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July 5, 2021 By Malaysian Chef Leave a Comment

A diner’s guide to supper clubs in London

Malaysian Supper Club in London

After a decade of running Malaysian supper clubs in London, I keep getting asked the same questions from guests. I meet first time supper clubbers at every event we host. So hopefully this will answer some of those questions.

Other supperclub hosts have also shared their tips that will help both the hosts and guests have a great evening.

If you are about to attend a supper club at someone’s home for the first time, do take a few minutes to read this. It will ensure that there are no surprises and that you will have the most enjoyable time at the event.

1. It’s not a restaurant

You have been invited to someone’s home. It is not a restaurant. Cooking in domestic kitchens is tricky and there not as many hobs and helpers as in a restaurant.

You can expect the chefs to be enthusiastic amateurs and not professional chefs on their days off.

Don’t expect new cutlery for each course and don’t expect the food to arrive in quick succession. (Again, limited by a domestic kitchen).

2. We are really not a restaurant

Don’t expect the same dining experience as in a restaurant. Think of it like a big dinner party at a new friend’s house.

Click here for dates of the next Malaysian Supper Club in London. 

3. Payment and tips

Nowadays, supper clubs are sometimes sold via experience platforms as well as directly from the supper clubs.

As my blogger friend, Burger Anarchy said on his blog on this topic :
“We’re British. Therefore we’re useless at dealing with, and asking for, money. On the off-chance, you didn’t like the food, and even if you’re the sort of person who refuses to pay for things in restaurants, don’t dick the supperclub out of its donation. Tip at least 10-20% over the suggested donation or ticket price. Take plenty of cash with you, because if it’s really exceptional, then it’s still going to have cost you less than going to a restaurant.”

4. Don’t ask for substitutions or be too fussy

Most supper clubs serve a set menu. You might be served some unusual ingredients that you have never tried before. That is the joy of a supperclub, discovering new flavours and ingredients. If you are not adventurous with food, you might not enjoy supper clubs.

As we are not restaurants, we don’t usually have other ingredients on hand to cater for substitutions. Some cuisines, it is impossible to provide vegetarian or vegan options. Not unless you have agreed with the host beforehand.

5. Last minute cancellations

Please try not to cancel as this leaves the hosts inconvenienced and out of pocket. Seating plans and exact portions have already been planned. And usually, all the food has been bought and prepped up to 2 days in advance.

6. Be sociable

You will meet lots of new people on the communal tables that are common at supper clubs. Be nice. You can make some interesting friends.

Don’t forget that this is not a restaurant and expect that the hosts will be interacting with you more than expected. Feel free to ask questions, ask for recipes and do offer lots of compliments and feedback.

7. Bring lots of drinks.

Supperclubs usually last for several hours, getting served multiple courses throughout the night. Don’t plan on getting home too early and book your babysitter for at least an hour longer than you expected. Most people will bring lots of wine and beer and stay on to socialise long after the tables have been cleared. (Dependant on locations and hosts). Out longest night ended at 6 am when the last guests were found sleeping it off in the living room!! This is not the norm.

Here are some suggested drink pairings.

Click here for dates of the next Malaysian Supper Club in London. 

 

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: etiquette, supper clubs

December 12, 2019 By Malaysian Chef Leave a Comment

Chinese New Year Malaysian Supperclub London 30, 31 Jan 1 Feb

Celebrate Chinese New Year in London at Malaysian By May Supperclub

It’s been ages since we hosted a supperclub and probably the last time was when we were at Darjeeling Express, just before the Netflix show aired.

Our ever popular Malaysian Chinese New Year Supperclub is back in 2020! For one night only, we are hosting an intimate supperclub at an elegant private home in Marylebone.

On the menu is the most requested New Year Salad “Yee Sang” (or also called Loh Hei). This is the interactive salad where everyone has to get involved in tossing the salad while shouting out auspicious things. The meal will be 8 courses of Malaysian and auspicious Chinese dishes featuring prawns, fish and possible some rendang too.

Venue: A private home in Marylebone (nearest tubes Oxford Circus, Baker St, Regents Park)

Dates:

    • Thursday 30 Jan 2020
    • Friday 31 Jan  2020
    • Saturday 1 Feb 2020

Tickets: £45 and BYOB

Book Now by emailing us at bookings [at] malaysianbymay.com

Welcoming the Year of the Rat 2020 

Chinese New Year Malaysian Supperclub London

 

25 Jan is Burns night but coincidentally, it is also the first day of the Year of the Rat. In Malaysia, we celebrate Chinese New Year for 15 days. As per tradition, homes are cleaned before the new year (cleaning during the new year is bad luck) and new brightly coloured furnishing are bought. Everyone gets new clothes and shoes too. On the first 3 days, Malaysian will visit family and friends at “open houses” where there is free-flowing food and drink all day. Kids and unmarried youngsters are given Red packets filled with money for luck. It was always a great game to compare our Ang Pow stash at the end of the day. Inevitably, we will end up at a friend’s home where there is a mahjong or card game on.

