ABOUT 

Olivia Muniak

Fan of dinners at home. Champion of lazy-fancy. Lover of all things Italian.

Olivia Muniak is a self-taught chef who grew up in a New York City restaurant family. She creates enchanting 360 food-focused events for clients like Nike, Mytheresa, Moet Hennessey and Laura Mercier and has developed custom content and recipes for fashion and lifestyle and brands including Jenni Kayne, Craig’s Vegan and Anthropologie.

Her popular blog and IG feed is an ever evolving compendium of what she’s cooking (and eating), and a shoppable edit of her favorite kitchen and entertaining essentials. 

Oliva’s entertaining M.O.? Settings should be candle-lit, evenings always begin with an aperitivo, and the conversation should be as delectable and inspired as the food. A good time around the table, she insists, spills into everything. 

In 2019, newly arrived in Los Angeles, Olivia hosted a series of intimate dinners out of her tiny West Adams backyard. The multi-course family style meals, whipped up on her 24” vintage O’keefe & Merrit stove, were as much about making new friends and connecting with a new community as they were about the thoughtfully presented food and wine. Supper Club, as she called the now-legendary gatherings at home, remains at the heart of everything she does.

The D.L. on O.M.

Sign Libra with Moon in Capricorn and Cancer Rising. Translation: An ambitious, hands-on, laid-back perfectionist who is nurturing, romantic, creative and excels at creating harmony in the universe. (Yup.)

Super Power I can pull it together and make it beautiful—on any budget, with any ingredients, I can set a scene, create a memorable experience, tell a story.

Motto If you burn it, throw it out, order pizza—and enjoy your evening!. The night will still be memorable. Your friends are there to spend time with you. 

Secret Weapon The Bormioli Rocco “Bodega” glass—incredibly durable and incredibly versatile: I use them for everything from cocktails to wine or water and for crudite and desserts chilled like panna cotta. 

Entertaining Ethos Boyfriend breaks up with you? Have a dinner party. It’s Saturday night? Have a dinner party. Fava beans are in season? Have a dinner party… You get the idea. Why go out when you can stay in?

Dream Collaboration Williams Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, RW Guild, Lulu & Georgia, Gabriela Hearst

Best Party (Ever) A party in Mallorca to celebrate a childhood friend's 30th birthday. All the guests were instructed to wear white; the table was done simply with white linens and small bud vases of white lilies. There were cigarettes in glass jars and chic lighters (it was Spain!). We sipped on negroni’s to kick the night off and danced until the last person was standing. The best part was the ease with which my friend's mother hosted this crowd of 30 guests: there was no stress and no extra staff, no big production. We set the table ourselves. The whole evening was so chic, elegant and (European) beachy. 

La Buona Tavola Layers, textures, colors and your own personal flair. No rules here. (But when in doubt: Candle light makes everything and everyone look good.)