2025

How time flies! We are now entering June! Summer has arrived.

Sorry we have only done a few supper clubs this year as we have been coming to terms with James, who has been fighting cancer. After being given the ‘all clear’ last year, and driving the family up to Yorkshire to spend a Greetham family Christmas, it came back. James sadly passed away last week, and we are devastated. He did make positive vibes during his long career, and was a lovely human being. He will be missed by so many.

https://www.thecaterer.com/news/one-of-the-good-guys-foodservice-industry-pays-tribute-to-james-greetham

Abbi & Jill

We have been very busy the last couple of months, so we were not able to do our usual supper clubs. However, the last one was this weekend, and all went well, despite the rain, wind and flooding!

A big thank you to all our followers, and wishing you all a very happy Christmas and New Year.

Look out for dates for next year! Any requests please get in touch.

Buon Natale a tutti!

Jill & Abbi

SEPTEMBER BLOG

I can’t believe we are now into September. We had a few suppers and lunches in between our visits to Puglia in Italy (where we ate the wonderful raw prawns in Gallipolli), and Antibes in France (where some of us tried the frog's legs!)

In August we had one very large party of 19! Luckily we were able to eat outside! And a birthday lunch, when unfortunately, it rained! But it didn't matter, all enjoyed the meal.

We are now ready to start again at the end of this month. At the moment we are preparing new dishes for you, alongside many of your favourite classic Italian dishes. We will be offering another ‘Open Supper’ where anyone can come and meet new guests. Date will be forthcoming shortly.

If you have any requests, please email us and we will try out best to fulfil them! In the meantime, enjoy the rest of the summer!

A presto Jill & Abbi Photo – Our home grown potatoes!

As promised, here is the menu for 13 July. Places are booking fast, but as of this moment, there are still a few available.

Please contact us if you wish to book a place.

ciao for now JIll & Abbi

May and June update

We’ve had several fun supper clubs in the last two months, one being a birthday treat!

As we have had requests for another ‘open’ supper club, since the last one on Saturday 11th May we have decided to have another one on Saturday 13 July 2024.

As soon as the menu is ready we will post it on the blog on our website.

If you have any requests or suggestions please get in touch.

Our next private supper club is on Saturday 22 June, and then we are flying off to Puglia for a few days, to recharge our batteries and get our Italian fix! Hopefully coming back with some new recipes!

In the photo - our homemade 'Gnudi' (spinach & ricotta gnocchi) in sage butter and parmesan!

Until then

Ciao for now Jill & Abbi

A big thank you to those who booked spaces so quickly for our Open supper night on 11 May. We are now full. However we will be doing another one, so watch our blogs!

Let's hope April showers are over and May will enable us to dine outside on the patio!

If you have any requests for private parties or Nonna's lunches, do get in touch.

a presto Jill & Abbi

Photo Courgettes flowers! Wonderful memories from our house in Tuscany!

Ciao a tutti!

Here is the menu for Nonna's Open Supper club. It will be on Saturday 11 May, hopefully outside on the patio, weather permitting! If not inside with nibbles by the fire!

No need to fill all the places, come on your own or with a friend. Places will be a maximum of 12, on a first come basis.

If you are interested, or want further information, do get back to us.

Looking forward to meeting new faces, and some old ones on 11th May!

a presto Jill & Abbi

Ciao a tutti!

I have finally posted our menu for the 11th May. Antipasto in the photo!

Please contact us to reserve a place. Grazie!

a presto Jill & Abbi

Ciao a tutti!

Nonna's supper club is planning an Open Supper Night on Saturday 11 May 2024. Come on your own, bring a friend or friends and enjoy a fun evening with Nonna's Italian comfort food.

Please contact us if you are interested. Maximum 12 guests, on a first come basis.

Menu to follow shortly! Awaiting the arrival of our favourite pecorino cheese!

a presto Jill & Abbi

Pecorino from Tuscany, with pears, walnuts & acacia honey!

Ciao a tutti!

Just to let you know that after Easter we will be sending out dates for an Open Supper Club. You don't have to book all spaces, just come by yourselves or with friends.

