TABLE TALK #57
Welcome to Table Talk. If you're new here, it's lovely to have you. If you're a regular, you will know that this is your weekly newsletter equivalent to the best of dinner table conversation. Ideas to think on, to entertain, to share.
This week we are talking about making the effort: why we don't do it, why we should and how we can. But first, three good things.
🍡 AMUSE-BOUCHES 🍡
Happy Thanksgiving: a different kind of pumpkin spice to celebrate the occasion.Sara Berman’s Closet: an inspiring short film about the joy of an ordinary life.
I’m not crying, you are!: the new John Lewis Christmas ad is here.
🍝 MAIN COURSE 🍝
Take care.
A couple of years ago, Jamie Oliver visited New York for his cooking show, “Jamie’s American Road Trip”. During this episode, he visits a renegade restaurant hosted in someone’s home, where a group of strangers gather to dine and eat together. At the time of filming in 2009, the concept was revolutionary. And for a food-lover such as Jamie, the allure is understandable: strip back all the pomp and ceremony and price tag of an established eatery, and you are left with what is most important. Good food enjoyed in good company.
Today, we hardly bat an eye at the concept, except now we call them supper clubs. London has no shortage of them and many celebrity chefs, in fact, earned their fame from hosting pop-up dinners in their backyards. Like Asma Khan, owner of the popular restaurant, Darjeeling Express, who began her career as a chef in 2012 with her clandestine restaurant hosted in her Kensington flat. This is probably one of the most exciting aspects of supper clubs - it allows access to exciting new cooks and chefs who otherwise would be unable to share their passion with the world.
What really makes supper clubs exciting though, in our opinion, is something far more simple. Effort. Eating at a restaurant is a treat, but being hosted and cared for in the intimate space of a home is an indescribable comfort, because real care goes into that experience. It’s fantastic that we can literally buy this via these thoughtful, one-of-a-kind dining experiences, but it’s sad that we aren’t more inclined to hosting supper clubs of our own. We have forgotten, in our busy lives, how important it is to make the effort and gather loved ones together.
The festive season feels like the perfect time to exercise the opportunity to host. We might be tired from a busy year, and burnt out from a marathon season of festive engagements. But the effort behind simple tasks such as setting the table and tossing together a pasta for the people we love always, always pays off.
🍮 SWEET ENDINGS 🍮
Wednesday's book club.
Every now and then, a book comes along that rearranges the way you see the world. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo is one of those novels. Poetic, funny and unapologetic, it is a poignant exploration of gender, race and sexuality in Britain and beyond.In brief: a swirling collection of narratives exploring identity and gender.
🍷 WHAT'S NEW
FROM
WEDNESDAY'S DOMAINE? 🍷
Whilst our website gives you the chance to have our wines delivered straight to your door, we fully understand the joy of going into a shop, browsing beautiful bottles and walking away with one to enjoy later. It’s for that reason that we work so hard to get our wines into places that align with our worldview and to date, largely owing to time and resources on our side, almost all of those have been in London. I’m pleased to say that our wares can soon be found across Norfolk and Suffolk as we make our debut in all Adnams stores this November - go forth, enjoy and please do spread the word.
Finally, we know you’re all busy people but we’d love to invite you to join us at Christie’s Artisans & Makers event on Friday 2 December - ticketsare free, the art is most definitely not and it will all be wrapped up by 9PM making it the perfect way to start an evening.That's all for now. See you next week.The Wednesday's Domaine Team.