In a bright studio in Riverside, Yolena Ramirez and Adrian Gamero are creating something special. The Riverside Supper Club, their monthly themed dinner event, has become a gathering place where tickets go quickly and their reach has grown beyond just Riverside, recently being joined by guests from Los Angeles and even as far as Las Vegas.
When she opens the door Yolena is wearing red and white checkered pants, they remind me of a tablecloth, one you might see in a hyper fictionalized version of a vibrant trattoria where the only song playing on the jukebox is “Che La Luna”. I learned later that this was intentional, in theme. The studio where the dinners are held is bright and welcoming, and there’s a beautiful collection of alcohol bottles shelved at the end of the room, the windows are open and the rumble of Riverside traffic can be heard below. We talk over popcorn and orange wine.
The Supper Club’s menu changes monthly, each highlighting a different country and its cuisine. This month it’s France, and preparation for May’s Italian theme begins today with homemade limoncello made from lemons Ramirez gathered from her backyard trees.
“Accessibility is very important,” Ramirez says, explaining her approach to sourcing ingredients. She uses what’s available locally whenever possible, noting any coffee used in her projects comes from Back to the Grind, less than a five-minute walk away. This community-focused approach benefits local businesses while simplifying her process – something Ramirez, a business owner and mother of two, appreciates…