Ready to make new connections over delicious food? This guide shows you how to launch your own supper club.
Have you ever wanted to bring people together over incredible food and lively conversation, all within the intimate setting of your own home? Starting a supper club is a fantastic way to cultivate community, explore delicious cuisines, and forge lasting friendships.
When my kids were young, a small group of friends and I organized a supper club that met monthly to enjoy a fun night of food and drink.
Our supper club members all knew each other from our children’s preschool and we all had kids who were in pre-k or younger. As couples, we were all in the same boat with 2+ kids per family and wanted a night out with other adults.
For those of you with small children, you know how isolating that period is, so having an established monthly get-together was something our group looked forward to.
Through the years, I’ve known a several people who participated in supper clubs – some lasted a year while others lasted twenty years.
If this sounds like the perfect recipe for fun, let’s chat how you can turn your dining room into a hub for unforgettable culinary experiences.
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What is a Supper Club? A Complete Overview
Although it can be just about the food, supper clubs are more about the good time with great friends! Dinner groups are pre-planned dinner parties where group members commit to meeting regularly with common goals in mind.
The commitment part is the glue that holds the group together while fostering and strengthening relationships on an ongoing basis.
The more into food and entertaining a couple is, the more creative and engaging the supper club will be.
Starting Your Own Supper Club: What You Need to Know
There are several ways to organize a supper club. The following are a few suggestions based on things my group did. And it worked really well as we kept the group going for several years.
The only reason we stopped doing it over time was because our kids got so busy we were always in running in different directions so it was hard to plan.
The group eventually ran its course but we had a good 4 or 5-year run and some of our best memories are with that group!
Choosing the Right Members for Your Dinner Club
Find 5-6 couples who are willing to commit to a monthly or even bi-monthly dinner group schedule. You can do more or fewer couples but it seemed like 10-12 people for a dinner party was ideal.
There will always be someone who can’t make it but for the most part, 12 total people were our best number.
Before including members, be sure they are willing to commit to the group. Supper clubs work best when everyone is on the same page.
This does not mean everyone has to be in the same stage of life, but rather, means everyone is committed to participating and attending most, if not all gatherings.
We had six couples in our supper club and we rarely missed a night! I think we would have a serious case of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) if we couldn’t make it for some reason.
For a bunch of young parents with small kids, we knew how to have a good time and wanted to have that monthly outlet of just being with other adults.
Planning Your Supper Club Events: Tips and Ideas
Planning your supper club events with thoughtfulness and creativity is key to creating memorable gatherings that everyone looks forward to.
As you embark on this culinary journey, consider the diverse tastes and preferences of your members, the seasonality of ingredients, and the unique themes that can transport your group to different cultures and cuisines.
Effective planning ensures each event is not only a feast for the taste buds but also an occasion for meaningful connections and shared experiences. Let’s chat about how you can organize these super fun evenings that leave your guests eagerly anticipating the next one.
Set a Consistent Date for Your Supper Club Gatherings
Pick one night, like, the first Saturday of every month to schedule so it’s on everyone’s calendars and they can schedule around it.
For example, my virtual supper club meets every month the last Thursday and Saturday of the month to bring you table decor and entertaining ideas, as well as a menu of recipes for that month’s theme.
But my former dinner group of friends used to meet regularly the first Saturday night of the month like clockwork. We never changed the dates and if you couldn’t make it, it went on without you.
Because once you start moving dates around? You’ll never consistently get together.
So choose a date and stay firm with it.
Crafting the Perfect Supper Club Menu: From Appetizers to Desserts
Consider who brings what and the format of each dinner party. Our group decided we did not want to do a sit-down and opted to do mostly apps and 1-2 desserts.
But my virtual supper club does a mix of everything that includes a beverage, apps, main course, sides and desserts.
If you decide to do a sit-down, the host can do the main dish while others bring the sides and desserts. Ultimately, do what works for you and your group!
