas of a physical experience, or to have the joy of collaborating and connecting with teams, guests, and friends and yet I trust that when the moment is right, the next location, and further experiential projects will become clear. In the meantime, some ideas have been forming for how and where it may be possible to gather together, and to recreate some parts of the experiences from the Real Coconut and Sanará. I’m excited to begin sharing this soon.

Where I am now…

As I looked to continue being intentional in my next steps, and to bring forward projects that hold a greater purpose, I made the decision to focus my energy on a field I have been drawn to for over a decade. If you ate in my restaurants, you may have tried one of the marine phytoplankton drinks on the menu, and already knew how I championed marine microorganisms as ‘the future of human nutrition’, and as one of my hero ingredients.

What began as a passionate, if limited, understanding of the broad term ‘marine phytoplankton’ has grown into something far more tangible and relevant for this moment: a deeper exploration of what these microorganisms may hold for human health, an immersion in the science and clinical research behind one particular master strain, and a sense of how I might help bring it to a wider audience.

This journey, to return to the source of life to seek answers for our future has brought me to this moment and this is the first time I am sharing the project which will be launching over these coming weeks.

phytovive is the first phase of a bigger picture: a project that aims to fund further research, support additional clinical trials, and continue to champion the potential of marine microorganisms and microalgae for the future of our health, and is something I remain committed to steward, along with the support of the scientists, doctors, advisors, partners, and the team who have formed around it.

If you would like to learn more, you can visit phytovive.com and, if you feel aligned with the project, please follow our journey. Here is a small welcome gift if you would like to try the product: Daniella15 (15% off, use at checkout). We are shipping within the US for now, with international to follow soon after. If you are elsewhere in the world, do reply and I will make sure you are among the first to know when we are able to reach you.

The next chapter…

I am currently spending my time between the UK and the US, and will be in various cities over the coming months, hosting some small events and gatherings. There are also ideas to possibly activate an experience in Tulum, and I will share more on all of this soon.

I thank you for the ways in which you have believed in me and my work, even if we have never met. Your trust and care for my creations, your connection, and even your presence on this list, supports me on my path as I step forward into my new unknown…and for our collective wellbeing.

I look forward to staying in touch and please feel free to connect directly. I would love to hear from you.

With much gratitude,

Daniella