In the 1930s, Lawrence Frank opened the first supper club in Beverly Hills, California to unite a diverse selection of guests over delectable food and drinks. Decades later, the supper club is making a roaring comeback. Here in Utah, we’re seeing supper clubs and pop-up dining experiences emerge throughout the Valley, a trend that’s attracting food enthusiasts from all over.
If you like venturing outside of your comfort zone to try new foods in exciting places, you’ll want to give one, or all, of Utah’s supper clubs a try. While the ambiance varies from elegant affairs in old industrial buildings to al fresco dining experiences on historic main streets in the mountaintops, there are two things diners can count on: the menus and the company will always change.
Supper club enthusiasts can escape the humdrum of traditional dining establishments by taking part in an intellectually stimulating, cozy dining experience with complete strangers (who will all soon become best friends), often at a location they’ve never been to before―such as an art studio, someone’s backyard, the middle of a forest, or at 7,000-feet overlooking the Heber and Utah Valleys.
Whatever excites your culinary tastes, Utah has a supper club or pop-up dining experience to satisfy your deepest desires. From Savor the Summit in June to the Bear Claw Supper Club atop Sundance Resort in July and August, to year-round dining experiences hosted by Supper Club Salt Lake City and the Sunday Supper Club at Powder―there’s something for everyone. Here’s what they have to offer.
Savor the Summit, Park City’s largest outdoor dinner party comes complete with live music, delicious food, and spirits held in the middle of historic Main Street every summer. The most recent event paired Utah’s gorgeous sunsets with its world-renowned restaurants last June. You don’t need a ticket for this summer kickoff celebration, but you do need to make a reservation directly with your favorite restaurant. “If you’re a foodie, this is definitely an event you want to put on your bucket list,” says Ginger Ries, executive director at the Park City Area Restaurant Association.
Enjoy unparalleled culinary excellence while supporting charities with Harmon’s executive chef, Evan Francois, and Alexa Norlin, the pastry pro behind Normal Ice Cream. Supper Club, SLC is a pop-up fine dining experience hosted in exciting venues throughout the Valley four times a year. Evan and Alexa’s team entertain about forty guests in unique spaces, stimulating all of the senses. In an intimate setting, guests get to meet new people and enjoy great food, wine pairings, and beautiful floral installations by Genevieve Hubbard. “Anybody can come, they just need to get on our email list,” says Mr. Francois. To get on the pre-event invite list, email supperclubsaltlake@gmail.com.
Every July and August, Sundance Mountain Resort features the Bearclaw Supper Club, a breathtaking open-air dining experience held at the resort’s mountaintop eatery. On their way to Bearclaw Café, guests take a chairlift ride to the top of the mountain. Once they arrive, they enjoy live music, wine from Sundance’s private label, great food, and 360-degree views of the Wasatch Mountain Range. “Our supper club is probably the most beautiful setting,” says Trevor Hudspeth, marketing and PR manager at Sundance Resort. “We view food as an art. It’s a way for us to bring the community together in a unique location.” To reserve your spot, purchase tickets at sundanceresort.com/sundance-events.
In the spirit of the traditional Sunday dinner, all are invited for this whimsical family-style dining experience hosted by Powder at the Waldorf Astoria Park City. “We really want to promote the family environment. Come in, sit around the table, and eat the same food. Trust us to serve what you’re cooking at home,” says Eric Leblang, director of food and beverage at the Waldorf Astoria Park City.
At just $29 a person, the Sunday Supper Club offers an affordable dining experience in a luxury hotel atmosphere. It’s become a local favorite, says Mr. Leblang. Every Sunday, guests can enjoy a variety of dishes, such as Utah trout, corn on the cob, cheddar whipped potatoes, Salisbury steak, baby back ribs, and homemade pie. The dishes change weekly, so guests are encouraged to check out the menus online to see which selections appeal to them ahead of time. Go to waldorfastoriaparkcity.com/dine for more information on the weekly event, or go to opentable.com to make your reservation.