hope, italian style
November 26, 2008
A couple days ago, on a mild November Sunday evening, some dear friends of ours, Clarissa and Ludo, hosted a magical, birthday celebration of food and relaxation with a modern, European flair. They have been going to Speranza on Hyperion Blvd. for a couple years since it switched over from a not-so-great place called Capri. I have lived in this hood for seven years and didn’t even notice the changeover, but had recently heard that it was super good and they had handmade pasta. Ok - say no more. If this is a place that Ludo would go to, (quite possibly the world’s pickiest Swiss man about Italian food) I knew it had to be outstanding.
This was, to date, the best birthday party I have attended in years. A few years ago, I started realizing my idea of a perfect evening being a “kegger” was ancient history and there was no comparison to a good dinner party to celebrate a joyous event. We enjoyed a beautiful evening of six courses of traditional Italian dishes, all served family style on large platters, which made for a very intimate gathering.
Menu:
Assorted Cheese with Pear Slices and Olives
Caprese Salad
Melon and Prosciutto
Pasta Choices (primi) Pesto Fettucini or Squid Ink Spaghetti
Grilled Lamb Lollipops with lemon, roasted fingerling potatoes, and blanched Asparagus (Secondi and Thirdi)
Cake (yumi)
Everything was so well thought-out, but not overdone or fussy. We started off with plates of cheeses and fresh pear slices and fresh, warm baguettes. The cheese platter was an assortment of cheeses, a triple cream brie and a tete de moine (head of monk) that was shaved off in long slices and looked like carnation flowers and a creamy blue. The tete de moine was so gorgeous and subtle in flavor and was my favorite, for a new taste as well as the beautiful way it was displayed like chanterelles mushrooms.
When the squid ink pasta came out, I knew these people were serious. The blackness of the ink would transform anyone into a goth teenager. I have not had squid ink in years and I remembered it from Spanish Tapas bars to be more purple in color, not black as india ink. It was divine. Of course, they had me at the pasta and then more and more food kept coming out. My kind of event.
The food was tasty, the crowd engaging, we were exposed to a new place in our neighborhood and met some interesting, new people. And about three blocks from home. I wish I could do this every Sunday. It was definitely inspiring and will kick start my Sunday suppers for the Winter season.
Tees designed by the owners based on architectural projects they were part of
The owners of Speranza have an interesting background. We chatted with Joaquim, Jens and Hieu who used to art direct visuals and graphics for the world re-knowned architect, Rem Koolhaas. Some may know him from the NY and Paris Prada Stores. Of course, his work spans much more than the retail couture locations.

Birthday boy toasting Campari and Soda
Some how, like many of us, the owners fell in love with food and went as far as opening a restaurant, renovated the space, and opened up Speranza. The evening, of course, was made more outstanding by the fact that it’s not usually open for business on Sundays and we had the whole place to ourselves, about 25 people at one long table and topped if all off with coffee and digestifs and fresh berry cake from Susina Bakery.


Can’t wait to go back for that squid ink pasta and more of those perfectly charred lamb chops.
One more thing to be thankful for this holiday season - good friends and good food AND especially friends with good taste.
Totally addictive.
Speranza
2547 Hyperion Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027
323.644.1918
A couple days ago, on a mild November Sunday evening, some dear friends of ours, Clarissa and Ludo, hosted a magical, birthday celebration of food and relaxation with a modern, European flair. They have been going to Speranza on Hyperion Blvd. for a couple years since it switched over from a not-so-great place called Capri. I have lived in this hood for seven years and didn’t even notice the changeover, but had recently heard that it was super good and they had handmade pasta. Ok - say no more. If this is a place that Ludo would go to, (quite possibly the world’s pickiest Swiss man about Italian food) I knew it had to be outstanding.
This was, to date, the best birthday party I have attended in years. A few years ago, I started realizing my idea of a perfect evening being a “kegger” was ancient history and there was no comparison to a good dinner party to celebrate a joyous event. We enjoyed a beautiful evening of six courses of traditional Italian dishes, all served family style on large platters, which made for a very intimate gathering.
Menu:
Assorted Cheese with Pear Slices and Olives
Caprese Salad
Melon and Prosciutto
Pasta Choices (primi) Pesto Fettucini or Squid Ink Spaghetti
Grilled Lamb Lollipops with lemon, roasted fingerling potatoes, and blanched Asparagus (Secondi and Thirdi)
Cake (yumi)
Everything was so well thought-out, but not overdone or fussy. We started off with plates of cheeses and fresh pear slices and fresh, warm baguettes. The cheese platter was an assortment of cheeses, a triple cream brie and a tete de moine (head of monk) that was shaved off in long slices and looked like carnation flowers and a creamy blue. The tete de moine was so gorgeous and subtle in flavor and was my favorite, for a new taste as well as the beautiful way it was displayed like chanterelles mushrooms.
When the squid ink pasta came out, I knew these people were serious. The blackness of the ink would transform anyone into a goth teenager. I have not had squid ink in years and I remembered it from Spanish Tapas bars to be more purple in color, not black as india ink. It was divine. Of course, they had me at the pasta and then more and more food kept coming out. My kind of event.
The food was tasty, the crowd engaging, we were exposed to a new place in our neighborhood and met some interesting, new people. And about three blocks from home. I wish I could do this every Sunday. It was definitely inspiring and will kick start my Sunday suppers for the Winter season.
Tees designed by the owners based on architectural projects they were part of
The owners of Speranza have an interesting background. We chatted with Joaquim, Jens and Hieu who used to art direct visuals and graphics for the world re-knowned architect, Rem Koolhaas. Some may know him from the NY and Paris Prada Stores. Of course, his work spans much more than the retail couture locations.
Birthday boy toasting Campari and Soda
Some how, like many of us, the owners fell in love with food and went as far as opening a restaurant, renovated the space, and opened up Speranza. The evening, of course, was made more outstanding by the fact that it’s not usually open for business on Sundays and we had the whole place to ourselves, about 25 people at one long table and topped if all off with coffee and digestifs and fresh berry cake from Susina Bakery.
Can’t wait to go back for that squid ink pasta and more of those perfectly charred lamb chops.
One more thing to be thankful for this holiday season - good friends and good food AND especially friends with good taste.
Totally addictive.
Speranza
2547 Hyperion Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027
323.644.1918








