CLAUDIA DEL OLMO
Casa Balandra’s Claudia Del Olmo on the setting the table and making magic from the small moments.
Along with her sister Isabella, and her best friend (and partner in all things beautiful) Cecile Denis, designer Claudia del Olmo is currently renovating her childhood home on the island of Mallorca into a residency and guesthouse. Casa Balandra is a light-flooded haven of heavy stone walls, flagstone floors, and palm-shaded gardens. After lockdown ends, Claudia and Cecile will be flinging open its doors, inviting in artists, writers, and creatives to work, unwind and share Spanish feasts with them on the sunny patios.
The soul of Casa Balandra lies in the lessons Claudia’s family taught her. She grew up wedded to the idea of Sobremesa - the unmistakably Spanish ritual of lingering at the table long after a meal has been finished, talking and sharing stories late into the night. It teaches us to embrace slowness - something Claudia has had to do more than ever as work on the Casa ground to a halt at the beginning of lockdown. Here, she tells us about the joy of cooking for others, embracing life’s hiccups, and the art of setting the perfect table.
What ingredients have you found yourself reaching for most during lock-down? Are you drawn to simplicity, or would you rather spend many hours in the kitchen crafting something complex?
Honestly, I cook for other people. Usually when I’m alone, I’ll make something super simple and quick, or treat myself to a great pasta with what I have in my kitchen. But I find the most joy in cooking for others. Then I love to make a whole event out of it; plan a menu, maybe pick a new ingredient I’ve never used...When my sister Isabella and I began host Balandra Sobremesa Supper Clubs in our apartment in London, I would use them for my own experimentation. I’m lucky that so far that technique hasn’t backfired! Three ingredients you should always have: great olive oil, garlic and pasta, that way, you’re never far from the perfect meal.
What is your best dinner party trick?
Make sure there’s enough wine, plenty of candles and the perfect playlist. Those three things are absolutely essential!
Why is a beautiful table setting important to you? And where did this habit stem from?
I love to make small moments magical. That doesn’t necessarily mean everything has to be perfect, it might just mean adding a flower to the table or using dinnerware that brings you joy. I don’t believe in having beautiful things just sit in the cupboard. Growing up in what is now Casa Balandra, my mom was the absolute queen of hosting lunches and dinner parties. For Christmas, she would have endless dinner parties with friends, and the table would always be incredible. Beautiful tablecloths and napkins in silver rings, a big plate, small plate and bowl on top, incredible hand-blown glasses; the works. I think it gave me an incredible appreciation for what a table setting can evoke for the people sitting around it.
Tell us about the concept of sobremesa. What does it mean to you? Why is it so important to Spanish culture?
Sobremesa is the Spanish term for what happens after a meal has finished. It is literally the act of sitting around a table post-meal, and yet it's so much more than that. It’s so inherent in Spanish culture. I think it represents everything beautiful about our way of life, slowing down and taking your time to talk, connect and share. The two things that make an incredible meal is the food and the sobremesa, it’s a recipe for magic.
You are currently doing up Casa Balandra in Mallorca with your best friend, Cecile. Has progress grinding to a halt given you space to think of new ideas for the property?
The lockdown has given us more time to think of the concept and where we want to take it, more than the physicality of it. While yes, the house is the host for our concept, the concept itself and the experiences we want to create are really the heart of Balandra. Not to say I don’t have constant dreams and nightmares of not finding the perfect rug!
How have you found adapting to the slower pace of life during this period?
I feel like I have always moved at a slow pace. Anyone that knows me will tell you that (positively and negatively), but moving back here from having lived in different cities for the past years has definitely been an adjustment, moving back into the rhythm of the island has been a little more challenging than I anticipated. So actually, this extreme slow down period has thrown me in the deep end, and I’m ready to embrace this new chapter.
And what will you miss most about this time?
I felt a sense of peace knowing that most of the world was at a standstill, learning how to appreciate the smaller things again, baking, spending time with loved ones, getting to know them better. I’m not sure I will particularly miss anything, but I appreciate how it has impacted me.
What is the first thing you’ll do once the lockdown is over?
In Mallorca, we were lucky enough to have our first taste of freedom on May 11th, and while I didn’t plan on it, I ended up playing hooky and welcoming phase 1 of un-confinement as a true ‘Mallorquina' would - having beers with friends in the sun.