The menu will be coming shortly, but with some of our favourite Italian comfort dishes!

If you have any requests, please contact us.

So, Buona Pasqua a tutti. Happy Easter egg hunting!

Jill & Abbi

In the photo some of our crostini Black crostini - chicken livers Classic tomato Artichokes Anchovies & pickled red onions

March 2024

Well, we are well into 2024! Nonna’s supper club had a rest in January, but started in February with two very successful suppers! Some people had been before, but there were many new faces and lots of laughter!

We are still offering our popular Italian comfort food, with some additional new pasta or main dishes. So, please let us create a menu especially for you with our favourite ingredients, our ham, salami, cheeses and traditional dishes. It always surprises our diners when I mention that the tiramisù does not have any alcohol, sponge fingers or cream – a Florentine recipe given to me while in Florence in the early 90s. Why change it!

The oysters are growing more popular, a good start while guests enjoy their prosecco or champagne by the fire. Let’s hope for sunny days in the spring and summer when we can eat outside on the patio.

In the photo - Our latest supper was a 50th birthday party, and the wigs came out! A great night was had by all.

Grazie mille!

Jill & Abbi

Ciao a tutti!

Where has this year gone! We are almost at the end of 2023, having enjoyed the company of some lovely diners. With or without the party wigs, they all had fun, and much laughter was heard as we were cooking in the kitchen!

Here is one party enjoying the night!

We have been very busy this year and next week is our final supper for 2023. We will be closed for January and already have bookings for February.

So if you wish for a specific date for your party, do get in touch.

Buon natale a tutti , have a wonderful Christmas and relax!

a presto Jill & Abbi

Limoncello or limoncino?

Just recently I was asked what the difference was between limoncello and limoncino.

I wasn’t quite sure, as when living in Tuscany I made my own ‘limoncello’, and never saw limoncino for sale. Now here in Yorkshire, I buy Limoncello, thinking that Limoncino was something similar and not the real thing. However, I now know they are both the same, and it is all about the region!

"Limoncello is an Italian lemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy, especially in the region around the Gulf of Naples, the Sorrentine Peninsula and the coast of Amalfi, and islands of Procida, Ischia, and Capri. In northern Italy, the liqueur is often referred to instead as limoncino."

If you look into it, it’s more complicated with the different regions, the variety of lemons, and the families and their recipes.

However, as someone said, ‘who cares’! Serve it chilled as an after dinner disgestivo! Either or, enjoy!

And, enjoy the late summer! Jill & Abbi

Summer is here again, and today has been the hottest day yet! We were lucky to be able to have lunch outside for two of Nonna’s lunches in August. Two interesting groups, The Desperados and The Gastric Band! (in the photo).

We hope you’ve all had a wonderful summer. We enjoyed our stay in Puglia. So much wonderful seafood, although the sea urchins were not on the menu this summer, much to Abbi’s disappointment. However, the raw prawns were amazing! We also managed to meet up with old friends from Florence who just happened to be on holiday near our wonderful air b&b!

The Supper Club is booked for October, and some dates in November and December. However, please enquire if you have any requests and we will try to please.

A presto Jill & Abbi

Summer’s here!

At last a wonderful English summer has arrived. We have been able to have our supper club outside on the patio a few times now.

We have a few booked now for July and August and even October and November! So we are keeping busy and still enjoying providing Italian comfort food to our guests.

At the end of July we are off to Puglia for our ‘Italian fix’. We will be exploring new restaurants and new dishes alongside those we love. All very exciting!

In the meantime if you want to book with your own group, please get in touch and we will prepare a menu for you.

In the photo our special 'prosciutto e melone' . We can't say it is 'Parma ham' because it is the shoulder and not the leg! However, it is from Parma! Ciao a tutti!

A presto Jill & Abbi

End of May news!

Our first outside lunch this year in May. Wonderful weather, and the sun shades were in use! A lovely hen party for a special lady! Quizzes and wigs and lots of bubbly were on the menu and of course, Nonna’s Italian lunch.

Our next Supper Club is on Saturday 10 June for a private party.

As we are only doing two per month, we have limited availability at the moment. However, if you have any requests do get in touch and we will try to accommodate you.

