Step 1: The Guest List
“I make my Facebook status: "Hey, having a dinner party. Four courses. 30 bucks. BYO. Message me if you’re interested." I usually get a bunch of messages or people inboxing me. Then, I concoct a group of people who would never break bread together, or just don’t know each other."
Step 2: Menu Building
“I work on a menu for a while, which is how I spend most of my classes. There’s always a pasta, there’s a main meat or fish. Then, there’s some type of salad, or cheese, or something cool. They don’t know what the menu will be. That’s the surprise element. And also [some] people are picky.”
Step 3: Shop and Prep
“I budget it for myself. For these, I don’t really make a profit, but I like to set how much money I have [for ingredients] based on how many people are coming.
I shop everywhere. I go to Reading Terminal. I go to the Italian Market. I go to Whole Foods. I go to the Green Market if it’s seasonal and open.
I usually prep starting three days before—just making extensive lists about how long things take.”
Step 4: Determine Serving Sizes
“I err on the side of giving people too much food. I don’t want people paying for something and then feeling like they’re hungry afterwards. That’s my worst nightmare. The worst thing is when you go to a meal and you’re not satisfied. With pasta, unfortunately, [I] have to be kind of frugal, because I roll it by hand. When I’m making ravioli, I do six to seven per person and when you’re having twelve people, that’s a lot of fuckin’ ravioli to roll.”
Step 5: The Execution
“I had to buy proper plate–ware. The first two [pop–ups] were on plastic plates, and it was fun. But the vibe wasn’t as good. I just come out and present each course and sit and eat with them for as long as I can before I have to start preparing the next [courrse]. It ends up being really fun. [It lasts about] three hours and everyone is so drunk by the end. And so full.”
PRO TIPS FOR STAYING HUNGREE
"Audience Participation is key. Last [party], I made shots of really intense hot chocolate, and had everyone whip the cream. That’s a big crowd pleaser. Pass around a bowl of cream and have people whip it—they go bananas.”
"Do themed parties. Like pasta parties, four courses of pasta. I’m doing one next week, actually. It’s all pig themed, so pork in every dish. I’m pretty amped. (Ed. note: Plz invite us.)”
"I give them something to take home...like a muffin, or a scone, or something. You want to be the first thing they think about when they wake up.”
This interview has been condensed and edited. Images courtesy of Amanda Shulman.
