Madelaine’s Tiny Kitchen: When the Tiny Kitchen gets decidedly un-tiny

Madelaine’s Tiny Kitchen first gained steam in a small apartment off Guerrero St in the Mission of San Francisco. The kitchen was tiny. The small 4 burner gas stove had about 1 foot of counter to the right, and the small ikea island filled the floor space. Even the refrigerator sat outside next to the back door. It was a tiny kitchen yet we cranked out some great meals in the space. When you have limited room to entertain, you get the joy of grocery shopping multiple times a week. Popping into farmers markets regularly to grab vegetables du jour and nestling the ripest fruits into your work bag as part of lunch. I named my cooking adventures tiny because they were at the time– I did not have room to store my pots and pans so the cast irons lived on the stove and the pizza pan, in the oven. More than 2 people in the small room was too many people. We made an art of stacking plates amongst the canned tomatoes and set up a collapsible table in the living room unstacking simple stools to hold up to 10 people at a time. When you live in a city you get used to sharing space, so you crowd around the narrow table, apologize for your elbows all while toasting to life, community and a great meal.

As @MadelainesTinyKitchen grew, we changed jobs, cities and finally found ourselves in a place where space is no longer at a premium. In fact, MTK just ordered a table that can extend up to 10 feet!

The dreams for MTK are still humble, to cook good healthy food and build community around the dinner table.

The space has changed, yes. The pans now have cabinets to call home and the oven does not need to be emptied for the pre-heat. The message is the same. Call your people, host your book club or make friends at an outdoor race and invite EVERYONE over for a home cooked meal. You can theme the party, make it as formal or informal as you like. Introduce everyone with an icebreaker, put your guests to work bartending or plan something special for the people you love. No matter the size of the kitchen it is the intention around making a meal for someone that matters, guests are gracious– in a large kitchen or crammed next to the window asking their neighbor to pass the potatoes.

For small space dwellers who are still on the fence, I have some ideas to dip your toes into hosting:

1. Plan a picnic– go to the local park, load up your cooler with made ahead salads, sandwiches, veggie crudité and homemade dips or dressings. Ask your friends to bring coolers with ice and their favorite beverages, portable speakers, umbrellas for shade and blankets for hanging out. Make an afternoon of it– no birthday required.
2. Make dinner simple, like lasagna and salad. Grab some wine, pick up bubble water and enjoy the simple pleasures.
3. Hot dog parties, oyster shucking afternoons, making pasta with friends, learning to pizza together…any of these meals can be a wonderful reason to connect with the people around you, no matter the size of the kitchen.

Pizza Together Dinner

Apps:

Caprese three ways:

-Traditional

-Parsley, olive, lemon zest and garlic– Spanish anchovies– spain-ish

-Fennel hot pepper flakes w/ anchovy+ burrata

Salad:

-Simple kale salad with toasted pine nuts and parmesan

Pizza:

Make your dough, seriously, do it.

-Pepperoni, mushroom, hot honey

-Roasted garlic, kale with lemony dressing, caramelized onions and burrata

-Friends choice!

Desserts:

-Watermelon, mint sorbet– that was too icy and served too late!

Drinks:

Aperitivo: lemon cello, lemon drop martini

-Homemade lemonade Non-Alcoholic

Dinner wine- Italian red

-Bubble water