Ciao for now A presto! Jill & Abbi

May news

Just to reassure our guests:

We are pleased to announce that Nonna’s Supper Club has been awarded a 5 hygiene rating!

More news to follow!

Jill & Abbi

Nonna’s April Update

Two lovely supper clubs this month! The last one being a belated birthday celebration. It should have been a 65th birthday party, but three years have passed, so it was 65 + 3!

Much fun and laughter. Thank you for choosing Nonna’s Supper Club for your party.

We have decided not to put dates out for future supper clubs, but to let you choose when you want to come and enjoy an Italian comfort food evening. Just enquire with your preferred date and we will try to make it happen!

Please get in touch with any requests, suggestions, etc.

A presto, ciao a tutti

Jill & Abbi

PS Cake made by Caitlin Dews! Thank you Caitlin!

Nonna’s Easter Blog

Wishing you lots of sunshine and Easter eggs. We hope the Easter bunny has brought you something!

We had a wonderful supper club last week, and another next week! Lots to celebrate this year, so if you would like us to plan your special supper or celebration, do get in touch.

Buona pasqua a tutti Auguri

Jill & Abbi

In the photo our wonderful burrata with oven roasted baby plum tomatoes!

March winds do blow and we shall have snow!

Well, that is true and there is maybe more to come. We have not offered any supper clubs this month as there are too many family birthdays, and of course mother’s day. The two we had in February were a great success. New faces, new groups and they all enjoyed meeting each other as lovers of Italian food! Some with interesting Italian connections!

There are two supper clubs booked for April, so we are now looking to May and June for our next suppers. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to bring a party of your friends to Nonna’s supper club. Happy to discuss menu and dates.

In the meantime, keep warm and keep smiling!

A presto

Jill & Abbi

Photo of our latest pecorino cheese!

Ciao a tutti

This was the second supper club this February, and an open one, so new faces! We were 14 in the end! A little squeeze, but everyone seemed to enjoy meeting new people, and a good evening had by all! Well, the plates were empty!

Watch for new dates, but if you would like to bring your own party, please get in touch.

ciao for now Jill & Abbi

Saturday 18 February 2023

As promised here is the menu for our open supper club.

Please get in touch if you would like to book. We have two places available as of 3 February 2023.

A presto Jill & Abbi

Happy New Year!

We hope you all had a good Christmas, and New Year. Let’s hope it will be a good one this year!

There are some new dishes on our menus, but we are always happy to create one for your special group or occasion. If you have any requests for dates, please get back to us.

Our first supper is on Saturday 4th February, which is booked. However, we are planning an ‘open’ supper club for individuals on Saturday 18 February. We will publish the menu shortly. Maximum 12 people. Please get in touch if you would like to book.

In the meantime, keep warm and happy! A presto, ciao a tutti

Jill & Abbi

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, not too much turkey! We were lucky to have Santa visit our Supper Club just recently. A merry time was had by all. A big thank you to all who came to our suppers this year. We have enjoyed feeding and entertaining you, and hope to see you in 2023.

With warmest wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year, tanti auguri

Jill & Abbi

Well the last supper club in October, was a secret 40th birthday supper. Organised by her friends, she was collected from her home, blindfolded, driven around in circles until she had totally lost her bearings …. To arrive at the Royal Oak, were her friends were waiting with streamers, and Dolly singing ‘9 to 5’! I think she was happy! These ladies know how to party!

So, we are now into November, and ooooh, not long before Christmas. I am posting November’s menu, although fully booked, it does have a few new delights! Watch for an open supper club before Christmas!

If you have any requests or enquiries please email us.

a presto Jill & Abbi

First, I must say what a sad month with the news of our dear Queen. What a wonderful human being she was as well as being our Queen. She will be sadly missed, but Charles is going to continue in her footsteps, so we must celebrate her long life and send our good wishes to the King.

This summer, Abbi has been enjoying the delights of Florence and various fish restaurants in Puglia. Our days in Antibes and Burgundy were amazing with lots of wonderful memories.

As we have been away in August, there have been no supper clubs. However, the first one was last week, and it was Tagliata for everyone!

