Healthy Supper Clubs Across the Country
The demand for inventive yet clean cuisine has never been higher. Both established chefs and the culinary scene’s underground mavericks have taken note, creating intimate supper clubs offering prix-fixe meals with the health-conscious in mind all over the United States. With inventive plating, premium ingredients, secret mailing lists, and cool locales, eating well has never been such a thrill. Here is a short list of the ones doing it right.
MULTI-CITY
Vegan Secret Supper Club: NY, Vancouver and Montreal
Self-taught chef Merida Anderson pioneered the concept of the vegan supper club. She’s been hosting lively plant-based affairs since 2008, offering elevated dishes like a pepper crusted cashew cheese plate with juniper tofu and olive tapenade. Her next dinner is rumored to be in NYC this month and if you can’t make her events, check out her cookbook, Vegan Secret Supper: Bold and Elegant Menus from a Rogue Kitchen.
Pasta Flyer
Famed Italian eatery Del Posto has launched a vegan tasting menu, and head chef Mark Ladner is planning a gluten free pasta pop-up tour across the country. Stay tuned!
Sushi Belly Tower: Marin County, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City
Founder Michael Stember (a former Olympian) has earned a cult following among discriminating Angelenos for creating elegantly laid-back experiences featuring premium fish, farm fresh vegetables, and an unbeatable ambiance. Guests have been so pleased with dishes like Scottish king salmon belly with pureed edamame, olive oil, dill, lemon and sea salt that they’ve been known to break out into song—to acoustic Radiohead, no less. He and his roving band of chefs and musicians just wrapped up residency in Northern California to move east to the Hamptons for a late summer stint. Demand is crazy for this one, but sign up for the mailing list
NEW YORK CITY
Suite Three Oh Six
At just 25 years old, Daphne Cheng oversees a budding vegan empire out of an airy white loft in Tribeca. Her fine dinning club and teaching academy offers cozy suppers featuring dishes like olive oil cake, tomatillo, carrot butter, black bean puree and thai basil pesto. She’s also partnered with Kitchen Surfing, a company that pairs patrons with chefs for private parties and events. Fans of Cheng’s “ethnically ambiguous” cuisine include Vera Wang and the Baldwins.
Topping Rose House, East Hampton, NY
Top Chef tough guy Tom Colichio is hosting a vegetarian tasting menu on Sundays this month and next as part of his Summer Farm Dinner series. Dinner starts at 6PM in the orchard so prepare for golden light with your golden beets—plus a Gwyneth or Rachel Zoe sighting.
Sunday Suppers
Started by wedding photographer Karen Mordechai, Sunday Suppers is a communal cooking center that hosts monthly dinners out of their Williamsburg loft as well as workshops on food styling and photography. Expect a different theme or chef each month. Their most recent “Spirit of the Sea” dinner was a collaboration with super chic Kinfolk magazine. Highlights included whole market fish baked in sea salt and lemon and potatoes with ramp salsa verde.
Young’s
Chef Jessica Young studied at the French Culinary Institute and worked at various NYC restaurants before striking out on her own. Her first pop up, in Chinatown this May, sold out instantly. She served thoughtful beer and cocktail pairings like a fava bean and spring pea custard chickpea crisps with a mint-infused Greenhook dry gin. Her next pop up is set for this month.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Zoetic Supper Club
Zoetic Supper Club started in Detroit as Chartreuse, but has since relocated to Los Angeles. Founder Corrine Rice aims to stimulate the senses with rotating musical acts and a roaming location. All ingredients are organic, raw, non-GMO, soy and gluten-free, and locally sourced. Instagram addicts take note—Corrine has an artist’s eye for composition. She’s popping up in Venice at the end of the month.
NV-DA
NV-DA, Cherokee for sun and moon, is a Venice pop up dinner series that’s part of a larger brand including a freestanding cafe offering raw and vegan food, as well as cleanses. Check out her online shop for her Transcendent Treat Collection, featuring cheeky delicacies like the Cosmic Caliente Cookie.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
The Roaming Spoon
The brainchild of Sacramento Chef Sylvanna Mislang, these bimonthly vegan dinners often have a specific theme. Next up, Russian! Mislang works with one local farmer to grow all her food. Tickets are available via Brownpaper tickets and the location is revealed to ticket owners the day of the event.
TEXAS
Bistro Vonish
Austin-based Chef Craig Vanis uses his four course vegan suppers as a testing ground for his soon to be opened fine dining restaurant. Says Vanis, “ I think we’re at a time where previously unglamorous ingredients such as collards, beets, and turnips are getting a lot of deserved recognition and becoming stars of the plate.” He’s currently dreaming up dishes for the fresh melons, heirloom tomatoes, peaches, and fresh herbs that are so popular during Austin summers.
