Supper clubs have been taking over our feeds and flooding our inboxes recently and frankly, we can’t get enough. Don't believe us? A quick scope of our vibey mood boards on Pinterest, perfectly curated playlists on Spotify, and dense catalogue of bookmarked recipes on Instagram will prove we've become quite the supper club connoisseurs here at Urban List.
If you're keen to get in on the trend but don't know where to start, we teamed up with the hosting pros at Sandhurst to share our tried and true tips for nailing the supper club this year and beyond. Read on for your new go-to guide.
Get Clear On The Details
One of the key ways to ensure your supper club is a knock-out is to get clear on a theme and plan of action. We’re talking about going way beyond the tablescape. In the week ahead, nail down a curated menu of dishes packed with flavour, and gather your top-notch selection of ingredients. Go for produce and products that are high in quality and quick to assemble—like the incredible range of olives, semi-dried tomatoes and baby capers at Sandhurst.
Next, consider the type of ambience you want to bring to the night. Plan your playlist and table decorations, and decide whether a drink on arrival or a themed cocktail is on the cards—in our opinion it's a must. Finally, whip up a simple run sheet with key timings. It may seem like overkill, but having every last detail planned out beforehand will save you a lot of stress in the moment.
Apply The First Pancake Rule
There’s no greater recipe for disaster (pun intended), than trialling a new recipe on the day. Leave the heart palpitations for the espresso martinis, and organise a trial run to practice your key dishes (and timings) ahead of the big night. Rope in your roommates for a mandatory dinner, or flex those skills on an upcoming date—just make sure those nitty-gritty details get properly ironed out before the main event.
Not only will it give you the chance to master this hella fresh focaccia recipe, but it'll also save an extra bit of stress on the night—especially if you'd prefer to be in and amongst the hoopla from beginning to end.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
Some of the best at-home supper clubs are communal in nature, so don't be afraid to ask for help. In the weeks ahead, fire up the group chat and chuck feelers out for who can bring a dish—most mates have at least one plate they can master. From sorting who'll bring this banging Caprese salad, to appointing someone the job of grabbing spare candlesticks and matches, everyone gets to feel useful, and you'll save yourself a bit of stress—and cash—on the night.
Hot tip: For a guaranteed good time, circulate your event playlist to the group chat and get everyone to add their fave songs they want to hear on the night.
One thing we’ll never scrimp on? Our choice of ingredients and produce. The perfect antipasto board or flavour-packed pasta dish isn’t complete without ingredients from Sandhurst. Family-owned and operated, you can expect premium flavours with every bite, from their wide selection of Australian, Italian, Mexican, Greek, Lebanese and South American produce. Sort out who’s bringing the antipasto board with Sandhurst here.
Rinse And Repeat
The best part of a supper club isn’t aperitivo hour or finally sitting down with your guests—it's getting the chance to do it all over again. Regularly rotating supper clubs are a superb way to get your favourite crew around the same table, especially when things get busy.
Start a hosting roster to come together every month or so, and keep circulating that recipe inspo to keep things fresh. We reckon this whipped feta and olive on crunchy ciabatta or sundried tomato sanga are surefire winners for your next club catchup.
Then when the night wraps and the coffee and biscotti are doing the rounds, work out who's hosting next and keep those communal dinner parties flowing year-round.
Find your next infusion of Mediterranean dining at Woolworths, Coles, IGA, Harris Farm and most independents.
Based in Sydney around the Shire? Drop into Sandhurst On The Go, their factory outlet for discounted prices at 6 Kiama Street, Miranda.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Sandhurst and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.
Image credit: Urban List.