By Audrey Fankhanel

I left the church a few years ago, more specifically the Seventh-day Adventist church. This act was a shock to the system; I left everything I that I thought I knew about the world behind, and ventured into the unknown. There was a lot of Bible study, study of other religions, personal experiences, and weighing pros and cons that went into this decision. Yet, even after preparing myself for the better part of 2 years for this change, it wasn’t any easier.

Ultimately, the reason why it was so difficult to leave was because there is so much good in the community I was raised in. Plant-based eating, community, loved ones with whom I can discuss life’s biggest questions, a full day of rest each week, the list goes on and on. In transitioning out of the church, I realized that these specific qualities are not exclusive to a specific religious ideology. These are all practices that I can bring into my new life outside the church.

Which brings me to today’s item of discussion: The Olla Dinner Club!

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of hosting the first of many themed dinners at my home. The theme: founder crops. A small group of friends and acquaintances sat around a camping table on my front porch and ate a 5-course meal consisting of a variety of ancient grains, legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables, crops that have been cultivated since the dawn of agriculture in the Fertile Crescent.

We discussed today’s farming practices, disappearing biodiversity, and how industrialization has minimized the nutritional value of our foods. At the beginning of the meal, most of us at the table were near strangers. By the end, we were diving into our biggest fears and exploring how we can personally make an impact.

Village Bread (a local bakery in Calimesa, CA) ancient grains sourdough played a major role in the meal. I love this loaf because it uses einkorn wheat, one of the first wheats to be farmed. Einkorn has a nutty, almost sweet flavor that paired lovely with our vegan lemon ricotta & marinated stone fruits toast.

Of course there were olives for the table!

A crowd favorite was the black lentil salad. Black lentils and kale were marinated with more olives, lemon, garlic, scallions, and almonds. The result: a refreshing early summer meal.

My personal favorite was the asparagus and spring pea vegan risotto. It was hearty, creamy, and light all at the same time. Did you know that asparagus was common in the ancient Egyptian diet? The cheesy flavor was thanks to a healthy amount of nutritional yeast!

Dessert was a Turkish coffee cake-inspired vegan cheesecake. The filling was flavored with orange blossom water and cardamom. The crust was pistachio, almond, and brown sugar.

Perfection is the enemy of gathering. Not everything always goes according to plan. Multiple people late-cancelled, some people I really wanted there had previous engagements, and the cheesecake didn’t set. I had made this vegan cheesecake a thousand times, but for whatever reason on the day of the dinner party it decided to take on a lava-like consistency. But you know what? None of that mattered. Our small group had a phenomenal time, and the cheesecake tasted the same way it would have had it set into a perfect slice.

One thing I have already learned from this experience is that community is possible in adulthood, you just have to work a little harder for it. You have to choose your hard: deal with the difficulty of cultivating a meaningful community, or sit with the loneliness that comes from complacency. As someone who has battled mental illness, I know how easy it is to cancel plans and ghost people that mean the world to you. I am sad to say that I’ve done this too often out of fear of developing authentic relationships. But what is tradition without a community to uphold it? And what is a meal without others to share it with? Movements, change, and meaningful life moments are only truly possible when we come together in an authentic way.

I am happy to announce that the Olla Dinner Club will be a regular event! If you long for community, love food, and are open to listening to my long talks on each dish and ingredient, fill out the interest form at the end of this article! Filling out the form will let me know that you would like to be invited to the next one.