There’s a certain kind of magic that only happens when a group of people gathers around a table—not because they have to, but because they want to. No obligation, no small talk, no pretending. Just comfort, laughter, shared food, and the unspoken understanding that life has been happening since the last time you saw each other… and somehow, you’ve all picked right back up where you left off.

That’s my supper club crew.

This past weekend, I had the absolute joy of hosting these beautiful humans in honour of our Laura’s 40th birthday—a milestone that deserved more than candles and a quick “cheers.” It deserved intention. It deserved excess. It deserved cheese. So much cheese.

If you know Laura (or are lucky enough to), you know a few things immediately. She is fierce, brave, and stunning in that effortless, grounded way. She is a force—the kind of woman whose presence fills a room before she even says a word. Her heart shines bigger than most, her energy is unmistakably her own, and my world—truly—is better because she’s in it.

She is also a woman who loves cozy clothing with the same passion others reserve for couture, and she loves cheese to a degree that borders on legendary. Last year, for her birthday, I sent her a bag of cheese. Not artisanal jam. Not flowers. Cheese. She told me, without hesitation, it was one of her favourite gifts she’d ever received. She also once casually mentioned that as a child, all she wanted from Santa was a wheel of cheese. Not a toy. Not a bike. A wheel.

So when asked what she wanted for her 40th? The answer was clear: sweatpants and cheese.

Naturally, I took this as a theme and a challenge.

Because when you love people like this—when you’ve chosen them, and they’ve chosen you—you don’t half-ass the celebration. You lean in.

First: the bar. A truly stunning bar, created by dear friends who poured their hearts (and serious talent) into a cocktail menu so good it could make even the most seasoned cocktail enthusiast weep. Every detail was thoughtful, every drink intentional, and it reminded me—yet again—how lucky we are to be surrounded by people who show up creatively and generously, every single time.

Second: cake. Because there is always room for cake. Our beloved Keely from Countryside Cakery—who loves Laura as fiercely as the rest of us—took my loose, emotional, slightly chaotic description of Laura and turned it into edible art. Bold. Beautiful. Full of personality. It surpassed anything I could have imagined, and honestly felt like another love letter sitting on the table.

And then… the cheese.

I was not about to give Laura a small charcuterie board. Absolutely not. This woman deserved an entire table. Weeks of planning went into it—ordering specialty items, making lists, dreaming up flavours, and mapping out a vision that lived somewhere between “rustic abundance” and “unhinged dairy fantasy.”

The night before, I started prepping. Cutting vegetables. Flavouring ricotta. Mapping out how the table would flow. There were lists of goals (yes, goals) for the cheese table. And then, the next day, with some elbow grease, a clear-ish vision, and the simple plan to just start cutting and assembling, it came together. I might even say—it was some of my finest work.

But here’s the thing: the goal was never perfection. The goal was simple. A room full of people we love. Food we all adore (because honestly, who doesn’t love charcuterie?). Beautiful drinks. Dessert. Laughter. Time. Togetherness. And that’s what we had.

This is what friendship looks like in its truest form—not the highlight reel, not the perfectly curated moment, but the effort. The planning. The showing up. The “I saw this and thought of you.” The tables built with love. The themes chosen just because they’ll make someone smile. The way conversation flows easily, as if life didn’t interrupt at all.

So, make your supper club crew. Gather the beautiful humans. Create experiences that feel like home. Celebrate loudly. Celebrate often. Catch up like no time has passed. Pick the theme. Plan the party. Honour the people.

Because good food is wonderful—but good people? They make life extraordinary.

And honestly… life is better with cheese.