This new supper club is helping you to make connections in Canberra

Posted on 21 May, 2024

Open conversation, good food, and a wine or two – there’s a new supper club in town, and it sounds delicious.

Officially launching on Saturday 25 May with its first drool-worthy dinner, Occasional Diners is an intimate food-focused event aiming to connect strangers in Canberra in a fun and friendly way. Founded by Renee Joy – the Creative Director of Sideways Creative and passionate sustainable fashion advocate who chronicles her wardrobe freeze on @aconsciouswardobe – the concept was born from her passion for food and conversation.

Kicking off the event at The Lab in Manuka, Occasional Diners is designed to be small and exclusive, with the number of attendees capped at 20, so everyone can get nice and chummy over the three-hour (and three-course) dinner.

But the small quarters and the small number of guests are not only to help spark conversation – Renee will be taking on the mammoth task of cooking almost all of the courses and share plates herself. And while she’s not a trained chef, she is a passionate home cook who used to run a catering business in Canberra (you might remember Gather & Graze), so she knows a thing or two about good food.

“Occasional Diners is something I’ve wanted to do for a really long time,” she says.

“Supper clubs have been around for quite some time, but I don’t think it’s been done in Canberra like this, at least not that I know of. A supper club usually involves friends and family, but I liked the concept of inviting strangers to dine with me and making connections with people that I wouldn’t normally have at a dinner.”

Offering a new opportunity to make a connection in Canberra (without any of the awkwardness of meeting in a restaurant or café), Renee hopes that her Occasional Diners will offer much more than a general dining experience – which is why she’s meticulously planned every single detail of the night.

 

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So, what’s on Renee’s menu for the launch? Think: classic comfort food with a twist.

“It is a lot of work, but I’ve done it a few times…it’s a lot more relaxed food, there’s a lot of shared plates. And I will be getting some assistance – my partner and his friend own Nicky’s [in Dickson], and I’m borrowing their kitchen to prep,” she says.

“I thought I would call it ‘Grandma’s Pantry’ because it’s kind of nostalgic coming into the cooler months – you want that comfort food. And I love Canberra, so I really wanted to showcase the local produce.”

And yes, we can confirm that the house-made focaccia from Nicky’s will be on the menu, along with some regional wines to help wash everything down.

“The hope is the future events will expand, so there are 20 spots for this event and then for future events the venue and capacity will grow,” says Renee.

“Each will be tailored to the season and a themed menu, so there probably won’t be another Grandma’s Pantry for a while…I like the idea of changing it and doing little things differently.”

Butter, anyone?

Hoping that her event will be warmly received, Renee even has plenty of icebreakers planned for people who want to attend but feel nervous about striking up a conversation with a stranger.

“We’ll have topics that we’ll talk about that are related to food and memory…it’s an open conversation about Canberra and food and I hope people make friends during the evening,” she says.

“It’s different from going out to a restaurant, it’s a bit more intimate and I think most people coming to this event will be hoping to make connections with people.”

Designed for anyone to attend – from long-time Canberrans to new residents – ultimately, Renee dreams of Occasional Diners becoming known as a safe space for people to step out of their comfort zone and sit next to someone new.

And with good food, drinks, and conversation on the menu, if anything, it sounds like a fun night out.

“I feel like Canberra is a pot of gold. You just have to look for it…I just ask that people come with an open mind and an empty stomach.”

Images supplied.