Party

like its 1970

Hospitality has always been central to the Zandam Italian Cheese lifestyle. Ingrained, from birth, for each Delle Donne is the simple skill of being a good host. (It’s no wonder, as that other great Mediterranean nation, the ancient Greeks, considered Xenia or “Guest-friendship” a sacred duty!) Hosting is a balancing act between being on top of things, being prepared with sufficient food and drinks to keep your guests satisfied, and all the while maintaining a carefree sense of ease and companionship. A great host puts in the effort to make it look effortless.

The 70s on the farm epitomised this virtue. The duties of farm life, and the sheer number of animals they had to take care of, meant that the Delle Donnes were pretty much bound to the farm 24/7. However, this didn’t stop Matteo and Iolanda from maintaining a roaring social calendar! The farm simply became the venue for a near-permanent get-together of friends and family.

“There would easily be ten cars parked with people coming and going. My parents just added more food to the braai and brought out more wine…”, Tino remembers fondly. Back in the day, KWV would sell 20-litre plastic containers of wine, and with true Italian flair, this was decanted into carafes and passed around the Bocce court to all the grownups. Talk about living La Dolce Vita!

Hospitality and effortless hosting are such fundamental parts of the Zandam Italian Cheese story. To this day, there’s nothing the Delle Donnes love more than a good old-fashioned farm kuier. Whether it is “Pig Weekend”, Christmas or even just a random Sunday with family (or with those special friends who became family)

…If it’s about people coming together and sharing food, you’ll see a bit of that Zandam hosting magic shine through. (In our hearts AND on the cheese platter).