My friends in Grosseto have sent me a photo of the latest pizza dish, with burrata! It looks fantastic, and I did in fact see it being served when I was in the Bottega del Mare in Castiglione della Pescaia. I definitely recommend it!

More news to follow and with a date for an open Supper Club.

Please email for any requests or suggestions.

Ciao for now

Jill & Abbi

August news!

Well it has been a hot one! As we have been away, there have been no supper clubs this month. However, Nonna’s Kitchen did a wonderful Italian lunch in a beautiful English garden. The photo attached looks like it could be in Italy!

Abbi is still away, tasting the delights in both Tuscany (Florence) and at this moment, Santa Maria al Bagno (Puglia) where she is in heaven eating sea urchins and all the wonderful fish dishes in and around the beautiful beaches near Gallipoli.

This weekend we are driving to Burgundy to celebrate a delayed 50th birthday for my son Sandy! He is now 52! It will be a big gathering in the wonderful Chateau des Siecles, Mailly le Chateau, Yonne. We will tell you all on our return.

In the meantime, enjoy our English summer and we hope you find some wonderful eateries. We certainly hope to in Burgundy!

Ciao for now Jill & Abbi

Ciao for now!

Just to let you know we will be away until the end of August. However, we will still be searching for new dishes for the supper club. We are both in France next week, then Abbi is off to Tuscany and Puglia, then we will be in Burgundy for the last week in August.

Our first supper club is 10 September (which is full) but we will let you know future dates when we get back.

I am expecting some friends from Australia in September. Here they are in the photo, in Tuscany, when they came to visit me. Our host (Romano Magi) made us mozzarella at our table! If you are in Cortona, check it out. La Bucaccia.

We will be checking emails if you have any requests.

A presto, ciao a tutti

Jill & Abbi

Here is a photo of me with the famous Nonna Marcella! I have spoken about her in my early Blogs - my inspiration to cooking Italian food! I have been to stay with her and her husband Matteo in Castiglione della Pescaia, on the coast in Tuscany near the town of Grosseto. What a wonderful few days, learning new recipes from Marcella. Of course the vegetables are so ripe and fresh, and everything Marcella cooks is locally grown. My favourite dish was the risotto with courgettes, saffron and stracciatella (apparently the ‘in’ thing at the moment!).

For those who have not tried it, Stracciatella is actually a soft, white, creamy buffalo (or sometimes, cow’s) milk cheese made with straccia (little shreds), using a technique that involves stretching and shredding, and from the region of Puglia. (Abbi’s favourite place!).

Much of my time was spent on the beach nearby, and I just loved walking through the pinetta with the sound of crickets and the soft hot sand between my toes wandering down towards the sea. The rest of my few days were spent finding wonderful new dishes for the supper club. I think I had the best ever frittura at the Bottega del Mare! The pizzas looked amazing topped with chunks of salmon. I will definitely have a pizza next time I visit!

Our next supper club is on the 9th July, and full. An interesting two parties coming together, and each one has a Roman connection. I can’t wait to find out more about them, having lived in Rome for eight years!

We are off to Antibes shortly and will refresh our memories of our time spent there, and hopefully find some new restaurants. Then Abbi and her daughter Jessica are off to Italy to see friends in Florence and Puglia. I hope she comes back! I will be back in Yorkshire getting ready for our trip to Burgundy. More of that to follow.

If you have any requests, please get back to us.

Ciao for now Jill & Abbi

I cannot believe it is now June! We have had some wonderful suppers and wonderful guests! Thank you all coming. I am off to Italy next week, just a short visit to friends in the Maremma! And to meet up with the amazing Nonna Marcella, who I hope will give me some new ideas for the supper club.

We have the next Supper Club on 9 July which is now full, but we will give some more dates before we start our trips this July and August.

Please get in touch with any requests, suggestions, etc.

A presto, ciao a tutti

Jill & Abbi

PS The photo shows how they sell parmesan in local Italian supermarkets!

Nonna’s Update

We have just returned from a wonderful holiday in Mauritius, and straight into Supper Club mode …. As you can see from the last one, bringing with us some new ideas for our evenings. Introducing the rum and pear, which is an Italian digestive!

