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From left to right: Dave Christiansen, Jeremy Kressmann, Mike Barish, Steve Conte, and Mike Lee of Studiofeast. (Katie Sokoler/Gothamist)
Five of New York's secret supper clubs joined forces over the weekend for the epic Undergrounds Unite dinner party at a capacious, bi-level loft in the shadow of the Empire State Building. On Saturday night the place was packed with 165 gourmands who had found their way there in the rain by following a series of cryptic instructions—enter a bar on 35th Street, look for the man learning how to cook everything, ask him for a map.
Diners paid $150 each for the 12-course dinner with wine pairings from Brooklyn Oenology. Among the delicacies: Lightbulb Oven served a sweet Toasted Pumpkin Agnolotti with Spicy Pepitas & Brown Butter, Homeslice West dished up fresh buttermilk biscuits, Ghetto Gourmet wowed us with Seared Striped Bass over Spinach Ball with Parsnip Puree, Studiofeast dropped a tasty raw fluke with Yuzu Kosho, and The Whisk & Ladle brought the house down with their Dark Chocolate Pistachio Linzer Torte. (One gluttonous blogger was observed wolfing down four of those.)
So was it worth $150? Well, that all depends on how much $150 is worth to you. (It was comped for us, so we have no frame of reference here.) The food was excellent, the service attentive for such a massive event—a guy from Studiofeast promised to "bring out farm animals" if at any point our enjoyment waned—and the after-party featured live music (The Loom, She Keeps Bees) and unlimited dessert and drinks, so there was added value there. They'll be throwing another one of these feasts in January; email info@undergroundsunite.com if you want to get on the list. And can we get a high-five for making it through this without dropping a single f-bomb (i.e., fo@die)?
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With the US and NYC economies in the shape that they are, these bourgeois circle-jerks are seeming more and more inappropriate.
Agreed. I'm guilty of guiltily shelling out for these things (even then I felt like a douche with the faux-secrecy), but seriously, time to cut the crap.
150 is exorbitant. I hope it came with a full bottle of wine.
This event is worth checking out if you're into that kind of thing. It's less expensive, involves Brooklyn Oneology, and is for charity....
http://www.beerhelps.net/store
While I'm not one of them, I do not think people who can afford this should be shunned. There are plenty of bankers and brokers out there making a lot of money off of this declining economy. There are also plenty of dot-commers and trust funders.
Since you were "comped" you really have no clue or opinion if you think it was worth it, John? I'm seriously curious. I love food and I love making food and experimenting and experiencing it, but 150 seems like a kick in everyones face who actually paid. Wonder what their profit was.
Seriously boring. Yet another attempt to bring the "underground" or "old NYC" or "speakeasy" back into false vogue. The adult version of a frat party. Bring a cup
$150 doesn't seem like that much for a 12-course dinner if it was on par with the best restaurants in NYC (which it probably wasn't) or if it came with wine pairings (which it did).
I don't understand the outrage about the way other people choose to spend their money.
The dinner was a lot of fun. Most of the dishes were excellent and some were more delicious than what I would be happy with from a traditional restaurant's tasting menu. The ingredients tasted fresh and of the highest quality (especially the sashimi).
The wine was also very good and flowed freely at our table. The cocktails beforehand were also good, especially the one made from gin, green tea and honey.
The dinner was a special event and at the same time was easygoing and relaxed. I should add, in defense of the cost of the event, that it cost $125 per person including the wine and cocktails and of course there was no additional tax or tip to pay.
That last pic is the bomb-diggity!
How is this thing "inappropriate"? If people want to spend their own money on something, they can do so. Are you going to go picket Tiffany's or Per Se now? You must be taking time out from working at the soup kitchen and volunteering at the homeless shelter to write comments on this blog then, right?
No I'm saying that 150 per person is extremely high for a dinner. Period. And what makes the food (which is in foil wrap above) worth the $150?
A fool and his money are soon departed.
I'm not saying the people are inappropriate, nor this event specifically. Obviously, anyone can spend their money how they want.
