Non-alcoholic Negronis, Italian antipasti and one very cute cake.
Ana Piteira is queen of finding the market gap. At just 24, she launched her own PR and sales agency, then known as OMGfive, now Sueño Communications, and represented independant Australian and New Zealand lifestyle and fashion designers. In 2015, she decided to launch her own brand, Reliquia Jewellery. The brand created affordable pieces inspired by family heirlooms. “Reliquia” was a nod to her Portuguese heritage, it means “relic”. Two years later she expanded with more accessories with Valet Studio, and was largely responsible for the 2017 revival of the hair clip. Reliquia Collective now encompasses five labels, with Respiro (a bag collection), AEYRE (home decor) and Blanca, a clothing brand that is currently her favourite project. “At the moment, Blanca is really exciting as I continue to expand the range and create the pieces I have always wanted to find for my own wardrobe. I can breathe life into those gaping holes, like finding a striped oversized shirt that is equally structured, comfortable and subversively feminine.” Blanca striped shirts have become a staple of every fashionable woman’s wardrobe. It’s a uniform Ana has found works just as well when you’re pregnant, which Ana was at the time of this interview. Almost nine-months so.
Ana lives with her husband, Jonathan McFarlane, their dog, Burger, and soon, their newborn son. Their home, opposite Sydney’s Maroubra Beach, is colourful and cool, reflecting a ‘70s interior style. It’s an inspiring space full of trinkets collected on her travels, or sent from her grandmother in Portugal, who recently sent her several pieces of sterling silver fruit. When she entertains, it’s time for her collections to shine. “The table setting always brings me a lot of pleasure as well,” she says, “creating a landscape of texture and colour, which somehow adds to the meal. AEYRE obviously features heavily.”
With a great collection of serving ware, a love of Italian food and not a lot of time for a twee baby shower, (plus, it’s not her style), we asked Ana to put together a baby celebration, her way: antipasti, non-alcoholic negronis and one very cute cake.
Home essentials
- Q.Wine or a cocktail?
Wine
- Q.Picnic or a fancy wine bar?
Picnics in summer and wine bars in winter.
- Q.Go-to drink order?
Before I was pregnant, a Negroni or a Champagne. Now that I am pregnant, either a non-alcoholic beer (ideally a Heaps Normal) or an extra spicy virgin Bloody Mary. I find a lot of the virgin cocktails to be very sweet so try to keep it savoury.
- Q.Drink you should always have in the fridge?
There is always a bottle of Champagne in our fridge and more often than not, a bottle of chardonnay ready to go. Now that I’m pregnant, there is always some non-alcoholic beer and usually some Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Italian Spritz so that I can pretend I’m sipping on something a little fancier.
- Q.What kind of home cook are you?
I’m the cook at our house. I love simple meals. Often only a few good quality ingredients - that are anything but boring. Great pasta dishes, simple desserts, fresh salads, lots of anchovies. A good weeknight meal doesn’t have to be complicated!
- Q.What’s your entertainer archetype?
I love hosting and having friends and family around for intimate dinner parties. It’s a time to enjoy good wine and delicious food together, and I stick to a similar cooking ethos here. I’ll often cook Italian. I do a great vodka penne.
- Q.Go-to tablescaping style?
I usually start with a white tablecloth and then fill it with my collection of vintage serving ware, colourful plates and glassware, candle sticks, shell coasters, and lots of great napkins.
- Q.What makes a great event?
Mood is the biggest driver of any event. It’s a combination of a curated playlist, candles, flowing drinks, an enjoyable meal and good company.
- Q.Hosting tip?
Set the table the night before, along with anything else you can prepare. It’s no fun if the host spends all their time in the kitchen. The stuff you need to do last minute, the pasta and garnishes etc. should be the only thing you do while guests are there. Particularly great tip if you’re pregnant and get tired more quickly!
Let’s plan... a modern babyshower
- Q.Who’s coming?
Close friends and partners.
- Q.The guest brief?
No presents. Just yourselves, come hungry.
- Q.Drink on arrival?
Head to the negroni bar, and make yourself a negroni, alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions available.
- Q.The pre-dinner mingle?
We moved to this place just before the last lockdown, and I actually hadn’t spent much time at this beach before we moved, but we have beautiful sea breezes and a great open-plan living space. So guests can move easily inside and out with their negronis, and take some cheese, salami or cherries from the table.
- Q.The main event?
Everyone to the table, and we’ll pop the Champagne for a toast. The pastas (vodka penne, of course), with lots of fresh parsley, and lasagna. Then for the finale, eclairs, more cherries and a gorgeous cake from Javi Bakes in Paddington.
- Q.The decor?
Signature platter assortment, AEYRE glassware and colourful cutlery.
