From the time I was a little girl, the central theme running through my life is what happened around the dining table. Coming to the table over the years has landed me where I am today – exactly where I want to be. From my Grandmother’s table, to my Mother’s table and now to my own family table, the lessons learned by gathering together over a meal have shaped me and my vision for my own cafe. Opening Sweet Mimi’s Cafe & Bakery was a way for me to expand my table to my community and create a place that brings strangers and friends together. Making this vision come to life and evolve has been magical.
This all began while gathering at my Grandma’s dining table. A large mahogany table in a cramped room in Queens, NY, offered everything I needed to begin a lifelong journey of finding comfort and passion at the table. Platters of Calabrian & Sicilian meals were beautifully displayed and the smell of garlic waltzing with simmering tomatoes beckoned us back to the tiny kitchen as we entered her home. It was always a feast, no matter the day or the occasion. She worked tirelessly to ensure each guest had a dish they loved which often meant she stayed in the kitchen while we began to eat. Grandma taught me my first lesson in thoughtful hosting – the importance of making guests feel welcome and cared for, yet, making sure to join around the table – a time to sit and enjoy their company.
My mother similarly was not often present at our kitchen table. Widowed at 32, she was quickly transformed from a mom who loved to cook and entertain, to our commuting, working and providing Mom. There was no longer time to sit leisurely around the table, and for some time the table symbolized loss and grieving for me: the empty seat a reminder of where my father once sat then later my mother as she went to work. As I grew, I learned that we didn’t have to be captive to what our caregivers were feeding us in my mother’s absence. Frozen Weaver chicken with the ironic smiley fries meant to lift our spirits could never quite fool me. As soon as we had the freedom of driving, my sister and I were tasked with food shopping and ultimately cooking for the family, lessons we also learned by watching our grandmother. I determined that no matter what my future held, I would be present at my family table. I would marry the two tables of my childhood; I would be a warm host to my family and friends and always be present at the table.
Coming to my family table, I was determined to shape my children’s lives centered around the dinner table. I would make meals my children loved. To this day, nourishing them with their favorite foods feels like wrapping them in a big hug. Words not spoken, but feelings perfectly arranged on a white rimmed plate. Thick bolognese ribboned around tagliatelle, fresh pesto coating homemade linguine, and pillows of egg white and sugar meringue baked into an angel food cake. This is what centers my family at the table, a place to feel cared for and nourished, a place to laugh, cry, and debate, and to hold hands to begin our meal by appreciating all that we have before us. This is my family table.
In Sweet Mimi’s Cafe I created a gathering spot offering a small intimate dining room. When we open the door each day, something magical happens: strangers become friends who become regulars. Here, I experience the personal relationships and interactions of my community – mothers having lunch with daughters, elder fathers and their grown sons meeting each Saturday, grandparents and grandchildren, friends, cousins, sisters, brothers. It’s a privilege to watch what gets people smiling and talking and to host the creation of new memories and traditions rooted in the comfort in sharing a meal around a table where they’re cared for.
Coming to My Table will host stories from my journey in creating Sweet Mimi’s and the recipes and lessons that have inspired me along the way. Gather round and join me!
Recent Comments