A Reclamation of the Supper Club

According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, the first American Supper Club was founded by Lawrence Frank in Beverly Hills. Folks dined on prime rib, potatoes, corn, and, of course, Yorkshire pudding. If you look even further into global history you can see roots of Supper Clubs in the Roman empire and who knows what folks were doing in these London Supper Clubs-scandalous! Now in more modern terms we think of supper clubs as exclusive hidden spots that you need a password to enter or you need to become a member to access. Exclusive. 

I believe we can heal and connect our communities through conversation and food.

This is not a new concept. 

Recently I watched the latest Chef’s Table on Netflix featuring BBQ legends. The last episode introduced me to Rosalía Chay Chuc. Chef Rosalía keeps the tradition of Mayan cooking techniques alive and well from her home in Yaxunah in the Yucatan. During the episode she says, “If we don’t rescue Mayan tradition everything we believe in will be lost...The food we make represents who we are...They were teaching people where our ingredients come from so everyone can know about them. About México. It’s like we were sharing knowledge just like my parents and grandparents did with me. I realized I’m a Mayan woman and this is my job. I should be the one to share these traditions with the world.”

This inspiration asked me to think what are my traditions? As a queer Latinx human on a life’s journey to foster dialogue towards building community I often have a deep internal inquiry around my own personal family history. And, I like to eat. A lot. I chastise myself for not learning from my nana as she cooked although I do have plans to definitely get my grandma’s salsa recipe. My best friend Avy and I would joke around about pooling our funds and buying a big van one day so our friends could go around all over and try new restaurants. Avy reveled in watching your first bite of whatever dish she ordered for you. Her eyes glowed with delight. We had a list a mile long of all the places we needed to try or bring so and so to and introduce them to this gem they may have not heard of yet. We lost Avy last year and I think about that van often. The impulse was never to keep the discovery hidden. Exclusive. It was to break open and share.

Why the title Nourishment? I was once asked during a self-care conversation-who are the nutritious people in your life? Nutritious. What an interesting framing. I loved this. Nutrition is not simply vitamins and eating your vegetables. It’s a whole being concept. 

This space will hopefully aim to be a nourishment to the soul and the belly. Hearing from incredible folks and lifting up some delicious Los Angeles eats-all with the value of centering voices of color.

I believe in the concept of the beloved community. 

I believe in the justice of anti-racism and equity. 

I believe deeply in the power and creativity of bodies of culture*.

Welcome and Dig In.

*Bodies of culture is a term originated by Resmaa Menakem.