Top Tips for Efficiently Organizing Your Supper Club Events
The following are a few suggestions for organizing your supper club based on what we did. You don’t have to do all of these but they worked for my dinner groups and kept us on track each month.
- Each couple takes a turn hosting.
- The couple hosting picks a theme and everyone brings a dish and a spirit to support the theme.
- Dinner themes can be as simple as “Italian night” or can be more creative, like a murder mystery.
- Our group included a specialty drink for the night. For our first dinner club, one of our friends hosted an Italian themed dinner. Chris and I brought a bottle of Galiano and the running joke was how many dinner clubs would it take to finish it off. For the record, I think it took 3.
- Hosts would send out some sort of an invitation for the event – this can be as simple or as complex as you want. Have fun with it!
- We made ours a kid-less event, but if you want to have your kids there, go for it!
- For a few years, we did a bi-monthly dinner themed supper club and in the off months, we sampled restaurants we never visited before.
- Consider pre-planning for Uber, Lyft, taxi or other car service.
Creative Themes and Menus for Your Supper Club
Creating a theme for each supper club event can transform a simple dinner into an unforgettable experience. Start by choosing a concept that sparks excitement among your members—be it a Moroccan night, a ’60s retro dinner, or a tour through Mediterranean cuisines.
Once your theme is set, craft a menu that complements it. For a Moroccan evening, you could serve aromatic tagines and spiced couscous, while a retro event might call for classic dishes like beef Wellington or shrimp cocktail.
Don’t forget to add thematic decorations and music to enhance the ambiance. Tailor each event to be a delightful journey for the senses, encouraging your members to dress up accordingly and partake in the full experience.
This approach not only makes each gathering unique but also gives your club a fun, adventurous edge that keeps everyone eagerly anticipating the next meet-up.
Monthly Theme Ideas to Keep Things Exciting
Keeping your supper club exciting with monthly themed events is a fantastic way to explore diverse cuisines and cultures. One month, you could transport your guests to the bustling streets of Beijing with a Chinese food night, complete with dim sum and Peking duck.
Another month, host an Italian dinner party featuring homemade pasta and a tiramisu dessert. For a touch of Southern charm, organize a Kentucky Derby-themed evening with mint juleps and hot browns, or a Hawaiian luau with tropical cocktails and a pig roast.
Consider a Low Country boil for a relaxed, communal eating experience, or host a chili cook-off where members bring their best recipes to the table.
Seasonal themes like a chowderfest in the fall or a spring tea party can also add variety, ensuring there’s always something new and exciting for your club’s calendar.
Final Thoughts On Dinner Groups
I hope these suggestions give you a few ideas of how to organize your own supper club. While this is how my group organized, there really are no rules. You can organize your group however you want based on your group’s needs!
That’s part of the fun.
Although our local supper club disbanded a years ago, we used to have the best time at every single gathering. The laughter never stopped and some nights are unforgettable.
Aside from the fun, to me, the best part about dinner group is trying different foods and drinks you may not have given a though to before.
There are lots of different food ideas and drinks that I make now that I would never have tried if not for my supper clubs.
Enjoy!
More About Supper Clubs
I hope this post inspires you to organize your own dinner group. It is such a fun thing to do with good friends and the memories created are irreplaceable.
Are you in a supper club? If not, would you set one up in your community? I would love to know more in the comments below.
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Looking for More Supper Club Theme Ideas?
And speaking of supper club.
Our virtual supper club has been so much fun and we’ve covered so much over the last two years.
Whether you are in a supper club or just want some dinner party theme inspiration, check out the themes we’ve hosted before.
- Galentine’s Day Brunch
- St. Patrick’s Day
- Spring Brunch
- Cinco De Mayo
- 4th of July
- Picnic Date
- Tailgating Party
- Thanksgiving Dinner Party
- Christmas Dinner Party
- New Year’s Eve
- Cozy Winter Dinner
- Afternoon Tea Party
- Potluck Luncheon Ideas with a Soup Party
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