The Art of the Surprise: Why I Keep Club SupSup Details Secret Until the Last Minute
When I started Club SupSup, I knew I didn’t want it to feel like just another dinner reservation. I wanted it to feel like an invitation—something whispered about, something you mark on your calendar with a little bit of giddy anticipation.
Keeping many of the details secret until the last minute isn’t just for fun though (although it’s definitely fun). It changes the entire mindset of my guests. Instead of arriving with expectations shaped by Yelp reviews or preconceived ideas, they arrive open—ready to be delighted.
There’s a kind of magic in not knowing whether you’ll be dining under the stars in a Paso vineyard, tucked inside a private home in Atascadero, or in a hidden garden on the coast. While I often disclose the address of the location at the release of each menu, I don’t disclose the theme of the night, the surprise add-ons, or even just the decor of the venue. Leaving these details to the last minute? That’s the start of the experience.
Why I Love It:
It builds connection – Guests chat, speculate, and bond over the unknown.
It frees creativity – I’m not bound by a single venue’s menu or vibe.
It invites trust – My guests trust me to deliver, and I take that seriously.
Pro Tip for Home Entertainers: Want to recreate the magic? Invite friends to “dinner” but keep the location and menu a surprise. Maybe it’s your backyard, maybe it’s a picnic at sunset. The point isn’t the secrecy—it’s the excitement.
Upcoming:
August 17th: The Arts Around Us: The Many Paths of the Culinary Arts (free entry, RSVP here)
August 22nd: Coastal Tasting- SLO (tickets here)
October 16th: Just Desserts (and Wine) (Tickets Here)
