Pasta With Purpose - Fundraising Event

On the 11th of July, we came together with Anton Curmi for Pasta With Purpose, a dinner event held at the Victoria Scout Group Headquarters in Rabat, Gozo.

The idea behind the evening was simple. We wanted to cook a meal that felt generous, honest and full of purpose, while supporting two cause

s that matter to the community. Proceeds from the night went towards The Burnt Chef Project and the Victoria Scout Group.

For us at Nelli’s, this event felt close to home. It brought together food, hospitality, voluntary work and community, all in one room. It was not about creating something overly formal or polished. It was about putting care into the food, welcoming people around the table and using the evening to give something back.

Together with Anton, we prepared a pasta led menu that started with Nelli’s cured meats, focaccia, crackers, chutneys, house pickles and ferments.

From there, guests moved through casarecce with garden pesto and stracciatella, cavatelli with duck ragù, and tortelloni with nduja butter. To finish, we served Maltese bread tiramisu, a familiar flavour reworked into something comforting and memorable.

What we loved most was seeing the room slowly come to life. Plates moved across the table, conversations grew louder, people asked questions, and the food became a way into something bigger. It was not only about what was being served, but about why everyone had gathered in the first place.

The Burnt Chef Project is a cause that speaks directly to the realities of the hospitality industry. Behind the pace, pressure and energy of kitchens, there are challenges that are not always visible. Supporting a project that raises awareness around mental health in hospitality felt important to us, especially as people working within food ourselves. To read more about the cause, visit this link here.

The Victoria Scout Group also holds an important place in the local community. Supporting voluntary groups like this matters because they create spaces for young people to learn, grow and feel part of something, often through the dedication of people who give their time quietly and consistently. To read more about the cause, visit this link here.

Events like this remind us that food does not have to exist only as a product or a service. It can carry intention. It can create awareness. It can help people show up for one another.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, supported, donated, helped, cooked, served and shared the evening with us. Thank you to Anton for joining us in the kitchen and bringing his craft to the table, and to the Victoria Scout Group for hosting us.

Pasta With Purpose was exactly what we hoped it would be: good food, good people and a reason behind every plate.