NYC Supper Clubs

I'd be very interested in trying this out! But, if you're cooking for 10 people, prices can easily rise very quickly (since you're not buying in bulk). I've easily spent $150 cooking an elaborate meal for ten, and I doubt it was half as elaborate as the one described above. Plus, they've got to turn a profit...

I think $40/person for four courses is reasonable for a nicemeal out.

I suppose you have a point about buying retail food items. I'm kind of interested in trying it again as well.... When I went to one of these "supper clubs" it happened to be with a big group of friends; I'm interested in doing it with a bunch of strangers, just for kicks.

I actually mentioned the idea to my girlfriend once, but she told me she didn't like the idea of slaving over a hot stove for anyone, especially a large crowd.

@BroadwayBK I actually saw a feature on NYC supper clubs on a show that featured British chef Jamie Oliver's visit to NYC. The supper clubs that he visited were in Queens and then he hosted a similar dinner at the sublet that he was renting in the West Village. He too charged $30-$40 per head but he donated all the money to charity..I guess as a super chef celebrity he could do so but I agree with ajadedidealist costs for food and alcohol when cooking for a big group can quickly add up and $40 per head for four courses doesn't sound like too much though I wouldn't want to host a club at my apartment. The clean up after alone would deter me.

Haha, yeah @uptowngirl. I didn't even think about who would be doing the dishes! That's probably a bigger issue than the cost for me.

Too true. I hate dishes and I can't bear for anyone else to be in the kitchen when I'm using it (it's somewhat tiny, of course).

@BroadwayBK Me too, I hate it when people come over to 'help' I much rather do it on my own.

So what's the advantage to doing this? At $40 per guest I doubt the cook is making much money? Why do you want to be chef-slave for the night to 10 of your friends and/or strangers? Seems unnecessarily masochistic.

I doubt it seems masochistic to everyone. This is exactly the sort of thing my roommate loves to do - she loves being around people all the time, and is a pretty good cook. I suppose it's true that a good hostess is born rather than made; it's certainly not for me either.

But that said I wouldn't mind going to a dinner party or two.

@NeverSleeps Its always easier to be the guest rather than the hostess isn't it?On that particular TV program that I mentioned earlier, the supper club hosted by Jamie Oliver seemed to be a lot of fun with many eclectic guests and much delicious food.

@NeverSleeps More power to the ones who want to do the cooking! I would love to be a guest at a few more dinner parties too. I've never enjoyed being the cook at my own party because I have to focus too much on getting the food right to actually interact with my friends as much as I'd want.

I wouldn't mind playing hostess once in a while, but of course it's much nicer to be a pampered guest, isn't it? And if I'm shelling out $40 for a dinner party, I'd expect to be such a guest.

Also, I couldn't see myself charging for a dinner party, at least not for friends. I can just imagine what my mother would say!

@BroadwayBK Seriously! I come from people who would be mortified to be such bad hosts that they actually charge their guests for anything. In the past I've even felt squeamish asking guests to bring drinks for informal parties, and just just felt happy when anyone thought to do so.

@BroadwayBK, Uraniumfish I totally agree.. I could never charge my guests money but as Uraniumfish says wine bottles are always welcome.

@Uraniumfish @uptowngirl And part of the fun of giving a dinner party is treating your friends - it's an awesome thing to do for people you love. And of course I always bring a bottle of wine to a dinner party. To any kind of party, really!

I'd much rather throw a party that involved a punch bowl and a few aperitifs. And I'm with you guys - I can't imagining asking my friends to pay me for my troubles, but I understand that these supper clubs are somewhere in between eating at a restaurant and a friend's apartment.

I still remember that I owe you guys a party when I am back in NYC! don't worry I will not be charging anyone! I hope I can make it back in Spring or early summer and the weather is good.

@uptowngirl I'll bring a bottle of bubbly!

@BroadwayBK Yay! love bubbly! Have been buying a good sparkling wine recently, the Jacobs Creek Sparkling rose and Sparkling Pinot Noir ..a good enough substitute for the real bubbly.

@uptowngirl Ooh, I'm there, with a bottle of Cremant, and (if you want to hear it) a mini-lecture on Cremant / Champagne nuances.

@Uraniumfish The Cremant is totally welcome.. will keep everyone posted once we firm up plans and tickets.