Watching her dishes getting ready for their close-up in the delicious. studio, Jenna Holmes (also known as Pasta Mama) is in her element. Swapping notes with the food stylist and exclaiming every time another shot pops up on the photographer’s laptop, Holmes is a whirlwind of enthusiasm and questions.
The self-taught cook and stylist has made a career out of “extracting the most pleasure from the simplest of things”, first as plant stylist Plant Mama, then in Pasta Club, which offers private dinner parties of seasonal Italian-ish fare served with Holmes’ trademark maximalist styling.
Toowoomba-born Holmes fell for the Mediterranean on her first overseas trip, and fell hard. “It just felt right,” she says. “The personalities of the people, the lifestyle, the food – everything just made sense. It’s a place of community, food and connection.” Her Pasta Club is a way of bringing that feeling back to life around the table, revelling in the beauty of full bellies and empty plates.
MANGO MARGARITA SPRITZ
MAKES 1
½ large mango2 sprigs mint leaves, plus extra to serve¼ cup (60ml) tequila1 tbs simple (sugar) syrup½ lime, plus extra ½ lime, to serveIce cubesChilled soda water, to serve
