Sunday Dinner: A History

Welcome to my table for Sunday Dinner and thanks for giving me a place to capture and organize one of my favorite parts of every week.

Sunday Dinners started over a year ago. After years of cooking for myself and occasionally having others over for dinner, I found that hosting on a Sunday night helped with any feelings of anxiety I felt over starting a new work week. It has become a weekly tradition for whoever happens to be free. Anyone is welcome, just as you are. It’s about the meal, but also about coming together for a time to reconnect, solve the world’s problems, and laugh a lot.

I usually gather my ideas in a small journal and now I'm taking the time to transfer my ideas to this place for easy organization. And frankly, sometimes the meals are too good not to share. If I look back into my journal, my earliest Sunday dinner started as an impromptu dinner party in 2023 with focaccia and a "spinach something." I wish I could remember exactly how it panned out. This whole thing really kicked off with the inaugural Italian Christmas Feast which included two lasagnas, stuffed pasta, roasted chicken and polenta with vegetables. It was simple and yet chaotic. I dirtied every pot, pan, dish, and utensil in the kitchen. In my kitchen, I find that the bigger the mess, the greater the experience. Just when you think that it will never turn out, some sort of culinary miracle happens. I'll share the ups and the downs here, with you.

From then on, Sunday dinner has become a staple and a playground for me to try new ideas, recipes, and techniques. I try to be fearless in the kitchen. The most important part? Find the people who are willing to go on the journey no matter if the meal turns out. These are your Sunday Dinner people.