We are full now for May and will be setting dates for later this year, when we hope to be outside on the patio.

Both Abbi and myself will be taking individual trips abroad this year, some to Tuscany and Puglia, Antibes and Burgandy, so hopefully we will bring back some new dishes for you to try. Of course we will be checking that we are still cooking Italian comfort food with our Italian friends!

Please get in touch if you have any questions or requests.

A presto, ciao a tutti

Jill & Abbi

Hello to everyone, and thank all of you who joined us this month for Nonna's suppers. We are now looking to May for the next ones, please watch for dates. In the meantime, I thought you might be interested in the origin of tiramisù.

The restaurant Beccherie in Treviso claims they were the first to offer this dessert in 1970.

I never realised there was so much history to the Italian tiramisù dessert. It is one of the favourite desserts I make for Nonna’s Supper Club. I am sworn to secrecy with my recipe, taught to me in the 80’s when I was in Florence refreshing my Italian. A Florentine gentleman enlightened me to the Florentine recipe. No liqueur or sponge fingers! The rest I cannot tell you.

There is an academy for Tiramisù! This is where I found the hidden origins of this dessert, which was not mentioned in books until the 80’s. You can check out the website for further information www.accademiadeltiramisu.com, but here is what they say:

The word ‘tiramisù’ literally means ‘pick me up’. It comes from the Treviso dialect, ‘tireme su’ Italianised into ‘tiramisù’ in the latter half of the 20th century. Historical records state that tiramisù originated in Treviso in 1800. It is said that this dessert was invented by a clever ‘maitresse’ of a house of pleasure in the centre of Treviso.

The ‘Siora’ who ran the premises developed this aphrodisiac dessert to offer to customers at the end of the evening, in order to reinvigorate them and solve the problems they may have had with their conjugal duties on their return to their wives.

This would seem to be the origin of the ‘tiremesù’ a natural Viagra from the 19th century served to customers in a brothel!

It goes on to state that, ‘Some particular aspects passed down orally are unmistakable proof of the Veneto and Treviso origins of this dessert. The recipe comes from the ‘sbatudin’, a mix of egg yolk beaten together with sugar, and commonly used by Treviso farmers as a restorative for newly-weds!’

I’ll let you make up your own minds as to what is fact or legend, but it’s a great dessert, and we love making it!

The classic recipe is with a good strong espresso, or in the summer months, with fresh strawberries (in the photo) or raspberries.

March news!

A big thank you to all those who joined us for supper in January and February. The open supper club on the 26th was a great success, and interesting for us to meet new people.

We are busy this month with private bookings and our next availability is in May. (Dates to follow)

Oysters are proving very popular, which we serve with your welcome drink, and nibbles by the fire! We do however, appreciate that not everyone loves oysters! There will always be something for those who don't!

We’ve had returning guests and new guests who have enjoyed our Italian suppers. Many have learnt the ‘odd’ Italian word, and many now know how to pronounce ‘bruschetta’ and know the meanings of several of our dishes. And, why you should not have a cappuccino after 11.30 in the morning!

We are still sticking to our belief, that ‘if Nonna (grandma) made it that way, why change it’!

For any questions or enquiries please email us a info@nonnassupperclub.co.uk

Ciao for now Jill & Abbi

A good start for the Supper Club in 2022. Thank you all for your continued support!

We had the first one last Saturday, which was a fish night! I think there was too much food! A great group, thank you for being the perfect guests.

Bookings are looking good for February and March, and if you need to look at any of our menus, do get in touch.

In the photo, our wonderful Pecorino cheese - 'Pecorino Toscano DOP - Stagionato from the Val d'Orcia. It goes so well with pears, walnuts and acacia honey!

A presto, ciao for now Jill & Abbi

Here is the menu for Saturday 26 February 2022. There are still some places available.

We hope you will enjoy our Tuscan Taster and our Italian comfort food! There will be other little surprises and you won't go home hungry!

Please get in touch if you would like to join us.

ciao, ciao Jill & Abbi

Felice Anno nuovo!

Happy New Year 2022

A welcome to 2022, and our new menus.

