Text Erica Berman Photos – courtesy of Hidden Kitchen & Erica Berman
Hidden Kitchen private supper club in Paris
With no idea what to expect, and no expectations to fulfill, we were unexpectedly seduced and delighted by this underground Parisian dining extravaganza. Expertly run by a young American couple, the food has a fresh US slant not so common in France. In over 16 years of fooding in Paris I have experienced a lot of Paris’ culinary treats, and I can honestly say that this was one of the best meals I have had in the city of lights.
We arrived semi-early, for fear of being late, at a lovely Parisian apartment (can’t say where , or it wouldn’t be hidden anymore) with wood floors, crown moldings, marble fireplaces, soothing colors and candles everywhere.
Laura met us kindly with an aperitif while Braden prepared courses in the kitchen, and their adorable Boston terrier Tattie puttered around discreetly.
Hidden Kitchen Paris will celebrate 2 years of sensory stimulation in June. It started as once a month get together to help Laura and Braden widen their circle of Parisian friends. The speedy success of the supper club pushed it to a bi-weekly exclusive foodie gathering. The first people we met were a lovely couple from London in town to run the half marathon. The 2nd people to arrive, we knew! Tom and Linda are former clients from California that we befriended and see from time to time as they are often in Paris for work, but we had no idea they were coming. Small world it is! The group was rounded out to 15 with a group of 4 Americans from Berkeley California, and a lively group of young Americans who we did not get to chat with as they were on the far end of the long, and elegantly decorated, table. My boyfriend Alain was one of two Frenchies in the bunch.
I admit when I heard that this was a 10 course 80€ per person meal, I thought that a. I could never eat 10 courses and, b. 80€ was a lot of money per person for a meal. After the dinner, I can happily say that it was money very well spent and the courses were small and light enough to enable me to get through them all without feeling overwhelmed or over full. All in all, the food was perfect and the wine pairing right on the mark, conversation easily flowing, and midnight rolled around effortlessly. I could go into detailed explanations of all the fabulous courses, but I think I will just post the menu here and you can form your own idea of what a fine culinary experience it was! Reservations required as Hidden Kitchen books well in advance!
Hidden Kitchen: www.hkmenus.com
