Every month, I get together with seven other friends as part of our supper club. I love gathering around the table, eating freshly prepared dishes and catching up on each other’s busy lives. There’s always lots of laughter, some great stories, and interesting discussions.

Getting a supper club started is a lot easier than you’d think. Here are some suggestions for starting one of your own:

Guest list
Think about the people you’d love to spend time with. Not everyone has to be a fabulous cook, but a love of food is definitely encouraged. I find that a group of 6 or 8 people is the most manageable.

Frequency
How often do you want to meet? Some supper clubs meet every month and others are just once a quarter. At the end of every dinner, we all pull out our iPhones to schedule our next meeting. You can also use an electronic invitation such as Evite.

Menu
Who gets to cook? Since my husband and I are chefs, the cooking duties usually fall on our shoulders. But we do choose a menu based on input from other guests making sure to consider people’s likes, dislikes, and dietary restrictions. Sometimes we choose a theme, like make your own sushi, where everyone has a hand in making dinner.

Location
Some clubs rotate around between houses while others are at the same location. If none of your supper club members have children, having a different venue each time can be fun. The host then becomes responsible for the theme, dishes, and decorations, while the guests can bring a bottle of wine or non-alcoholic beverage to share.

Resources
Want more ideas on super supper clubs? Check out Bon Appétit magazine. Each month they have a section called Cooking Club where they feature menus specifically designed for supper clubs. Groups can either divide the dishes among members or the host can tackle them all. It’s a fun way to try new foods and techniques.

Happy cooking!

 Leave a Comment