Passwords and Puttanesca

On Friday night J, H and I head to The Underground Restaurant for a Spaghetti Dinner. This is the first time I have been to a supper club, even though I have been reading about them for ages, and keep meaning to go. Brilliant, brilliant night. A password at the door, coats taken from us, then we are led to a table, red and white checked tablecloths, candlelight, twisting candelabras. Introducing ourselves to the others on our table (including this gentleman whose photographs are pretty damn good I think you'll agree - and he only got his first camera in 2007!), by the end of the evening laughing and joking and chatting away as though we had known each other for far more than a couple of hours. And, most importantly, the food. Delicious. Blood orange, fennel and pea shoot salad with roasted Jerusalem artichokes and home baked focaccia to start, then big bowls of 'Slut Spaghetti', or Spaghetti Puttanesca, with freshly grated Parmesan, plates scrapped clean and the option of seconds for those who wanted. Then dessert, Gallete des Rois, buttery puff pastry filled with almond paste, so, so good, served with a paper crown on top, which the diner who found the hidden pecan nut was allowed to wear and be 'King' of the table.

We left full and happy and determined to investigate other supper clubs, determined to come again to this one. If you have been meaning to go to a supper club for a while now, or um-ing and aah-ing because you are not quite sure it's for you, then I would say go, try it. I had such a fun night out, and on top of all the wonderful food it was great to be able to talk to the other guests, head into the kitchen later to see where everything had been created, and generally just enjoy the experience of being cooked for outside of the conventions of a normal restaurant.

Yum. And a big thank you to Ms Marmite Lover!