Underground Supper Clubs
There are about 70 supper clubs in the United States. In Canada, the number is unknown. For the most part, unlike the United States and Europe where private supper clubs are legal, Canada is on the border and has yet to officially rule them as legal business ventures.
The Ghetto Gourmet
Founded in 2004, The Ghetto Gourmet was created by brothers, Jeremy and Joe Townsend in Oakland, CA. Referred to as underground dinner parties, random strangers meet for food and entertainment at a private place which may include a home, museum or an organic farm. In order to be part of this private gathering, an online reservation is required along with a donation ranging from $30 to $75 depending on the event. Strangers receive a restaurant quality setting from printed menus, glassware and lit candles. The difference is there are no waiters hovering over you and no additional noises from other tables. It is strangers meeting strangers all seated at one table. The Ghetto Gourmet hosts about 75 events across the country each year.
The Hidden Kitchen
Located in Sacramento, CA, husband and wife team, Dennis and Mary Kercher founded The Hidden Kitchen. The Kercher’s believe that people are seeking a different kind of dining experience and supper clubs like theirs are filling that gap. The couple host a five course dinner once a month for 10 to 12 people at their home. Currently, The Hidden Kitchen has a three year waiting list of 400 people.
The Hidden Lounge
Gillian Young, 21, is a bartender and Durant Ellis, 28, is a professional chef. They are the founders of The Hidden Lounge located in their Toronto loft. Inspired by the founders of The Hidden Kitchen, Ms. Young and Mr. Ellis believe their underground supper club can be a profitable venture. Phil Sheckley, a Toronto restaurant manager who has participated in one of the couple’s events believes that The Hidden Lounge fills a niche that is not offered in mainstream restaurants and that is exclusivity. For a fee of $30 to $120 per person, guests can enjoy a gourmet meal accompanied with good wine and a chance to meet new people. Interested guests can sign up on their website where they will be contacted by email for directions. Ms. Young and Mr. Ellis plan to grow their business by focusing on business meetings, birthdays and foodies across the city.
Controversial Parties
Because of the bordering laws in Canada of hosting private parties for profit, underground supper clubs are deemed barely legal. Classifying what makes a restaurant versus what is classified as a business is a controversial issue. A home based catering business can be labeled as illegal due to government regulations. However, people continue to run food businesses from their home hoping never to be caught.
Interestingly, private events such as those conducted by The Hidden Lounge, avoid several regulations. According to Jim Chan, manager of Toronto Public Health’s food-safety program states, “if only private guests are invited, the lounge isn’t a restaurant. That would be classified as a private party.” Registering it as a restaurant would require mandatory add-ons such as a commercial dishwasher, extra bathroom and insurance to cover the guests. If this is the case, why do catering businesses have to hide? Isn’t the only difference the way we sell our food? We still have to prepare the food in our own home kitchen.
So a business prepared from home and sold to customers is considered illegal, but a business hosting a private party for a profit is considered barely legal. Confused? It doesn’t seem to make sense. I predict more private dinner clubs will be launched. The Hidden Lounge may be one of many other supper clubs that exist in Canada but due to laws, their identities may be kept as a secret.
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