Starting from the 15th of September, The Junction’s Talulah will come to life every Friday night with a casual pop-up Italian cucina. Osteria Papazzo is here to bring you an authentic Italian dining experience.  

Brought to you by Alessandra Papazzo, Osteria Papazzo is Newcastle’s newest dining experience that injects a new approach to our local scene.  

Originating from the vibrant streets of Napoli, Alessandra has been living, and travelling across the globe before settling here in February this year with her partner, Christian and son, Marley. Alessandra’s Osteria Papazzo and her creative Italian flair is a welcome and infectious addition to Newcastle.

“Over the past 30 years, my culinary endeavours have spanned the globe, gracing tables with flavours that tell stories of shared moments. Whether it was the intimate gatherings of friends, family, clients, or the selfless acts of volunteering, each experience has nurtured my love for the art of nourishment,” Alessandra said.

After arriving in Newcastle, Alessandra dropped into The Junction’s Talulah to discuss offering her floral work whilst she got to know our local culture and community.  

“On the first day of doing my flowers, Jack [owner of Talulah] had said, when are you going to do the food pop-ups?”

Since then, Osteria Papazzo has quietly been serving The Junction community with two ‘multi-sensory’ nights – intimate fine dining nights – casual pop-ups, and collaborative dinners with other local businesses.

“My focus was to always offer something that was regular. I wanted to do something that was every week and people knew they could come in and know what to expect. There would always be two to three signature dishes, plus three unique dishes.”

The casual pop-up nights will officially be happening every Friday night as of the 15th of September at Talulah and is available for both takeaway and dine-in. Everyone is welcome, and live music will kick off at 6pm.

“I want people to keep coming back and trying the different dishes. Napoli was invaded by so many people over the years from all around the world, so the Napoli cuisine has so many different influences, and people don’t know that.”

The casual popup cucina brings authentic flavours, handcrafted food, and the Italian way of eating together – all crafted with love, enthusiasm, and warmth by Alessandra herself.

The multi-sensory nights at Talulah have so far been a hit, with both events in June selling out. What exactly are these multi-sensory nights?

“We create a whole beautiful flavoursome experience that will awaken all your senses. They are ticketed events, and they are for a very limited group of guests.

“On Friday 13th of October, we will be celebrating spring and Osteria Papazzo’s new branding colours. The tables will be styled with our new branding colours. Thursday, the 21st of December will be an authentic Neapolitan Christmas night.”

The multi-sensory nights are an all-encompassing dining experience, that Alessandra hopes to offer four to six times a year.

“Osteria Papazzo is not just a culinary venture; it’s a manifestation of my passion for cooking and an embodiment of the beautiful connections forged through food.”

To ensure you don’t miss out on a spot at one of the weekly pop-up events, book your table now. Or follow along on Instagram to know what’s next on the agenda for Alessandra and Osteria Papazzo.