I'll let you into a little secret. I'm not having beetroot carpaccio with merlot vinaigrette either. Well, not tonight. But I might, tomorrow. This isn't because I've won the pools (the pools? does anyone still do them?) or that I'm sitting on a secret stash that I've never let you in on. Nope. It's because I belong to a supper club. Sounds exclusive, doesn't it? That's because it is. Me and a few very select people (some of my bestest friends) belong. But that doesn't mean you can't start your own.
Ever stopped reading a review of a restaurant in a newspaper thinking; why am I reading this? I'm never going to go there, it's too expensive? With a supper club this need never happen. The world is your oyster.
The secret? Open a bank account. That's the tricky bit. Then you and your chosen few put a few quid (£10 or £20 should do it) in a month, and after six months, voila! You have £60-120 to spend every six months. Suddenly all those expensive restaurants you read about are within reach. You can plot or plan which one to go to. My husband has a supper club and each member takes a turn choosing the restaurant, not divulging the destination until they've all met in the pub beforehand.
If you're canny you won't have a blow out each time. Instead you'll go to some buzzy place, with a great reputation, which doesn't cost the earth. Our inaugural supper club was at the Lahore Kebab House about ten years ago. The restaurant was cheap - water came from a water fountain at the side of the restaurant, busy and delicious. We spent about a tenner each. Which meant we had LOADS for our next meal at Roka. And when the bill comes you hardly even notice because you have already paid. It is like it's FREE!
The best thing about supper club is that it is an unmoveable date in the diary. So often going out has to be rescheduled because of work, school or clashes with spouse's social life (Mr McDonald!) but you can't reschedule supper club. It is in the diary months in advance and it's special status means you get to see a group of your closest bestest friends on a regular-ish basis. Plus eat great food.
I thoroughly recommend it.
What a brilliant idea.
ReplyDeleteWhy, thank you! Give it a go, really perks up your social calendar.
DeleteI would love to join a supper club. but my sister won't let me join hers.
ReplyDeleteas I said, it's exclusive.
DeleteI LOVE this idea. I will definitely be sharing this link with my friends and seeing who's up for our own club.
ReplyDeleteYay! You'll have a great time. Let me know how it goes.
DeleteI used to do this when I first moved to london. Would bring lunch to work every day saving self £10 a week which was put into a kitty, then once a month go for a blow-out meal somewhere fab (aw, the olden days, when you could eat like a queen in london for £40 a head...) I love this more grown up version - possibly something for next year. Or the year after. (Or whenever the nearly-cooked kid is sleeping through the night...)
ReplyDeleteI find now that it's less about the money (although obv it's always a bit about the money) and more about getting a date in the diary to see mates etc.
DeleteI'm part of a slightly different Supper Club. Every month, money is put into a kitty, and one person is in charge. They have to buy the wine, cook a three course dinner, and decorate the table as if we are at a restaurant. This means we eat like kings, make the use of all our fabulous cooking AND for so much cheaper than going out. Heaps of fun.
ReplyDelete