New friends and good food at supper club

Whether you are fed up of all your friends leaving the island, hoping to meet the love of your life or merely want to share your passion for food with like-minded people, The Moongate Supper Club could be just the thing you are looking for.

On October 12 the monthly foodie social ­begins with the first event taking place at the ­Fairmont Southampton’s Italian restaurant Bacci.

Billed as “a civilized way to make friends and taste great food” it was the brainchild of…well, two girls who love making new friends and tasting great food. Cherie Dam and her friend Martha Hatt were fed up of ­watching all their friends leave the island and wanted to meet people outside of the obvious social ­circles. Their passion for food led them to create their own social event centred around the fulfilment we can gain from a healthy appreciation of food.

When you arrive at ­Bacci you will be greeted by a host whose job is to make you welcome and relaxed and to introduce you to the others over a drink at the bar. The host will be constantly on hand to make sure everything goes smoothly ­before and during dining.

During the course of the opening Moongate Supper Club meal, guests will be asked to move around the table giving them the opportunity to talk with the wider group. This is called Going Australian because it was first introduced in the early days of the supper club in Australia.

The Moongate Supper Club will take place every month at different venues around the island, often upon members’ recommendations. Some venues will offer the opportunity to sit with the chef who will be able to give an ­insight into the inner workings of the restaurant. You may also get the chance to watch your meal being made.

Ms Dam is planning on integrating future supper clubs with theatre ­suppers and dinners ­followed by dancing at the same venue or other nightspot. Many venues will also be offering good rates for overnight accommodation to supper club members.

The organizers will be posting details of each event as they arise on their Facebook page (see info box). These will ­include the cost of attending each event and the ­related details. There is no membership fee and members are allowed to select the events they would like to attend. Spaces will be limited at each venue and therefore it will be on a first-come-first served basis.

Almost all supper club venues are priced on an "all inclusive" basis. The price includes a three course meal, coffee, gratuities and, of course, the services of a supper club host. This price is generally between $60 and $100 although some are cheaper and some, usually gourmet, events are dearer. A seating plan will be provided at the venue and we will try to accommodate any special requests.