We already have some dates booked in January and February, but we have an open date of Saturday 26 February. We have several places available. Sorry we couldn’t fit you all in last year. The menu will be available shortly, but if you are interested for that date, please get back to us.

This year we are continuing with some of our favourite dishes, but introducing some new ones we hope you will enjoy.

If you want to book a date for your group booking, please let us know well in advance and we can get some menus to you.

Most people have preferred a Saturday night, and they have been fun and enjoyable, both for us and our diners.

We wish you a good year, positive vibes for 2022, but negative covid tests! Stay safe and sane.

ciao ciao Jill & Abbi

Just to catch up on news from November and December. We have been really busy, and apologise if there have not been any spare places for the Supper Club. In the New Year we will be advertising our dates and menus. We do have bookings already, but for guests bringing their own group. So we need to make sure there is a date when individuals can book and join in the fun.

If you are on our mailing list we will send details in the new year, and if not, please let us know if you wish to be added to the list.

December is busy, and our final supper club this year is on 18 December. We do thank all our guests, new and returning, for coming to enjoy our Italian comfort food! And a big thank you to our little helpers, Jessica, Jasper and Megan!

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Auguri !

Jill & Abbi

The photo is of one of our supper club nights - a returning group! Their singing was amazing!

The photo is of the wine festival in Impruneta! Memories of our time in Tuscany, Chianti and the grape harvest.

October Supper Clubs have been full of laughter and fun, thank you all for coming. We are now struggling to fit in any more supper clubs this year, as we are full November and December! If there are any cancellations we will let you know.

We welcome any new ideas for 2022 and will continue with our Italian menus. The Tuscan Taster is a great favourite, as are the 'gnudi' and the pumpkin ravioli! We are always open to menu suggestions, as long as they are authentic Italian dishes.

Keep watching our Blog page for updates, ciao for now.

Jill & Abbi

Thank you all you lovely people who have been to our September supper clubs. October is looking good and last night we had some lovely guests for a special birthday.

Nonna's Kitchen is about to start, so keep watching!

It has been a good start, and we hope you have enjoyed our Italian comfort food! We welcome any ideas or suggestions.

The photo is of our roast baby plum tomatoes on burrata - a dish from Perugia, and a twist on the classic Caprese (from Capri!).

ciao for now Jill & Abbi

Nonna's fish night was a great success! As you can see from our guests. Several delicious courses from oysters, sashimi, prawns, linguine al vongole, sea bream, etc etc. To finish with panna cotta and tiramisù! Thank you ladies, it was a fun night.

We are now preparing the October menu. November is full, and shortly we will give you the remaining dates for December.

If you want to bring your own private party, please get in touch via email.

Auguri a tutti!

Jill & Abbi

As our fish night got booked so quickly, we will be doing another in October. Please get in touch if you are interested.

We are now looking to October and finalising our menus for the cooler months, and dates for Nonna’s Kitchen courses.

We have had several requests for private supper club nights, where you can book all places for your party. We are happy to discuss dates and menus for your own group.

See our photos on Facebook – Nonnas Supper Club, or email us for more information info@nonnassupperclub.co.uk

A presto, ciao, ciao Jill & Abbi

Just to let you know that all places have now been reserved for the Fish night on Saturday 25 September.

I was about to publish the menu, but I will keep it as a surprise now!

We are now planning some menus and dates for October, so keep looking at our Blog.

Our Tuscan taster is proving to be very popular and a variation of it will always been on our supper menus! Here is just a sample!

Grazie mille A presto Jill

For those of you who have to stick to eating gluten free products, let me introduce you to Rummo's wonderful range of gluten free pasta. These have been recommended to me by my Italian friends in Grosseto, and I am very grateful, as this is the best gluten free pasta I have tried.

I was nervous about eating pasta again on my last trip to Italy, but I have to say the Italians have really taken on board using gluten free products. I had the best pizza ever near Rome, some wonderful penne in Perugia and my favourite spaghetti alla vongole in Scaperia, the Mugello where I used to live.

By special request, we are having a fish night on Saturday 25 September! As usual the menu will include several of our favourite dishes from Italy.