But in tougher economic times, when friends are losing their jobs and worried about how to feed their kids on a tight budget, cavorting about and flaunting excess - whether it be materialistic or gastronomic, is gauche and off-putting.
There's a reason why the truly rich do not flaunt their wealth.
I think they should have made it Black Tie. That usually keeps the Riff-Raff out.
Anyone who thinks $150 for a superb 12 course meal with open bar plus entertainment is excessive doesn't get out much in New York City. Of course, this is coming from the guy who went for free...
thankfully Pb is still cheap.
I'm Back!
I think I went to a wedding there last spring. It was a nice place.
I think the obscenely rich should absolutely flaunt their wealth, so criminals can choose more deserving targets.
there are a lot of haters on this post. i'm not an arrogant foodie, but this isn't a big deal.
150$ is cheap for what was described. new year's eve parties cost that much or more & you don't get as much.
i would never pay for this meal (you don't buy food, you rent it) but i'm not going to hate.
I think the rich should also light their cigars with one hundred dollar bills.
I went to the Sat night event & it was excellent. A nice & casual evening and an interesting way to try a variety of different & creatively prepared dishes from several different chefs. Expensive? A little - I wouldn't & couldn't afford to do it every week. But it was an entire evening out - from 7pm until 2am. It included a substantial amount of food, drinks and entertainment. $150 is not really a hideous amount of money to spend on that.
The service & attention to detail that I received at this event was far better than at any restaurant I have been to in ages. The servers were all able to answer detailed information about the course being served (ingredients, method of prep etc). It was all really well done. Everyone involved in making this event happen wanted to be there participating - they were incredibly enthusiastic. They weren't just showing up for work to get a paycheck - which is kind of the attitude i've seen lately at NYC restaurants these days.
And - for the record - none of the 5 supper clubs made a dime. It all went into the event. Which is more than I can say for a meal at a restaurant such as Per Se, where most of your dinner bill is going towards the rent.
Bottom line is that people can spend their money as they choose and shouldn't be ridiculed for it.
$150 was cheap for twelve plates, 4 types of wine with bottomless glasses, and an open cocktail bar before and after dinner (easily four glasses of wine and two cocktails in addition to dinner - that much booze would easily be a third of that cost at any restaurant). There were also two bands that played at least an hour each.
It may be a lot to shell out for "dinner" every week, even once a month, but it's not unreasonable at all for something to do once or twice a year.
With people losing their jobs left and right at least these people are hustling and paying the rent.
What do people want? They should give the food away for free?
I for one applaud the creativeness of the plan.
Good job!
I think it's up to everyone how they choose to spend their own, hard-earned money. For some, travel, for some, savings, and for some, a new Wii. For some, it's food. Up to you.
Alright, allow me to backpedal. The wine included makes a big difference.
Maybe I'm just jealous that I can't afford this right now?
;D
I hope it was worth it, people who went.
Agreed Matty, the wine makes a big difference. Not as bourgeoisie has I had imagined.
Not impressed. Feed the needy.
3 cocktails -- $24;
4 glasses of wine -- $40;
14 course meal -- $60;
4 quality beers -- $24;
20% tip -- $30
2 bands -- $5
Total = $183
Supporting interesting and motivated young and aspiring chefs in the city = priceless
Seems like a good deal to me.
the crowd was more interesting than any bar i've been to in years, because it was the antithesis of a scene - we shared a table with 8 strangers and actually spoke to them. and the food was phenomenal - all fresh ingredients, mostly from local sources, unique combinations, lots of subtle flavors
anyway, in response to the judgemental: well said, rkrakows. in fact, i'd say your estimates are conservative for nyc.
not all of us are rich bourgeoisie - some of us are on a budget. so, we'll stay home and cook dinner for the next few weeks (which i do most nights anyway), skip a couple of nights at the bar, refrain from wasting money on shitty takeout, taxis, coffee, etc. for good food, good drink and good people, it was well worth it.