Supper Club, Northern, VA/DC

[MWenner]

I would be interested in starting/joining a supper club....I live in McLean but am flexible with location. It would be a great way to ward off those upcoming January blahs...

[HUNGRY!]

I live in Alexandria and would be interested too. My only restriction is metro access. I don't have a car!

[Mitchdoggy]

I am interested. I live in McLean, but have a friend who lives in Alexandria who might be interested in picking you up to team up with the other person who lives in McLean. Any interest NOVA?

[MWenner]

You bet....How should we get this thing started???

[HUNGRY!]

That sounds great! I guess we need deatils huh? Maybe we should set a date sometime after the New Year?

[MrsRosen]

HI. I just registered online and am very interested in joining a supper club. I am newly married so just learning how to really cook. I am very interested in learning how to cook low fat meals. I live in Arlington.

[Mitchdoggy]

This sounds awesome to me. How do we go about organizing. We need place, date. Does everyone bring part of the menu + the recipe for it?

[HUNGRY!]

Everyone bringing one thing souynds smart to me. That way not one person is doing all of the work. What does everyone else think?

[MWenner]

Well, sounds like we have a group.....I think it would be a good idea to maybe meet at a restaurant or something to introduce ourselves and then hask out the deatils of where and when....How does that sound to everyone?

[HUNGRY!]

Thats a really good idea I think. Just name a date and a place.

[StephK]

i live in alexandria as well and might be interested in this. any details available yet?

[Mitchdoggy]

What about a restaurant at Tyson's Corner. Where does everyone work?

[MWenner]

I work in Alexandria.....But Tyson's works for me. PF Chang's after the holidays? Any other suggestions?

[Mitchdoggy]

PF CHang's at Tyson's in January is great for me. Any other suggestions?

[HUNGRY!]

That sounds good. What date and time?

[Mitchdoggy]

How about the 26th of January 2001. At PF Chang's in Tysons? at 6:30pm? Everyone bring ideas for next meeting place and theme?

[Mitchdoggy]

Originally posted by HUNGRY!:
That sounds good. What date and time?

[MrsRosen]

That sounds great to me too. How will we know each other?? If we know the number of people, I can call ahead a reserve a table for us under the name of Rosen(my last name) or Cooking Light??? Something we all will know??? I am looking forward to meeting everyone and discussing what is probably a favorite topic of everyone...FOOD!!

[MWenner]

Friday January 26th at 6:30 at PF Changs at Tysons II. Reservation under Rosen. I'll be there...

[ToniB]

Is the club full or is there room for one more?

[CHEESE]

I LIVE IN MCLEAN AND WOULD BE INTERESTED. IS THERE ROOM FOR MORE? COULD I COME TO THE JAN.26 MEETING AT PF CHANGS? THANKS

[brieRD]

I just decided to check to see if the DC area has a Cl supper club and low and behold, it looks like I'm just in time. Can you add one more to your reservation on 1/26 at PF Changs? I'd love to join the group. I work in DC and live in Silver Spring, MD.

[Judy Kirk]

I, too, live in McLean and work in Merrifield. Am interested in joining Supper Club; however, due to gluten-intolerance, am hoping to connect with CookingLight Supper Club but with gluten-free modified recipes (about 80-90% of the recipes in CL's mags & cookbooks are adaptable). Networking works! Thanks.

[TMResek]

I'd also like to join in at PF Chang's. I live in Wheaton (metro accessible) just off 495. See you all there!

[AmyS]

It seems like timing is everything. I was surfing the cooking light page and decided to check this forum out when I noticed the supper club program. It sounds like a great idea. I would like to join you all, if there is still space available? Do we have any idea how large or small the groups should be? Hope to hear from you!

[RJL]

I would like to join you also; I live in Glen Echo,MD (15 Minutes from Tysons).

[Mitchdoggy]

We need a count in order to make a reservation. Any suggestions? This is getting really exciting.

