Ella & Alberto: A true #EatwithLove story!
From Eatwith guests and hosts to lovers. Barcelona couple Ella and Alberto are the real deal and are what Eatwith is all about!
An international love affair
He’s from Veneto, Italy; she’s from Melbourne, Australia. Eight years ago they both left their homelands and headed for Spain in search of new experiences and adventures. Arriving in Barcelona, Alberto worked as a baker at an Italian café while Ella honed her skills, working odd jobs in the kitchen, as a nanny, acting, drama and teaching theatre. Two years later, they both found their passion for hosting culinary events and joined Eatwith when it started. Alberto soon became famous for his epic seafood nights and Ella charmed guests with her lavish vegetarian banquets. It was only a matter of time before these two hosts would meet! Alberto was a guest at one of Ella’s Eatwith events and they hit it off immediately. They soon moved into an apartment together in the historic heart of Barcelona and combined their culinary talents to welcome guests to their table filled with love and laughter.
A shared passion for sustainable food
Ella and Alberto are dedicated to offering a variety of locally grown and gathered food experiences, from underground dining to customized tours and workshops. Not only do they run each event with love and care, but they also pay close attention to sustainability. Seasonally, locally sourced ingredients are at the heart of their project, and they have managed to nurture long-lasting relationships with nearby farmers and producers who share their passion for honest food. Their dishes are simple, yet fresh, organic when possible, and, most importantly, come from the heart.
What they love about Eatwith
After two years hosting in their apartment, they opened their own collaborative space in Raval Espai EGG where they have room to welcome larger groups and organize hands-on cooking classes, while still maintaining the intimacy of home dining. As hosts, their favorite part of the whole Eatwith experience is watching guests enjoy their food. For them, seeing guests taking delight in tasting their dishes, observing their expressions and responding to their questions about recipes and ingredients bring a great deal of joy and fulfillment. They’re definitely in their element when it comes to hosting culinary events and connecting people from all over the world. Though holding events can get overwhelming and exhausting at times, seeing guests leaving fulfilled and happy is worth all the effort.
Ella and Alberto’s most special hosting memories are always the holiday dinners. Being so far away from their native homes and families has its trials but it also comes with unexpected joys. Spending Christmas Eve dinner eating with people around the world, bringing people together regardless of their origins, cultures, ages and genders truly adds the magic to the festive season and helps them with the nostalgia for their homelands.
