LIFE: SPAGHETTI AIRWAYS SUPPER CLUB
Every once in a while, I do something that pushes me a little bit out of my comfort zone. Being the introvert that I am, that isn’t always easy to do, especially when it requires a certain level of socializing.
On Saturday, I accepted an invitation to lunch with complete strangers, organized by a wonderful Italian couple that I met on Instagram, Giulia and Michele, better known as @theitalians_spaghettiairways. They are known to travel the world, but also their food as they always go back to their roots by cooking Italian food to remind themselves of home.
I was lucky enough to have been selected at random to be one of 4 people to attend their first ever Supper Club. I was a little antsy at first, because I didn’t know what to expect, how to act, if we would have anything in common or if I’d be able to relax enough to have a proper conversation. I’m terrible at small talk, and I tend to be a better listener than a speaker, which in a small gathering such as this one usually makes me stick out like a sore thumb. I needn’t have worried though, because they were quick to welcome all of us and made us feel right at home. They were open and friendly, had the perfect mood music to set the tone for the afternoon, and their home had a warm and cozy vibe that reminded me of the seaside. With colors of mint and turquoise and a rustic touch filling their space, it was like a breath of fresh salty sea air.
Once all the guests were accounted for, and we were better acquainted, we sat down at a beautifully set up table to begin our Italian journey. The challenge for our hosts though was that one of the guests was vegan, and so they had to reinvent a lot of the classic Italian recipes, and they did it wonderfully!
We began with homemade focaccia bread that came with an option of green olives or rosemary alongside an anchovies, walnut with balsamic dressing salad and a pear and endives salad. There were also the cutest jars filled with classic panzanella, which is a delicious Tuscan salad packed full of flavor with soaked bread and tomatoes, caramelized shallots and basil dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Next, we were served with a rich and creamy mushroom spelt risotto, and I had mine with delicious flakes of parmesan cheese, because how could I not? For the finale, we were served spaghetti al pomodoro. We could immediately tell that the sauce was homemade with the tangy taste of fresh tomatoes and that kick of olive oil and garlic. It was a true feast of the eyes and the palate.
What truly pushed us over the edge though, was the delicious vegan rhubarb and strawberry cake, which was tender and moist with the release of all that fruit juice. And they wouldn’t let us go home without a little homemade something that Giulia made for us. They were little packed bags of oats, nuts, chocolate and coconut flakes that we were meant to have for breakfast the next day, but I ended up inhaling that very same evening!
Giulia and Michele exceeded my expectations and they spoiled us senseless. They cooked for us, they fed us, they entertained us and they facilitated a lunch that allowed for strangers to meet and leave as friends. I am grateful for their hospitality and their beautiful spirits.