Just for fun I counted the responses. ==12
McLean=4
Alexandria=2
Arlington=1
Md=3
Resident not indicated=2

[This message has been edited by Mitchdoggy (edited 01-05-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Mitchdoggy (edited 01-05-2001).]

[CHEESE]

this IS getting exciting!

i think the suggestion to make the reservation under COOKING LIGHT is a good one. looking forward to it.

[QuickChef]

All,
As a member of another No Va cooking club, I can offer some of our lessons learned. We started the exact same way you are; after the initial meeting in a restaurant, one member offered to host the first potluck and we went from there. Our group currently stands at 21 or so folks. Needless to say, this makes actually cooking the meal together impractical. Our group is this large because we opted to include spouses/significant others even if they were not as into cooking (and we have all found things to talk about other than cooking and food). So, we select a theme, pick a host house, then everyone brings their dish. We established a private mailing group on egroups that allows us to email each other ahead of time what we will be bringing and to post the recipes afterwards. To prevent the host from having to wash or find lots of dishes, everyone brings their own place settings, as well as wine or other alcoholic beverage (most hosts have provided ice tea, soda, some beer, and water). We've generally set the host/theme about 2-3 months ahead of schedule. So far, we've done Summertime, Salad Days, Mediterranean, Italian, Brunch (followed by making very non-CL gingerbread houses!), and our upcoming theme is SuperBowl/Tailgate.

For the person in Silver Spring, we have one member in MD also and I believe she is also in a MD group. There is also a group that is in DC proper. I'd be happy to share contact info if you email to me privately.

Good luck starting your group. It has become a favorite monthly event for me and DH.

[carla m]

Please count me and one other in! We both live in Springfield, VA.

I am involved in a similar group that meets every once in a while at a members' house. We each bring a dish to share. The food doesn't seem to be the *focus* of the group, however (what's *wrong* with these people?) and I'm interested in meeting others whose life comes to a screeching halt when they see that a new issue of CL has arrived in their mailbox.

Please add 2 to your reservation for 1/26.

Thanks!

[HUNGRY!]

Please add me and one other to your list also if you haven't already. Thank you so much for organising this!

[schimizn]

One of my 2001 resolutions is to cook more and socialize more. The group being formulated sounds great. If there is room for one more, I would love to attend the first gathering on 1/26/2001. Please count me in.

[MWenner]

Hello all...

What a tremendous response to our proposed Supper Club!!! If my counting is accurate, we have 17 folks interested. I will call PF Chang's to find out how they can accomodate this number of people and let you know. We are still planning for 6:30pm on Friday January 26th. I will make the reservation under Cooking Light. This should all be very interesting, especially when I play hostess...I have a 1 bedroom apartment, which suits me, but 17 will be cozy.....

I look forward to meeting all of you
Molly

[MWenner]

Hello again everyone....

Well, PF Changs does not take reservations, and the lady said it would be hard to seat us all together.....So,I'm taking new suggestions for our first meeting...

[HUNGRY!]

Well, since we have to find a new place, could we pick one that is metro accessable? Maybe we could meet near pentagon city somewhere?
Jill (HUNGRY!)

[aheasthope]

Please count me in! I,too, am interested in joining your new CL group. I live in the District. Can't wait until next Friday.
Anne

[schimizn]

My suggestion would be in the Ballston Area, there are a couple of good restaurants within walking distance of the metro and it's easily accessible by car.

Sounds like fun and thanks for organizing

[HUNGRY!]

Ballston is a great idea! Do you have any suggestions for resturaunts?

[albus87]

Ia there room for one more? If so, I'd love to join the group next Friday.

[Mitchdoggy]

How about Pulcinella in McLean. It's on Old Dominion Drive about 3 miles from Tyson's Corner. They could handle a group of 17+.

