On a Sunday evening in early March, ripe with the promise of spring, 25 curious diners convened at an East Nashville home for an interactive pop-up supper club. Called The Humble Table, its founder and host Lesley Lammers curates a multi-faceted dining experience that varies month to month. This time, she enlisted chef Joey Molteni of Hathorne for “A Night in Italy” feast.
Erica Brechtelsbauer
As Molteni readied the kitchen for a pasta-making session—both a prelude to the dinner and foundation of one of its courses—guests sipped wine and noshed on skewers of grilled baby beets and artichokes. Soon, they gathered around the butcher block, as he lectured while kneading dough. They cheered each other on as one-by-one, they took turns, rolling tender ribbons of tagliatelle. At nightfall, everyone sat down at a long, light-strung table to a platter of spring-inspired panzanella of fava beans, asparagus, and green olives, and just-made pasta cloaked in lamb ragout. Guitar in hand, Josh Benus of Glass Dove entertained the group over biscotti and coffee. The upbeat evening ended with a round of Molteni’s own limoncello before the happy guests headed home with a bag of homemade pasta in tow.
“My idea is that each dinner, which will always feature local, seasonal ingredients, will also have educational and musical components,” Lammers says. Since moving to Nashville in 2014, she has cultivated a wide circle of musician friends, whom she draws on for the live music. “Food and music are languages everyone speaks.”
Other Humble Table pop-ups have included presentations about sustainable farming practices from Lauren Palmer of Bloomsbury Farm and Kristina Rossi of The Barefoot Farmer. Chef Laura Rodriguez of Crème Catering and chef Kirstie Bidwell of Old School Farm to Table have incorporated cooking demonstrations into the experience. Diana Andrew of Urban Green Lab talked about ways to make Nashville a healthier place to live.
Like many great ideas, The Humble Table was born of need.
“From college on, I’ve moved around a lot: New York, San Francisco, Durham, North Carolina, Boston, and Nashville,” Lammers notes. “I started these kinds of gatherings initially to meet people and have affordable fun.”
That shifted to something greater, as she found her calling as a writer and consultant for environmental nonprofits.In a freelance capacity, Lammers covers environmental trends and helps businesses and organizations develop compelling sustainability strategies and content.Desiring hands-on knowledge, she has apprenticed at different farms, most notably at Green String Farm under Bob Cannard during the economic recession. One of the first farmers to work with Alice Waters in the early days of Chez Panisse, Cannard has been organically farming for over 50 years.
“I became committed to the storytelling aspect in helping people understand why sustainability matters,” she says.
That commitment is what distinguishes The Humble Table. Yes, the food is outstanding. And you might get to sample some beverages you’ve never had before. (Vanessa Antonino of Avo prepared a welcome cocktail using her superb kombucha at an Earth Day celebration supper.) Guests come away sated not just from a delicious meal but from an enriched sense of community.
“People talk about epidemic of loneliness, as technology has eroded the quality of relationships,” Lammers says. “Individuals are craving more meaningful ways to connect. The Humble Table helps open those possibilities.”
Lammers is working on concepts for future Humble Table events. Look for a brunch featuring a sausage/bacon making class and Bloody Mary bar, a fall harvest farm dinner, and a tasting that honors local women food artisans and chefs.
For more information, contact Lesley Lammers, 415-786-7820; humbletable615@gmail.com