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Supper club

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A supper club, in general, refer to dining establishments that also function as a social club. While the term may describe different establishments depend on the region, in general supper club tend to present themself as having a high-class image, even if the price is affordable to all.

Supper club in United States

Supper club in United States is an American dining establishment generally found in the Upper Midwestern states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. These establishments typically are located on the edge of town in rural areas [1]. They were traditionally thought of as a "destination" where patrons would go to spend the whole evening, from cocktail hour to enjoying night club style entertainment after dinner [2]. They feature a casual and relaxed atmosphere [2].

Typical menu

Supper clubs generally feature "simple" menus with somewhat limited offerings featuring "American" cuisine [2]. Menus included dishes such as prime rib, steaks, chicken, and fish. An "all you can eat" Friday fish fry was particularly common at supper clubs in Wisconsin [3].

Relish trays featuring items such as crackers, carrots, pickles, radishes, and celery are typically served at the table on Lazy Susans [2].

History

The first supper club in the United States was established in Beverly Hills, CA by Milwaukee, WI, native Lawrence Frank [1]. They became popular during the 1930s and 1940s, although some establishments that later became "supper clubs" had previously gained notoriety as prohibition roadhouses [4].

Supper clubs can still be found in the Upper Midwest but they are now simply restaurants rather than the all-night entertainment destinations [3] of the past.

Supper clubs in the United Kingdom

Supper clubs in the UK takes the cabaret concept of the American 1930s and 1940s and aimed to bring the ambience of the underground New York jazz club to the UK entertainment scene, where people could enjoy a dinner without the formality of a ball, whilst enjoying live music. These clubs were often the centre of social networks[citation needed] in both rural communities and cities. Traditional supper club menus consisted of standard American fare, and in the UK there was a concerted drive to give the food and wine a British twist.[citation needed]

Some supper clubs were purely informal dining societies whilst others incorporated musical acts to complement the atmosphere. There was also a form of supper club which acted as an informal dating platform. Both have largely been replaced by modern nightclubs.

Supper Clubs in Latin America

In Latin America, Supper Club typically denote underground restaurants, where they're known as either a paladar or a restaurante de puertas cerradas (locked door restaurant). While technically illegal, they're built into the culture, and often have higher standards than many licensed establishments.[5] They are becoming increasingly popular in the U.S.[6]

The attraction of the underground restaurant for the customer is to sample new food at low cost outside the traditional restaurant experience, which can be expensive and disappointing—underground restaurants have been described as "anti-restaurants." For the host, the benefit is to make some money and experiment with cooking without being required to invest in a restaurant proper. "It's literally like playing restaurant," one host told the San Francisco Chronicle, "You can create the event, and then it's over."[7]

In the UK Underground Restaurants and Supper Clubs have started to blossom, with reviews in leading newspapers such and The Times and The Guardian. They range across the UK but are mainly concentrated in London. These are advertised by word of mouth and on social media networks such as Facebook and MySpace. They have grown so much in popularity that you can now find social networks dedicated soley to underground dining. supperclub fan group

A brief list of supper clubs in the United States

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Supper Clubs: Buildings with Taste", Wisconsin State Historical Society
  2. ^ a b c d Dennis Getto, "Supper clubs that are a cut above prime time", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  3. ^ a b "Savoring the Past: Supper Clubs"
  4. ^ Brenda K. Bredahl, "The state of the supper club scene", Chicago Tribune, August 26, 2007.
  5. ^ Perlman, Dan. Mi casa, su cuenta, The Guardian, April 17, 2008.
  6. ^ Smillie, Susan. Going underground, The Guardian, May 29, 2009.
  7. ^ DeFao, Janine. Guerrilla Gourmet, San Francisco Chronicle, Jan 22, 2006.

Hidden Tea Room - www.hiddentearoom.com

Reference

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