More information to follow, but just putting the date out there for those who are waiting.

A presto!

We are pleased to report a wonderful start to Nonna’s Supper Club. We have had several Friday night suppers, two Saturdays and even a Sunday late lunch, three 70th birthdays, a Christening and some fun nights. There have been a mix of guests, and parties who have never met before (neither had we!) some private groups and a mix of ages, with some new and old faces. Every supper has been different, but there has been much laughter. Our ‘Italian comfort food’ has been much appreciated, and some have been twice already. The weather has been fantastic - Al fresco under a Yorkshire sun! We have only had to eat in twice, and the one very wet party outside, turned out to be fun and will be remembered for some time!

Some comments have been ‘It’s like eating in Italy’ and ‘we love the interaction with you and Abbi’. We make sure guests can pronounce the Italian names, such as ‘bruschetta’ (brus’ketta) and know the meaning of many dishes, like ‘Caprese’ and no it has nothing to do with goats! Explaining my Tiramisù, which we all know means ‘pick me up’, I very nearly gave away my secret recipe last week!

We have had new menus each time, not always totally Tuscan, but with variations from the Mugello region. I did make some supplì last week, which are Roman favourites (and my son’s). However, they are not to be confused with the Sicilian ‘arancini’. And Abbi was thinking of Puglia when she had to shuck 30 oysters by special request!

I’m sticking to my theory that, ‘if nonna made it that way, why change it’! Although, after making so many ‘gnudi’ I am beginning to wonder if I should use frozen spinach!

We are planning a fish night for September, date to be confirmed, and by special request, a Nonna’s Italian lunch, where those who want to practise their Italian can come and enjoy a three course lunch and chiacchierare!

The photo attached is a painting of the Duomo in Florence, which is now in Nonna’s kitchen. Thank you artist Nicky Jack, a lovely reminder of our time in Florence.

Grazie mille Ciao, a presto Jill & Abbi

Another fun evening with new guests. Although we changed from Friday the 13th to the Saturday, the rain arrived! However, we had set up inside, just in case! It meant we had drinks and a few Italian delights outside, and the remainder of the mean inside. This finished around 10 pm! Much fun was had and nobody went home hungry, and the vegetarians were happy with Nonna's dishes.

We have one more supper club in August on the 20th (now all booked), but we are planning a September fish night! More details to follow.

Thank you all you lovely people for coming to Nonna's Italian supper club. We hope to see you again soon.

Grazie mille!

We have had some wonderful evenings for Nonna's supper clubs, and the weather has been especially kind, so we have dined 'al fresco'. All guests have had fun and loved the food, saying 'it was just like being in Italy' , and that is our aim!

We have had requests for a 'fish night' and that will be in September, so watch this space.

Instead of a Friday (and it is Friday the 13th!) the Supper Club will be on Saturday 14 August. Here is our menu. We hope you like it.

We have briefly described the dishes. Just to remind you that in Italy, the pasta dish is not a main course, but a 'primo'! So these will be starter sizes. Of course, if you have a good appetite, there can be more! Vegetarian options will always be available. Please state when booking.

Supper will be inside our family kitchen or outside on the patio. There will be four courses and coffee. Please feel free to bring your own wine as we do not have a licence.

Payment & Booking

The price is for 4 courses and coffee or tea. Full payment is required to confirm your reservation. Please email to book. If you need to cancel, please give us at least 48 hours notice. You can change to another date or ask a friend. We will try to fill the table, but, if there is no alternative, we ask that the cost of the dinner is paid. We trust our guests will understand.

September menu is coming shortly. You can always email us with requests, and suggestions.

We hope you all have a wonderful English summer.

Ciao for now!

Some wonderful salami and pecorino has arrived! This Sunday, we had a tasting session with family and friends! We hope to share these wonderful delights with you at our next Supper Club! Next availability is 14 August 2021.

If you are not able to make the Supper Club, you can always come to one of Nonna's Italian lunches! Midweek, al fresco if possible! Three courses, £25 pp. Bring your own wine. Please enquire for dates.

