Resolution #2: Tales of a Supper Club
New Year’s Resolution #2: Try new recipes and host more dinner parties.
I already love to cook, and I cook a lot, but sometimes I get a little safe and predictable. Fish, pasta, stir-fry. Lather, rinse, repeat. Dinner parties push me to be bolder and more adventurous in the kitchen, and there is nothing better than enjoying a home-cooked, five-hour-plus feast (and many bottles of wine) with a group of friends.
Brian and I decided to get ambitious last weekend. We invited a bunch of people we know (and some we sort of know) over to our wee apartment for our very first Saturday night supper club. The concept is simple:
1. Send out an invitation to a bunch of people and accept the first 10 to 20 who can make it (we capped ours at 15 because there’s no way we could cram any more into our place), friends of friends and plus-ones more than welcome. Ask people to bring whatever they want to drink, a $20 donation and an empty belly.
2. Create a menu, preferably based on a theme (you know how we love themes). We were originally going to do a Carnival theme in time for Mardi Gras, but scheduling and procrastination got in the way, and it became a Lenten theme (Are you giving up something for Lent? Too bad! We’re probably serving it.).
3. Make the apartment presentable, cook like crazy, eat, drink and be merry!
I’ve been fascinated with supper clubs for a few years, after reading about underground versions in big cities and attending a delicious event thrown by The Ghetto Gourmet, a “wandering supper club” in San Francisco. I love the idea of taking a bunch of foodies– some friends and some strangers– and throwing them together at the same dinner table.
I had toyed with the idea of starting one here but always came up with excuses not to: we don’t really know that many people here, it sounds like a lot of work, what if no one wants to come, that sort of thing. Then Melia and Darren sent us a copy of Forking Fantastic! Put the Party Back in Dinner Party, written by two hilarious women who have been hosting Sunday night dinners twice a month for years in New York City. Their attitude is refreshingly unpretentious and approachable, their recipes and tips are great and their bottom-line message is: you can do this, so stop being a wuss and just give it a shot. That sealed the deal. We had to do this. Read this excerpt from their book and tell me you’re not inspired:
We do it because at every meal, our extended social community reknits itself in a fascinating way: The former priest turned calligraphy professor sits next to the design-school student; the hedge fund guy chats with the environmental activist. Neighbors drop by and meet people who live on the other side of the city. Sometimes they’re all crammed on a sofa together; sometimes they get to sprawl out in the yard and spot lightning bugs in the grass. But our “hungry kiddies” (as we’ve come to call them in our email invitations) always surprise us with their willingness to eat just about anything we throw at them and their enthusiasm for talking to whoever winds up sitting in the next chair. We know from experience: Some of the best friendships are forged around the dinner table– and in the kitchen.
Food, wine, community. These are the things that make me happiest. We had 10 people at our first supper club, and everyone had a blast (or they’re very good at faking it). The food was pretty darn good, the wine and mint juleps flowed generously and the guests got along swimmingly. It was a relaxed, decidedly un-fancy affair, with mismatched plates, plastic folding chairs and brown butcher paper in lieu of tablecloths. Martha Stewart would have had a heart attack, which means it was exactly my kind of party. I’m looking forward to making this a monthly affair, and I hope we’ll continue to have a fantastic mix of people and food.
Check out the complete menu and a few recipes here. Brian is going on a three-month deployment in a couple weeks, so we’ll have to wait a bit for another supper club event, but I’m already brainstorming ideas for the next theme. Suggestions?
12 comments
We had a blast. The food and mint juleps (even my weak sauce one) were delish! Can’t wait for the next one…
(nice final photo)
hey gill,
what a grand idea! i know some ppl in sf who did this every wed. anyway, a girl i know has an awesome food blog about organic/ high nutrient meals. i thought you would enjoy it:
http://www.paprikahead.com/
Thanks, T-money. Can’t wait for round two soon! And that series of photos was pretty classy. We are ladies.
Ooh, love the blog, Marina! I am so hooked on food blogs right now, so this is perfect. When are you going to fly out here so you can wine and dine with us?
I am so happy that “Forkin’ Fantastic” inspired this awesome dinner party, and more to come! Now you’re inspiring me to do something like that here in Jackson. I love cooking simple gourmet meals, but I haven’t gotten very adventurous with the recipes or planned an entire menu (since that time when you and I played restaurant for Mom and Dad). Keep us posted on community dinners to come!
In related news, a friend just sent me this link — http://www.frugalfoodies.com — for people who want to meet up weekly and eat a vegetarian meal together. Pretty awesome.
Gillian,
Enjoyed your post! You make cooking sound like a lot of fun! I saw your article on Mari McCarthy’s blog about your journaling experience. I enjoyed reading about how you used your journal during a very challenging time in your life and what a difference in made for you while in France. I am an avid journaler myself and appreciated your story.
I want to personally invite you to a chat on Twitter I host called #JournalChat for all things journaling! It’s every Thursday at 2 EST/11 PST. You’re welcome to stop by and share the benefits of your journaling experience, perhaps inspiring others to give journaling a try. You can follow me on Twitter @JournalChat or at my personal @journalwriter7 for details. Here’s a link for more info: http://journalwriter.blogspot.com/p/journalchat-on-twitter-intro.html
Be refreshed,
Dawn Herring
Melia, that book is so awesome! I hope you guys do something similar in Jackson– the food we served really wasn’t all that fancy or high-maintenance, just simple and delicious. And that dinner we did when we were kids was so cool! I remember making menus out of construction paper.
Dawn, thanks so much for the comment, and I’m really glad you enjoyed both of my posts. JournalChat sounds interesting, and I’ll definitely check out the info and see what it’s like. Thanks for the invite!
I’m slowly spreading the Forkin’ Fantastic love — just sent Margaret a copy for her birthday, and she loves it as much as we do. “The Hour of Self-Loathing,” about the moments when guests begin to arrive and dinner isn’t ready yet, was my favorite section.
That’s a crackerjack answer to an interesting question
Yay!! Congrats Pamela and John. So pleased that the big day has been and gone. Having adlivy followed Pam’s exploits in planning this wedding, from fizzy-pop excitement, shoe difficulties and a rather fab Hen Do, I wish you both every hapiness as husband and wife!Lots of Love,Amy xxx
It certainly wouldn’t be if you’re expecting them to use the same doctrine as a trained and properly equipped marine force. Remember that the force head is a Grayson princess and an ex-Marine with some Grayson Armsman training from San Martino. Traditionally Grayson women didn’t have a lot of formal education; they learned on the job and undoubtedly learned to improvise: the right way is the way that works and doesn’t cause trouble for everyone else.Also remember that this is primarily a civilian station: civilian casualties aren’t something they want.I have no idea what they’re going to do, if they’re going to do anything at all, but I don’t expect it to look like standard Marine doctrine.
I imagine you are doing a faasittnc job of moderating. Charging the minimum you do is another way to screen.My favorite poetry site is my own, of course. But the National Poetry Foundation is probably the recommendation you are looking for. I generally dislike poetry because most of it buys into silly, romantic idealism or is stuffy and vague or private and not real communication. But then, I am a poetry buffoon!!
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