Supper clubs

Kerstin Rodgers of Ms Marmite Lover (Source: Condé Nast Traveller)

[Back again now after Blogger's technical hitches!]

I was listening to the radio recently when I heard an interview with Ms Marmite Lover (aka Kerstin Rodgers) talking about her latest idea, which she has aptly entitled a ‘food rave’. It’s a type of underground, after-hours farmers’ market that she hosts in her own home in London. The first underground market took place in San Francisco and its success has now spread over the pond to London. Judging by the photos of the kinds of stalls and items sold, it looks like it would have been a lot of fun.

I hadn’t heard of Ms Marmite Lover until recently and while listening to the interview, I found out that she was also the woman responsible for starting one of the UK’s first supper clubs, ‘The Underground Restaurant’. For those of you that don’t know, this involves creating a restaurant in your own living room. Guests buy tickets online and are later informed of the address of the ‘restaurant’ where they will most likely enjoy a set menu surrounded by people they have never met before. Some of the nights are themed with e.g. Moroccan food or comedy and music nights, and Ms Marmite Lover has even hosted some film club nights which look particularly cosy.

Source: Ms Marmite Lover

I think it’s a really innovative idea and a great way to bring people together to enjoy a nice meal. It makes going out for dinner a bit different and special and to some extent slightly more relaxed since you’re in someone’s home. I think this would make for a really nice atmosphere and I certainly wouldn’t mind trying to go along to one some day.

You can find a list of other supper club locations (including some in Spain) here on Kerstin’s blog (she has recently published the ultimate guide to the supper club scene Supper Club: recipes and notes from The Underground Restaurant (Collins) if you're interested in finding out more).

 

Carla