Chef Fermín Núñez, co-owner of the popular restaurants Suerte and Este in Austin, has a unique Sunday routine. Instead of spending the day sorting laundry or dreading the upcoming week, Núñez spends Sundays cleaning his porrón (a traditional Spanish wine pitcher) and preparing a hearty paella - large enough to feed at least 80 people, the usual turnout for his legendary Dominguitos events.

The term Dominguitos, meaning 'Little Sundays' in Spanish, is Núñez’s way of transforming what is typically a 'chore day' into a day filled with joy, celebration, and community spirit. The idea was born three years ago when the chef was seeking to widen his circle of friends beyond just fellow chefs. The irregular weekend schedules of those in the hospitality world can make socializing tricky, but Dominguitos provides valuable shared downtime with those outside the industry.

The location of Dominguitos changes regularly; sometimes it is held in Núñez's backyard, other times at a friend's house. Despite its fluid nature, there are certain traditions at Dominguitos. Núñez always dons white – the unofficial Dominguitos dress code, and he always prepares food for a crowd, typically a dish he doesn’t make in his restaurants, like paella. Cooking is done on Núñez's small Lodge Sportsman’s Pro Grill, and everyone is welcome, as long as they are ready to enjoy themselves.

Many esteemed guests have graced Dominguitos, including chefs and restaurateurs from prominent Austin hotspots, local entrepreneurs, musicians, and even Núñez’s mother, Elvira. While Núñez provides the main paella dish and a refreshing salad, guests also contribute-bringing snacks like Buffalo wings and souvlaki for the grill and sharing their favorite beverages. The celebrations typically wrap up with attendees chanting the Dominguitos slogan, “Dominguitos, no te acabes!” which means "Little Sundays, don't ever end!"

Even when the party is over, the spirit of Dominguitos still lingers on, carrying Núñez and his guests through to the next occasion, a few months later. Núñez sums it up best: “Dominguitos is not just an event, it’s an attitude. It’s about cherishing the time you have away from your demanding day-to-day tasks.”