[CHEESE]

i wish i could remember the name of a very trendy thai restaurant in ballston area that i know could accomodate 17+ and the prices are extremely reasonable. its very close to red, hot and blue-a bbq restaurant. i seem to remember it was downstairs in an office building...
pulcinella's sounds good. i think that maggiano's in tysons and that's amore in vienna could also accomodate us since they will serve family style.

[Mitchdoggy]

Originally posted by CHEESE:
i wish i could remember the name of a very trendy thai restaurant in ballston area that i know could accomodate 17+ and the prices are extremely reasonable. its very close to red, hot and blue-a bbq restaurant. i seem to remember it was downstairs in an office building...
pulcinella's sounds good. i think that maggiano's in tysons and that's amore in vienna could also accomodate us since they will serve family style.

Are you talking about the Thai restaurant in Shirlington? I was there last Saturday night at 6:00 and there was a 40 minute wait. But the food was excellent.

[CHEESE]

oh yes. it was in shirlington. i'm still kind of learning areas of town. it was the thai restaurant in shirlington. i have been there before with reservations and the wait was not long. i don't know...a suggestion. but yes, it was shirlington.

[Mitchdoggy]

Sounds like we need to decide arlington or tysons and make an executive decision about the place. We could always go to the other location for the second meeting.

Time: 6:30
Date: 1/26/01
Place: Arlington/Tyson's, McLean

I know Pulcinella has room for groups can someone else check other restaurants to see if they do. Sounds like PF Changs is definitely out.

[smshomak]

I just picked up on this opportunity for the Supper Club and I, too, would love to be involved. I work in Springfield but live in Haymarket, VA. Anything in Tysons is fine with me. Please let me know the details.
Susan

[CHEESE]

i know that that's amore in vienna could accomodate us and i am pretty sure that maggiano's in tysons could accomodate us.

[carla m]

Rio Grande Cafe is a great mexican restaurant across from the Ballston metro stop in Arlington. They don't take reservations and I'm not sure how they would deal with a crowd our size, but it's a thought.

[HUNGRY!]

Maybe we could split into two groups since we are so large now. One group could go to Ballston and one to Tysons. I don't know about you guys but I would have trouble fitting 17 people into my apartment when we get to the part where we start cooking anyway, so maybe we could just break into groups?

[heatherkay]

How very cool! I was hoping I would find others interested in this idea!! I would love to attend on Friday if there's still space available. I live in Sterling, VA and work in McLean. I can do Ballston or McLean.

[sab5]

I live right near Ballston and would love to join a group that will be meeting in NoVa - preferably in the arlington area.

I think splitting the group in two sounds like a good idea. From reading the postings, it looks like you have many interested who live out 66 (haymarket, Reston, Tysons, etc) and some who live closer in. Seems like a good split.

For NoVa meeting location ideas - how about one of the MANY vietnamese restaurants that are right next to the Clarendon metro stop. Many of them would be large enough to accomodate 1/2 the people who have expressed interest - say 8-11 people

Thanks for doing the legwork. I'll keep looking to see about Fri night.

[albus87]

I'd like to join the the group that might be meeting in Ballston/Clarendon/or where ever (if the group does split). I live in DC but have no problem with going to Northern Virginia. Vietnamese food sound great to me for Friday!

[aheasthope]

The way I counted it up, there are about 20 of us interested. It breaks down into the following:

DC=2
Alexandria=2
Arlington=1
Ballston=1
MD=3
McLean=4
Springfield=2
Haymarket,VA=1 (works in springfield)
Sterling=1 (works in McLean)
unspecified=3

Since I just relocated, I am not familiar enough with the area to suggest where a logical split would be, but I agree that this might be best. Even a group half the size of our 20 might be too big when we begin cooking. How great that there is such interest to be able to break off into groups!

[carla m]

I hope I'm not being pushy, but I'm really excited about this.

I went ahead and made reservations for 12 people at L & N Seafood Grill at Pentagon City Mall at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow evening. The party is in the name of Cooking Light.

Bring cash because L&N can't provide separate checks.

Please reply to this message if you are interested in being a part of this reservation.

