Talboni’s pasta & wine

Talboni’s Pasta and Wine was our third and final apartment Summer Series event… and it was the biggest undertaking yet. We really went all out, serving two fresh pasta dishes and a chocolate tart made entirely from scratch.

Inspired by my last name (Talbot) with an Italian twist, we branded Talboni’s to evoke a nostalgic feel—a modern take on a classic, family-run Italian spot. The menus and invites featured mostly hand-drawn type and illustrations, and I even designed a postcard for guests to take home—just like a real restaurant, but without the bill!

Setting the table is always my favorite part of any dinner party, and for this one, I aimed to use what I already had as much as possible. Flowers from the farmers market, breadsticks, and a roll of white paper used as a table runner were my only purchases. Everything came together beautifully with vintage glassware and candlelight. The vintage Italian pasta bowls were an old thrift find, and I was lucky to source some almost identical ones from my mom’s friend to complete the setting.

No dinner party is complete without a cocktail, so naturally, we served Negronis upon arrival and set up a station for refills throughout the evening.