staplehouse

I am so excited to be able to share my most recent experience with you.  Not only because the fiance' and I were finally granted two of the very limited seats available for the experience but because after following this semi-elusive dinner club for over a year, it was so worth the wait, effort and disappointments of the "Sold Out" dinners of the past.

Ryan (the chef) and Jen (his loving, supportive and equally talented partner) are the amazing husband and wife duo who started hosting bimonthly dinners at their home.  The dinner parties are actually a preview of their soon to open restaurant, Staplehouse.  The dinners are aptly named Prelude to Staplehouse, where Ryan can sample dishes to add to his menu while getting immediate feedback from diners.

Ryan and Jen have this down to a science.  They provide such a welcoming atmosphere, you really feel like you're at your neighbors house for dinner and it'd be no problem to come back the next evening for another meal. Please and Thank You! 

There's a lovely welcoming reception 1/2 hour before dinner is served where we were greeted with a glass or wine or beer.  Everyone is chatting, getting to know one another, getting to learn more about Ryan and Jen and the upcoming Staplehouse.  Then we're ushered into the dinning room where there are six seats at the dinning room table and four at the bar (for those who would like to watch the chef work his magic in the open kitchen).  Jen is the ultimate hostess and server, as she always served the women first.  And Ryan is the passionate chef who described each course with the most descriptive and appetizing words before we literally started to dig in with our "ooohhhhss" and "aaahhhhss", giving repetative compliments to the chef.

(No pics of the food, too busy eating, but check their blog as they have recaps of the dinners, complete with pictures)

Ryan describes the food and ambiance as "casual fine dining".  Sign me up, whatever it is.
  
The food was spectacular. Starting with then king crab salad (would have never thought crab and apple would be a great combination, but it was) and the A-MAZ-ING burrata (which Ryan described as luscious, which it was) and tomatoes.  I could eat the buratta everyday, all day and not feel guilty about it one bit.  Then there was the clam and chorizo "stew", the duck which was delicious and tender, ending with orange creme or root beer floats. The floats took me right back to childhood just in time to go home and pass out in the fetal position from the fantastic meal.

(The group of lucky diners and our hostesses chef Ryan, bottom left and Jen peeking her little head from behind)

Now I could go on and on about this meal but if you live in the Atlanta area, let me tell you how you could be a lucky guest.

They host approximately 2 dinners a month which are only announced through a posting on their website, usually posted a few days before the dinner. There are only 10 seats available for each dinner and when that post goes up, the dinners sell out very quickly, within 10 minutes or less.  Literally, if you are not on your computer/email/google reader (my way to follow them) when the announcement is made, you can pretty much count on having to wait until the next dinner. 

The process is exciting and nerve racking at the same time.  But like I said earlier, the experience is worth it.  Excellent food, great company, a perfect way the end the weekend

So go to their website here. Sign up, follow along, get in the know! You'll be happy you did