Thanks!

[HUNGRY!]

I'm interested. Please include me! Thanks so much for doing this!

[MWenner]

I'll be there....And no, you are not being pushy, someone had to make the crucial decision...Thanks.

[albus87]

Count me in for L & N Seafood Grill. See you there!

[albus87]

Unfortunately I also won't be able to make it tonight (a last minute crisis came up) but I'm still very interested in joining the supper club. I'll keep checking the bulletin board for updates from tonight's dinner. Have fun and good luck!

[HUNGRY!]

Well, lets see, only three people. Should we still meet tonight or should we postpone to another night?

[HUNGRY!]

Well, with only three people maybe we should postpone?

[HUNGRY!]

Sorry,I didn't mean to post that twice.

[carla m]

There are four of us currently. I know that my friend and I are still excited about meeting tonight...others will have to sound off on their opinions.

I hate to postpone when we've been talking about this date for so long. It may even be better that there aren't so many of us trying to make decisions http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif. Keep the posts coming...

Additionally, I'd worry about postponing at this point because others may not check the board again.



[This message has been edited by carla m (edited 01-26-2001).]

[HUNGRY!]

That makes sense. I'm not sure I will make it now though. After I saw all of the cancelations I just assumed it wouldn't be on. Please keep me updated on future meetings though. Either that or I might have to bring my boyfriend.

[HUNGRY!]

Okay, nevermind, I'm on for tonight. See you all there! I'm really excited! Now, back to work and no more posting!

[AmyS]

I already notified Carla of my cancellation for tonights dinner, but I wanted to post that I am one of the "unspecified" parties in terms of where I live, etc. I live in Sterling and am pretty flexible with location, so the idea of splitting this large group is a great idea, I would be happy with anything in the Arlington area and anything west of there!!

[TMResek]

Sorry gang, but subtract one from tonight's reservation - something's come up at home. But I'd still like to be included in the NoVa group (Tyson's area).

[catharine]

Looks like I checked in a little late. Glad to see there is so much interest. To narrow things down, anyone interested in a Kingstowne/Franconia Club? (If you don't know the area well, Kingstowne and Franconia are in Alexandria in between Landmark and Springfield Malls.)

If there is interest, why don't we plan on meeting on Feb 9, 10 or 11 or Feb 24 or 25. I will post ideas for meeting spots if there is sufficient interest.

[carla m]

We had a small but successful meeting on Friday. Four of us met and discussed among other things our next date, time and meeting location for the Northern Virginia club.

Since our meeting was so small, we decided that we'd like to have another shot at getting everyone together before we begin cooking at someone's house. We thought that a dessert & appetizer pot luck would be appropriate.

The date is Tuesday, February 20 in Springfield at 7:00 p.m. I'll be happy to e-mail the details including specific address, directions, etc. to interested parties who reply to this post. If you haven't already done so, please either activate your e-mailing option in your preferences or include your e-mail address in your reply post.

We look forward to being able to enjoy our favorite Cooking Light appetizers and desserts with others who share our enthusiasm for the magazine.

Hope to see you all on the 20th!

[catharine]

Sounds good! Weekends are better for me, but I can skip class this once...(shhhh).

thanks for organizing!

[nieciecl]

Hi All,

I would loved to be included in supper club. Please let me know the details of the February 20th activity and anything I can do to help.

[jazzyjas]

I would like more information on the upcoming meeting. I live in Alexandria and I am very interested if the group isn't too big as my house is tiny.

[carla m]

I've heard from a few of you via personal e-mail and I've sent the information to everyone who has requested it via e-mail.

Don't be shy! If you're interested just let me know. We'd love for more people to join us on the 20th!

[catharine]

For those of you who could not attend, the meeting on Feb. 20th went very well. We have decided that our next meeting will be on March 15th at my house in Alexandria.

If anyone else is interested in joining, it is not too late. Post a message or send me an email and I will send you more info.