WELCOME TO CHEF MAKALIMELA UNDERGROUND DINING
Shhh. Going underground to taste traditional French cuisine is proving a hit among restaurant-jaded Canadians. The idea is to bring people together to appreciate haute cuisine and maybe make some friends while they're at it.
The email went out at night, giving an address in Montreal West. The next day, those on the list entered the high-rise apartment building, passed a Grecian-style pool and then slipped into a specially marked room.
Inside, guests were already gathered, milling about amid steaming dishes set out on a long table. On the dot of 8 p.m., one of the organizers called for attention and began reeling off details of the buffet, in this instance cuisine from the South of France.
This clandestine operation is known as Underground Secret Dining, a regular event for food lovers in Canada and around the world. All that curious diners know in advance is that they will join the organizers “as we embark on a scrumptious adventure around France with fellow gourmet food lovers ”.
Passion for food, economic empowerment, historic preservation, edification, adventure and secrecy, Underground Secret Dining offers much to those on every side of the dining table.
While underground restaurants are relatively new in North America, they’ve been built into the Latin American culture for decades, and apparently often have higher standards than licensed restaurants. The concept is gaining popularity in Canada and the U.S., and it’s no secret why: they offer a chance to try new gourmet foods in an intimate, dinner-party atmosphere. In some cases, you could be dining with friends, in others, with complete strangers. The host gets to own a restaurant without all the costs of owning a restaurant proper, or having to do deal with the bureaucracy.
A win-win for everyone. Underground Dining is a new concept of clandestine dining taking hold over France after private supper clubs mushroomed all over the United-States. Hosts ready to cook for strangers, the concept is simmering in the country. In the midst of the economic crisis, the idea is appealing for the social aspect it encapsulates. Clandestine restaurants is modeled on the idea of couch-surfing, food-surfing, welcoming in your home guests who want to get an inside glimpse at the French lifestyle. Strangers gather at a private home to enjoy the culinary talents of their hosts.
So what is an Underground Dining? It’s basically a hidden restaurant, run out of somebody’s home. You convene in their living room and converse with strangers while the host cooks you a set meal in their own kitchen. The good is usually something creative or different, often with several courses and wine pairings. It’s part dinner party, part gourmet meal.
How do I get invited?
Social media such as Facebook and Twitter have helped underground groups flourish. Messages go out that a dinner will be in a certain vicinity on a certain date. The address where it’s going to be held isn’t emailed to attendees until the day before, or day of, the dinner.
Underground restaurants are eating establishment operated out of someone’s home. They are, in effect, paying dinner parties. They are usually advertised by word of mouth and more often on Facebook, and may require references to make a reservation. I am sending an invitation to all the Clandestine Chefs who would love to put on an Underground Diner and for people who would like to sign up fo an Underground Dining experience.
Take your pick, but be sure to give these spontaneous and tantalizing dinners a try. You’ll certainly be in for a surprise of one form or another!
