Dining out is one of my most favorite activities. To me, there’s nothing better than enjoying an incredible meal with my favorite company at a location with a great ambience to match. After spending four years in New Orleans, I naturally became a bit of a food snob and developed a highly adventurous palate (frog legs, boudin, and cracklin, anyone?!). The thing NOLA taught me about dining out is that it isn’t always about the price you pay for a meal, it’s how it’s prepared and who you share it with. Food can truly be a work of art. Some of the best and most memorable meals I had in NOLA were the least expensive with a super causal atmosphere and vibe. I was sad to leave behind the food culture in New Orleans when I moved back to Boston, but I was also incredibly excited to re-explore Boston’s always hot culinary scene (oh hey- Top Chef!).
What I’m most excited about entering the Boston food scene isn’t a trendy new restaurant with a celebrity chef, rather a supper club that celebrates up and coming chefs and allows you to explore cuisine and communities. Dinner Lab, a New Orleans based social dining experiment has recently launched in Boston, with clubs in cities across the country including Austin, New York City, Miami, and over a dozen more. I was a Dinner Lab member when it first launched in New Orleans, and it’s been incredible to see the company’s growth over the past few years.
How does Dinner Lab work, you ask? To join Dinner Lab, you sign up for a yearly membership which allows access to check out the menus for the upcoming dining events. Your membership gives you access to purchase a ticket to a dining event- you can go to as many as you’d like in a year. The menus are typically announced on a weekly basis, with plenty of advance notice for the upcoming events. You can also purchase a ticket for a guest- they don’t have to be a member. The price of the tickets may vary by the type of menu and the city your club is in, however it’s always been a steal of a deal! You pay for the event in advance- which includes multiple courses with alcohol pairings, and an open bar (beer & wine). Oh- AND the tax and gratuity is included. All you have to do is show up to the event. They’re also pretty good with food allergy accommodations (I have one and they’ve always been gracious!). The dates and times for each event are set, however the location is not disclosed until a few days before its time to eat. The events are always in a funky, off the beaten path location. I’ve been to Dinner Lab events in New Orleans that were in Mardi Gras warehouses, a former department store, and vacant space that was too cool to mention. The seating arrangement is open and random, so typically you end up sitting next to new people you may not have known before and strike up some interesting dinner conversation. The only kicker is that Dinner Lab events sell out VERY quickly- so if you see a menu you like, you should pull the trigger as soon as you can.
I’ve signed up for Dinner Lab Boston’s first dining adventure on Saturday, February 21st. I can’t wait to share with you the details of DL Boston’s first stint! Perhaps I’ll see you there?
Lets eat, drink, and #RadiateDaily together.
