Supper Clubs are peculiar things – a cross between a dinner party and a restaurant. You get the informality of a domestic setting but with the added benefit of a restaurant level food – no cleaning, cooking, table-laying, serving or clearing up! AND you are encouraged to visit with everyone else!
So, please treat the supper club as you would a friend’s dinner party and treat your hosts as you would want your guests to treat you in your own home.
The current trend for ‘underground’ dining, or ‘pop-up’ restaurants, is a very simple concept which, has been inspired by the Cuban Paladares. These family-run restaurants opened all over Cuba in people’s houses in the 1970s and 1980s serving authentic, wholesome and inexpensive food and were encouraged as part of the country’s democratic economic reforms.
Supper Club Etiquette
The Algarve Smoke Company is a members-only private 'Supper Club'. We are not open to the public and not a restuarant. To attend a Supper you must 'Make A Reservation' online. We serve traditional 'family/farm' foods , either Mexican dishes or American style Cowboy BBQ or Deep South foods with an infusion of regional dishes from here in the Algarve; such as fresh grilled Sardines and other fresh sea fish when is season (you won't find Sardines on the grill in the cattle ranges of West Texas). The dishes we cook are the hearty dishes you'd find in any farm-wife's kitchen, or eat out on the wagon trail. So there's no spun-sugar-castles to be found here. We don't want you to go hungry so keep filling your plate until you feel content.
We offer 7-8 courses 'all-you-can-eat' with a vegetarian option. All our ingrediants are sourced local and we smoke our own meats, cheeses, chilis, garlic rubs and seasonings.
There is limited parking inside the walls of Casa Dos Amigos but plenty on the road at the old Wind Mill about 50m past our driveway on the left up the hill.
Here's a bit bit of humour outlining the Do’s and Don’ts for the supper club guest that we copied from another Supper Club
1.Service
It’s not a 'restaurant'. Don’t expect to have the same standard of service. If you need water and everybody is busy, feel free to get your own. If you drop your napkin, I suggest you pick it up yourself. Under no circumstances snap your fingers at the wait staff, they aren’t your servants, they are probably friends or related to the host. The hostess may even have given birth to them.
When you arrive you will be greeted by the host/hostess who will accept your 'donation/payment' and give you one 'Welcome' drink, there will be nibbles to nosh on until everyone arrives. Once everyone arrives the host/hostess will then explain a bit about the menu and such things. Sit anywhere where there is a table & chairs, we heartily encourage sitting next to someone you don't know! We serve the food 'family style' meaning the dishes are set on the table and you serve yourself from the bowl or platter.
2.Drink
Algarve Smoke includes 1/2 litre of Portuguse ‘house’ wine or water per person with each meal. You can also purchase beer or wine at the supper. If you have a soft drink you particularly like, do bring it along. Supper clubs tend to offer tap water rather than mineral water, so again, bring your own if you prefer that. IF you bring your own alcohol please make a corkage donation of 3.00€ to the charity. (bring change) If it’s white wine or champagne, bring it ready chilled. The hostess probably won’t have room in his/her fridge. We'd very much like the designated driver to make themselves know to the host/hostess when they arrive.
3.Timing: Turn up on time
There isn’t an army of sous chefs to whip you up a hot dinner if you arrive late. You wouldn’t turn up to a friend’s dinner very late would you? Conversely: do not arrive early. It puts the host/hostess in a difficult position. That last five minutes before show-time that you interrupted was probably their only opportunity to put on mascara, spray deodorant under their shirt to hide cooking smells, reapply lipstick.**
4.Cancellations: do not cancel and if you must, do it at least 48 hours beforehand.
The supper club host will already have bought the ingredients for your dinner. Unlike a conventional restaurant they cannot sell the food the next day. Profit margins are low so DO be thoughtful. Do turn up. Even if you have paid in advance, this is an instance where you abide by dinner party manners rather than restaurant rules. It’s rude if you don’t. Hosts/hostesses will often delay the meal while waiting for you. It’s unfair on the other guests too, creating gaps at tables.
5.Diet
Do not change your mind last minute and decide that you are a vegan, allergic to something quite basic like olive oil, or reveal that you are super allergic to nuts. Again dinners are planned, catered and prepared in advance. The host/hostess deserves notice about specialist diets.
6.Research
Do read their blog/website/information given with the booking. Do not incessantly email the supper club host with lots of questions before the meal.
7.Dress
The Algarve Smoke Supper-Club is in a rural setting, a cottage in the country so just come casual and comfortable, maybe walking shoes or/and a sweater…
8.Privacy
The location of the W/C is clearly marked. Do be respectful of the fact that you are in your hosts private space, their home. Don't wander around in the host/hostess private home space. Don’t make loud critical comments on their decor, children, and cleanliness. Save that for the taxi/Uber ride home.
9.Complaints
Very difficult territory here. You are that weird hybrid of ‘paying’ & ‘guest’. If you have a serious complaint, mention it to the server or host on the night when they have the opportunity of resolving your issue. Most host/esses will be mortified and try to fix the issue promptly. If you fancy yourself as a blogger or reviewer, don’t be smarmy on the night and then slag the supper club off in print the next day. You are not AA Gill the great food critic, you are just being rude to a private individual who is doing their best. But adding a website or Facebook review is a positive gesture.
10.Payment
Payment is in cash and paid when you arrive. There is a blue 'donation/membership fee' box into which you put the money. Please bring exact change.
11.Charity
A charity is selected for each supper. 100% of the ‘house’ wine & beer purchased and corkage fee are given to a local charity. It is encouraged, if you bring your own drink, to make a ‘corkage or bottle opening’ donation to the charity.
12.Reviews
Most ‘start-ups’ generate new business by garnering positive reviews. This is no different for Supper Clubs. The hostess very much welcomes your constructive feedback in person or by email. As many of us use social media please DO put a Facebook review on the Supper Club Facebook page either just select the stars you think the Supper earned or/and make a comment.