There’s a bit of la dolce vita happening in Minneapolis’s North Loop neighborhood. Fueled by community and ingenuity, destination retailer Martin Patrick 3 and acclaimed chef Jamie Malone came together earlier this year to celebrate the sweet life. The immersive experience inside her new dining studio, Petite Atelier, included an exquisite tasting menu with wine pairings by sommelier Bill Summerville, cocktails from 3leche, a fashion show, and a stunning tablescape featuring maximalist Italian brand La DoubleJ.
Photography by Isabel Subtil
The opulent occasion, dubbed A Dinner with La DoubleJ, was the culmination of years of building relationships. Malone has long been an MP3 client, and their natural rapport led to a creative culinary collaboration during the height of the pandemic. Her popular Keep It Grand kits — fine-dining takeout as an offshoot of her now-shuttered eatery — were accompanied by luxe MP3-curated home pairings, such as bar-cart essentials. (This concept still exists as Weekender with its delightful tag line, “Feed your inner bon vivant.”)
Last spring, Malone approached MP3 about her newest concept, Petite Atelier, situated just a block from the beloved boutique. She tapped the team to consult on interior design and tabletop picks, ultimately opting for La DoubleJ, a high-end homewares brand known for its bold colors and pattern-infused pieces. “I think Martin Patrick 3 is one of the best stores in the country, and I’m delighted to be able to do anything together,” Malone exclaims. “MP3 brings so much elegance, and La DoubleJ brings whimsy and happiness.”
MP3 Marketing Director Anthony Serino says the spectacular lifestyle soiree was a natural next step as both brands not only survived but thrived during rocky times. “I think people are starved for social interaction and fun,” he explains. “Being able to meld these brands and communities creates this incredibly wonderful atmosphere that allows people to connect authentically. What the La DoubleJ brand stands behind — “Live like an Italian” — plays into a bold, beautiful, colorful lifestyle experience, which is something we live and breathe
with our community.”
That verve echoes the vibrancy of the North Loop neighborhood. “Every week, something new and exciting is popping up here, and with it, this neighborhood continues to create these magnificent common outdoor spaces to congregate,” Serino explains. “It feels very lively and dynamic. I’m so excited because, as a community, we need it.”
The evening’s tasting menu featured delectable dishes like pike quenelles de brochet, black truffle and veal-stuffed quail, and lemon ricotta cake with chantilly and spiced preserved pears — all served to guests seated around one long table for a true communal experience. “This event was right in line with Jamie’s vision for the dining studio, creating an inventive culinary experience with the feeling that you’re at a private dinner party,” Serino says. Not unlike the dining experience MP3 encourages customers to create at home, too.
Serino is struck by how the serendipitous collaboration between MP3, Malone and La DoubleJ resulted in a unique dinner-and-a-show experience that accurately reflects that singular Italian directive to live in the moment. “The North Loop is such a special space,” he concludes. “It’s such a wonderful, community-oriented place to be.”
