Field Notes: Luca's Story
We all need an Italian friend who loves to feed us.
Food was never just food. It was connection.
Growing up in Italy, Luca was elbow-deep in pots and pans alongside his mum and nonna. The kind of family kitchen where recipes are less about measurements and more about love, instinct, and tradition.
I’ve been lucky to be generously fed by Luca. And let me tell you, his pizza? Absolutely addictive. There’s a rhythm to it, especially when he shows you how to smack your dough just right, giving it that extra oomph that takes it from good to unforgettable.
Fast forward to Singapore; a city buzzing with flavours, but still missing some of that authentic Italian magic Luca grew up with.
By day, he works a steady 9-to-5. By night, he’s building his private catering business, turning his passion into a side hustle that feels like home. On top of that, he’s juggling life as a partner, training hard for Hyrox competitions, and still finding time to keep that kitchen fire burning.
He says a happy man is a busy man and honestly, watching him balance it all, I get it. There’s something electric about being in constant motion, chasing your dreams while staying grounded in what you love.
Chatting with him was fun and insightful. The reason why he started his Instagram reels (to attract the ladies. Naughty.) and how he views Singapore’s Italian scene.
Most importantly, I see a lot of myself in Luca’s story, especially with my current move to Melbourne and still feeling unanchored, ungrounded at times.
It’s that weird in-between space where you’re not quite who you were before, but you haven’t fully become who you’re meant to be yet. That limbo can feel isolating and exhausting when you carry the weight of expectations, from yourself, from others, but also the deep knowing that growth is messy, uneven, and often lonely.
There are days when the uncertainty feels like a pull on your nerves, a quiet question echoing: Am I really doing the right thing?
And yet, despite the heaviness, despite the fear, I keep showing up (or attempt to). I try to keep putting one foot in front of the other, building something imperfect but mine. Because sometimes the hardest part is simply choosing to stay in the game when everything inside you wants to fold.
Luca’s journey reminded me that being ungrounded doesn’t mean you’re lost. It means you’re in transition, a necessary (but excruciating) stretch toward something new. And that’s okay. We get to be messy and unsure, as long as we keep moving forward.
Luca’s advice? Stop overthinking and just go for it.
📝What passion have you been putting off because it feels too messy to start?
Until the next stop,
keep holding space for the journey,
Al
So here’s to the kitchens where we learn, fail, and come back stronger.
To the hustle, the heat, and the joy of creating something fresh from scratch.
And the courage to keep cooking anyway.
🎧 If you’re into warm stories, food journeys, and chasing dreams in new cities… listen in to Luca’s hot takes about food.
And if you loved it, pass it on to someone who needs the reminder that your voice matters—even when it feels too small, too soft, or too late.