Barbuzzo vet launching a supper club in old Arbol Cafe garden
This summer, Nikki Hill, former sous chef at Barbuzzo, and her girlfriend, vocalist Claire Wadsworth, will launch La Copine, a roving supper club, catering service and prepared-foods line.
Barbuzzo vet launching a supper club in old Arbol Cafe garden

This summer, Nikki Hill, former sous chef at Barbuzzo, and her girlfriend, vocalist Claire Wadsworth, will launch La Copine, a roving supper club, catering service and prepared-foods line.
"Claire and I have been talking for a long time about starting our own business," says Hill, who before Barbuzzo worked at Lolita, Bindi and Matyson, where she's currently back part-time. "I want to be my own boss and do something new and different." That'll start out in June with monthly 12- to 15-person dinners under the stars in the corner garden adjacent the recently shuttered Arbol Cafe at Secod and Poplar. (Hill and Wadsworth's friends own the space and are in the process of getting it licensed.) The al fresco feasts will run though September, then move indoors as a residential series, where hosts will eat free in exchange for their dining room. Hill already has interested parties in South Philly and Fishtown.
La Copine's dinners with be advance-purchase only via PayPal on La Copine's website, currently under construction by designer Kathryn Whyte (virtuoso behind Barbuzzo et al's spot-on visuals) — one of several talented friends Hill and Wadsworth are artistically collaborating with on this project. "We’'e had millions of our friends that have offered to help," says Hill. Among them: local illustrator (and Drawing for Food co-blogger) Kris Chau (designing the logo) and glass artist Snic (blowing custom goblets). Wadsworth’s musical connects will provide entertainment.
"For me, it's all about food and cooking and giving people an alternative experience to restaurants," says Hill. "Now I have the creative freedom I've always wanted."
Stay tuned to Meal Ticket for emerging details on La Copine.
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