A dinner with strangers

So, then, dinner with TEN TOTAL STRANGERS. That sounds like an AMAZING idea for a Friday night. WHERE CAN I DO SUCH A THING?

Well, any of you interested in food, (not foodies, this is an F-word free blog, doncha know?) who have wasted hours of your life tapping away on blogs and tweets and goodness only knows what else may just have heard of a Supperclub. Otherwise known as an Underground Restaurant. Otherwise known as going to a stranger’s house for food and giving them money for it. Otherwise, I now know as ruddy good fun.

I had been following Ms Marmite Lover on Twitter for a while now, who runs a pretty big underground operation in London and for an age now I have been reading her blog and exasperating that we have nothing like it in Belfast. Then, though Secret Belfast on Facebook, found we did have such delights in Belfast. Then, on Friday night, I found myself sat at a table with ten total strangers.

The food was excellent. Simple, not fussy, but really tasty.

While we waited for everyone to arrive, there were quail’s eggs, with cumin and salt to dip. Providing nibble was probably very good idea, because my nerves caused me to drink that first glass of wine at breakneck speed.

The spicy sweet potato soup to start was actually spicy, and had lovely homemade pitta-type bread with it. Yum.

Then, it was either roast mackerel or saag paneer, both with dahl and rice.

And notice the amount of coriander to garnish! It was my favourite thing, finding people who are not afraid of the herbs. I’m a bit or a coriander addict, so this was A Very Good Thing.

To finish, we had Tunisian orange cake with almonds and natural yoghurt. Gorgeous. And they even used local yoghurt, which equals extra brownie points from the little pink kitchen.

I really do have to say, though, that what made the whole thing so special (and fun) for me was the group of people there. A teacher, a GP, a businesswoman and more besides were all thrown together, and we really did have a lot of fun, and a lot of conversation.

This group picture here shows a ‘goodbye’ shot taken at quarter past 11, yet it was gone 12 before I was even thinking of home.

As a slight warning, if you are thinking of going to a supperclub, leave any pre-conceived notions at the door. You are going to a house, not a restaurant, so there will be mis-matched cutlery, wine mixups and an apology for the lack of a certain ingredient. If you think that will bother you, stay at home. If you want good food in a relaxed setting book now. I might even see you there.

Plot 15 SupperClub
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