In conversation with: Sabato

Introducing a new ongoing series, In conversation with, where we chat with friends of REYÈM. We discuss their passions, careers, go-to evening looks, favorite REYÈM pieces, and more.

The first edition features Sabato, an Amsterdam-based catering duo, Jesse and Stefanie. They have created good food and amazing table decorations for REYÈM, including for our fifth anniversary and Thanksgiving dinners.

In this interview, Jesse and Stefanie share how they got started, their favorite childhood food memories, their biggest inspirations (like Martha Stewart), and their ultimate after-work snack (a Febo tip!). They also talk about their timeless, high-quality, and classic style.

What drew you to food and beverage in the first place? Was it always your dream, or did you find your way here unexpectedly?
Food has always been a very important part of our lives. Every celebration, holiday, social event, and family gathering revolved around food for us. We never imagined working in this field, though. We did what was expected of us: went to university, studied something ‘relevant,’ and found secure office jobs. Since the restaurant world was such a hierarchical and male-dominated space, we never considered it. But as time passed and we grew closer as friends with this shared passion for food, food culture, history, and aesthetics, we slowly immersed ourselves in this whole new environment of custom catering for events. Ever since, it has been such a blast to discover our creativity and carry out our ideas together.

If your cooking style were a playlist, what would be the top three tracks on it, and why those?
We made a playlist for a pop-up once, and it turned out to represent exactly who we are, as we still play it weekly. It is very eclectic. Our top 3 songs from the joint playlist would be:
1. George Michael - Fast Love
2. Mula B - Broski’s
3. Cheb Khaled - Trigue Lycee

Is there a dish that instantly takes you back to your childhood? What’s the story behind it?
Jesse: Poffertjes for me. I grew up right next to a very old-fashioned Dutch pancake house, and we celebrated many things there. The joy of eating tiny little fluffy pancakes with powdered sugar and a big chunk of butter is something I would recommend to anyone. I forgot about poffertjes for a very long time, but now they are back in my life. I haven’t found the perfect place for them in Amsterdam yet, though, so let me know if you have any leads.
Stef: For me, it’s Greek food. With every meal, we would eat some type of tomato salad. I loved, loved, loved the tomato juices that seeped into the olive oil at the bottom of the salad bowl and mopped that up with sesame bread. Fakes (lentil soup) with taramosalata and bread. Chicken soup with avgolemono. My mom used to make this delicious yiouvetsi with beef and tomato (orzo stew). My dad had a tavern on the beach with some friends, and he used to make the best veggie omelet. Little snacks in the kitchens of my aunts. Things like this.

When you’re off-duty, what’s your go-to comfort meal or your favorite takeout spot and order?
When we have been in the kitchen and at events for a couple of days straight, we crave only one thing: a chicken grillburger with a kaassoufflé smashed in between from FEBO (thanks, Luna and Yasmin, for the tip!).

Who or what inspires you in the kitchen? Do you have a ‘kitchen muse’ or a ritual that gets you inspired?
This changes constantly. The all-time favorite food muses are the mothers and aunts in our lives. Most inspiration for recipes and styling comes from browsing international markets and supermarkets and eating our way through the places we visit. Super-classic chefs like Escoffier and Gouffé bring endless food styling inspiration. Browsing through old cookbooks on The Internet Archive is great, and the Martha Stewart documentary recently sparked a small Martha obsession.

When you’re not in chef-mode, how does your personal style reflect who you are? Do you have a look that feels “so you”?
Jesse: I think my personal style has not changed a lot over the years. I’ve always felt most comfortable and powerful in black and dark navy pieces that keep their shape and are made of durable, high-quality materials. I strive to own the best and most classic version of every piece of clothing, footwear, and jewelry: the best black T-shirt, the best wool coat, the best socks, the best leather lace-up shoes, etc., etc. This will be a lifelong quest, haha.
Stef: It’s hard not to copy Jesse’s answer, as we dress alike. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with Miuccia Prada’s personal style: cashmere sweaters with a V-neck, white tees, nylon pants or skirts, and Amcups. For me, it was always hard to find my femininity through clothing. I tend to dress quite unisex and boxy. People used to tell me to dress more feminine, but through my newfound appreciation for Miuccia, I’ve felt more empowered and have started experimenting a bit more in my own way.

You’re going out for the night, what’s your go-to outfit, and how does it make you feel?
Jesse: Black dress pants, a good-quality heavyweight high-neck T-shirt, some jewelry, and fun leather shoes. This makes me feel like the most ‘classic’ version of myself.
Stef: This is a hard one for me because I don't have a lot of festive clothes. But I've been investing in pieces here and there. One I’m really happy with for festive occasions is the REYÈM asymmetric dress in black (available again mid February). It’s totally outside my comfort zone, but it’s so comfortable and hugs my body, so I feel really great in it.

And where can we imagine finding you on a typical Friday night?
Most weeks, you can find us at a catering job. But when we are free and hit the town, it would probably be for dinner at a Turkish, Moroccan, Chinese, or French place, and after, some beers and chats at a brown café like Café Krom on the Utrechtsestraat.

‘Stretch’ can mean so many things; what’s the first thought or image that comes to mind when you hear the word?
The first word that comes to mind is comfort, and the first image would be the beautiful way the skin folds as a body twists or bends.

Finally, if you were hosting a dream dinner party, who are the three guests at your table, and what would you serve them?
Dream guests would be Jesse’s dad, Stef’s dad, and Martha Stewart. Some other names that come to mind are Sally Schmitt, Richard Gere, Mula B, Bisan Owda, Doechii, Wendy Williams, and Maria Callas. We’d serve them a beautiful table with heaps and heaps of grilled and fried seafood fresh from the sea, super-simple salads, and boiled greens on the side. For dessert, the largest omelette Norvégienne the world has ever seen, to share with a whole village.