Welcome to Nonna's Kitchen. Please see our classes on offer on this website. These will be on Wednesdays (unless by special request), and will be from 9.30 to 3 pm. The idea is to enjoy finding simple ways to produce an authentic Italian dish, and enjoy it for lunch! Maximum of four people, so come and work in pairs if you wish, or come on your own and meet new people. You can change or add to what I share with you, and make it your own special dish, or just enjoy what you make on the day.

In Yorkshire I am offering to share with you dishes taught by various Nonnas. One, my Italian mother in law, Maria, my Yorkshire mother in law, Marjorie and my lovely Italian neighbour in Tuscany, Anna. There is one other I must add, Marcella a very young nonna in Grosseto. (Here she is in the photo making fresh pasta). We go back to my teaching days in Scarborough. Marcella is a history of art teacher and we met 30 years ago with our student exchanges in Grosseto. I am always amazed at what she does with Italian food. Everything is based on using the local produce. Every time I visit I learn new things! She is my modern day nonna inspiration!

Talking about inspiration ... I must mention La Casa del Prosciutto! This is a magical find in the Tuscan hills outside Florence, and just down the road from where we used to live in The Mugello! But more of that later!

There are many things to discuss while preparing and cooking, so do bring along a glass of wine, as we do not have a licence.

Please look at the enquiry form on the 'contact us' page and let me have your ideas for dates and we can prepare a programme. Or, if you just want an excuse for an Italian lunch, cooked for you, choose 'Nonna's Italian lunch' and just come along or bring friends and enjoy.

For those who want to practise their Italian, please feel free to chat during the class! Any suggestions are most welcome!

Price: Classes are £35 pp including lunch and coffee. (max 4 people) Nonna's Italian Lunch is £25 pp (max 8 people) Dates: From Wednesday 30 June 2021

Numbers while COVID restrictions are in place.

Some interesting facts which will help you understand the Italian menu.

Spaghetti alla bolognese (or spag bol) is a pasta dish invented outside of Italy , and although very popular in various countries, the sauce is never served with spaghetti in Bologna (or elsewhere in Italy), as the pieces of meat do not cling to this shape of pasta. Bolognese sauce (ragu) is usually served with tagliatelle or in a lasagna. The authentic recipe is codified at the Chamber of Commerce in Bologna, although many regions use their own version.

Here are a few to start!

Tiramisù (Tira mi sù) - Pick me up or lift me up! (The authentic recipe does not have any alcohol or sponge fingers! The rest is a secret!)

Bolognese - from Bologna

Caprese - from Capri

Milanese - from Milan

Bocconcini - small mouthfuls

Fettunta – bread toasted, rubbed with fresh garlic and drizzled with olive oil

Bruschetta – as fettunta but with chopped and seeded tomatoes & basil

Tortelli – pasta filled shapes

Pecorino – sheep’s cheese (little sheep)

Ricotta – whey cheese (literally meaning ‘recooked’) can be eaten by those with milk allergies.

The real Cappuccino and Espresso

The cappuccino is the mainstay of Italian coffee culture, and the name is derived from 'hood' – the foam on top of the coffee resembling the hooded robe of the Capuchin friars. A real cappuccino should be one third espresso coffee, one third steamed milk and one third foamed milk, and it must be white at the centre with stronger coffee shades around the rim. The cup is also important – too big is not a good sign – and it must not be boiling hot. (If you want it hot, ask for 'cappuccino caldo.') The Italians do not usually order cappuccino after 11am as it is a breakfast drink, hence the strange looks from waiters when tourists ask for one after a meal! Now waiters are beginning to offer tourists what they think they want.

Espresso is another story – in Italian it means 'quick'. Don't forget, most Italians 'drink and go' and stand at the bar; if you sit down it will cost you more (sometimes double). The International Institute of Coffee Tasters recommends that espresso should always be drunk out of a small cup, with a capacity approximately twice the volume of the drink, allowing the 'cream' on top to convey the aroma to the nose. A well-made espresso gives you a haunting glimpse into the very soul of coffee. The moment of truth. A few sips and then it is gone – but leaving an exquisite aftertaste.

These are just a few tips! Plenty more to discuss over supper and a glass of wine or coffee!