We're curious what folks think the limiting factor is on underground resto events in LA?
Not enough cooks?
Not enough eaters?
Not enough space (chairs, kitchenspace...)
Legal issues?
Other?
Part of why we're asking is that we're plotting the perfect space to restart The Viand in the Fall and we're wondering if other cooks without enough space would want to use it. We run monthly and may go to twice a month.
Is it any harder to create an underground scene here in LA or is that just a stereotype? Yeah, we're flaky, not very spontaneous, lazy, paranoid and self-obsessed. Okay, maybe it's just me.
I think we need to try harder to create something really special and different. We can almost eat well by accident, so there's got to be more there.
I think the most limiting factor here, as opposed to, say, Manhattan, is just how far away everything is! And yes, people here do seem to hate to RSVP. For myself, some of the dinners I do hear about are simply out of my budget. But OTOH, I've found Amy's Culinary Adventures, Alessandra's Orgasmo de la Boca, Rachael & Suzanne's Chicks with Knives, and Pace Webb's Taste of Pace. Not to mention specialty dinners like those for people into raw food, such as one I just attended by Jason Wrobel.
Your idea about offering a space is intriguing. I've thought about giving a dinner myself, and talked myself out of it cuz my place is so small. I end up just doing buffet pot-lucks. There may be many others in the same situation. I'm interested in seeing where you go with this. You posted this question over a year ago, and I don't see any posts here about The Viand, so maybe it never happened...
Ah, I see this on Violet's profile page. It sounds so great! I wish I had gotten to attend one of these! (Well, a bunch of them, actually...)
About Me:
The Viand ran monthly for two years in Venice CA. Two of our five chefs are still working in LA. One is in Taos. Two of us are temporarily in Boston. We hosted the first Viand East on 9.26.08.
Our concept is:
5 chefs
10 courses
20 guests
$10
byo wine