A New Dining Landscape
The supper club culture has come a long way. During the Prohibition days supper clubs were secret underground establishments that served a means to an end, most notably serving alcohol “under the table.” The Mad Men days brought forth the more American-style supper clubs, where restaurants dished up a healthy serving of prime rib, a baked potato and a cocktail. Now, the hipster and foodie crowds have turned these dinner parties into a thriving dining landscape, breeding new types of chefs and patrons.
Today’s supper clubs, often nicknamed underground pop-ups, are about chefs pushing their culinary limits. These dinners allow chefs the freedom to delve into new cooking experiences. There’s typically no menu. Patrons come hungry and eager to try adventurous courses, which allows chefs to interact with their patrons on a deeper level than they would at more traditional restaurants. And the communal table is back, providing a place for passionate foodies to gather. Join this new secret society; all it takes is little Google action and asking around town. Your taste buds will thank you.
Coquine
Coquine Supper Club (pictured in top photo also)
Created in 2012, Coquine Supper Club allows chef Katy Millard’s talent to shine while her team prepares for the opening of a brick and mortar restaurant in Portland. An ever-evolving pop-up restaurant experience, Coquine’s locations range from feasts in the fields of local farms to harvest dinners in wine cellars and a series of restaurant takeovers. Menus focus on seasonal ingredients, celebrating vegetables at their peak and sustainably, sourced meat and seafood. The food is thoughtful, sophisticated and unfussy. Contact: [email protected]
Goose & Fox
Goose & Fox is a chef-driven underground dining scene loosely inspired by good whiskey and rock ‘n’ roll. Led by executive chef and proprietor Greg Combs, the dinner parties are hosted at private locations. Patrons learn of the location the day before the dinner. Once there, guests are invited to participate in the evening, from plating to running food. Contact: [email protected]
photo by Cindy Kunst
Blind Pig is a local group of chefs who gather to cook as friends and also give back to the community through highly focused concept dinners. Blind Pig includes several styles of cooking and a wide range of cuisines showcasing new talent and inspire creativity among the gastronomic arts. Contact: [email protected]
In D.C. a hostess who goes by the name of Geeta welcomes guests to Hush Supper Club, a learning and culinary experience. Guests convene in her 19th century-inspired salon and rarely leave before midnight. Geeta serves authentic vegetarian Indian food from her Gujarati culture and her religion, Jainism, and takes patrons on what she calls a spice tour, the culinary backstory to the meal. Contact: [email protected]
Hush
Top notorious supper clubs
Bunna Café, NYC
Clandestino Dining, Los Angeles
Cobaya, Miami
Ghetto Gourmet, Oakland, California
Holdfast Dining, Portland, Oregon
L’oca D’oro, Austin
The Four Coursemen, Athens, Georgia
The Whisk and Ladle, Brooklyn
Wolvesmouth, Los Angeles