Chap Goh Meh – the Hokkien New Year celebration

In the Hokkien communities in pockets around KL, Penang and other states, the 15th is the most important day. They call it Chap Goh Meh (literally, the 15th night). Besides celebrating the end of the New Year celebrations, it also has a romantic backdrop. In the olden days, this was the day that unwed girls were allowed out of their home. With their chaperones, they will dress up in all their finery and stroll through town. These girls will bring along mandarins to throw into the river in the hope of finding tru love. Today, this has been turned into a competition where boys in boats will compete to collect as many of the mandarins as possible. You can see this along the Esplanade in Penang.

About our Malaysian Supperclubs

At our supperclubs, we like to take everyone on a taste journey and introduce them to Malaysia’s varied fusion cuisine and flavours. From Nyonya food to familiar Malay curries like Beef Rendang to Indian Muslim Mamak dishes and Malaysian Street Food like laksa.

This Malaysian Supperclub in London Hosted by Malaysian by May, who has been hosting Malaysian Supperclubs and Pop Ups at venues around London including a Popup at Oliver Peyton’s National Gallery Cafe.

Who comes to our Malaysian supperclubs?

We have had guest as young as 1 month old to great grand mothers. We’ve had a guest fly in from Florida for the weekend and some regular guests who fly in from Germany. As attending a supperclub is one of the “Things to Do in London” we get visitors who found us online and turn up on a whim too.  We love to welcome Londoners who bring their friends to experience our Malaysian hospitality. You can come in a group or by yourself as we get a lot of single diners and our communal table settings are very friendly.

Book Now by emailing us at bookings [at] malaysianbymay.com

Testimonial: Here is what one our supperclubber guest had to say about our events:

“We had such an incredible time at May’s supper club – wonderful food in such a wonderful atmosphere. It really added to the evening having May explain the history of Malaysian cuisine so we knew why we were eating what we were eating. I cannot fault the evening, May and her team went above and beyond to produce some really exciting dishes – we didn’t want to leave! We will most definitely be returning soon. Thank you May. Dawn ”

Note: We are also available for private parties too, drop us an email for more details.

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: chinese new year, supperclub

June 4, 2018 By Malaysian Chef Leave a Comment

Malaysian Curry Lunch Club at Darjeeling Express

Malaysian Supperclub at Darjeeling Express.

Malaysian Curry Lunch Club at Darjeeling Express

Announcing our new dates for the next Malaysian Supperclub or rather the Sunday Lunch Club at a new venue, Darjeeling Express in Kingly Court as part of their Women in Food series.

A leisurely Sunday lunch, multiple courses of home cooked Malaysian food. Since it is the season for crabs, we will feature Malaysian Chilli Crabs on the menu. For the rest of the feast,  here is a sample menu.

Date: Sunday 29 July 2018, 2.30pm.

Venue: Darjeeling Express, Kingly Court, Carnaby St, Soho, London W1B 5PW

Tickets: £42

Please email bookings@malaysianbymay.com to reserve a space

About our Malaysian Supperclubs

Our Supperclub is always a fun and friendly affair. We have a diverse group of Londoners and visitors who come from afar. We’ll have communal tables so you can come in a group or just by yourself and make some new friends.

At our supperclubs, we like to take everyone on a taste journey and introduce them to Malaysia’s varied fusion cuisine and flavours. From our unique Nyonya cuisine to familiar Malay curries like Beef Rendang to Indian Muslim Mamak dishes and Malaysian Street Food favourites. More details here.

Malaysian by May has been hosting Malaysian Supperclubs in London for over 7 years. She has hosted Malaysian Supperclubs and Pop Ups at venues around London including a popup at Oliver Peyton’s National Gallery Cafe and she has done cooking demonstrations for Malaysia Kitchen.

“I also expected the tastes and flavors to be toned down for the English palette, after all, we are in London. I was so wrong! I really enjoyed this supperclub experience, and the food, flavors and textures reminded me so much of my childhood!’ Rosana, Hot and Chilli

Charles verdict: ‘very good value for money, given all the effort that has been put in, the quality of food and ingredients, and the fact the supperclub host may not necessarily do this full time, and diners need to be aware of how difficult it is to pull off a great supperclub like this one’.

Please email bookings@malaysianbymay.com to reserve a space

Directions to Darjeeling Express

Filed Under: Events

May 20, 2018 By Malaysian Chef Leave a Comment

3 June 2018 Malaysian By May Sunday Lunch Club

Malaysian Supperclub at Darjeeling Express.

Malaysian Supperclub at Darjeeling Express

Announcing our new dates for the next Malaysian Supperclub or rather the Sunday Lunch Club at a new venue, Darjeeling Express in Kingly Court.

A leisurely lunch, 8 courses of home cooked Malaysian food. Here is a sample menu.

Date: Sunday 3 June 2018, 2.00pm.

Venue: Darjeeling Express, Kingly Court, Carnaby St, Soho, London W1B 5PW

Tickets: £38

Book by email us at bookings [at] MalaysianByMay.com  or complete this form. 

Bookings for the Malaysian By May Lunch Club 3 June 2018

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About our Malaysian Supperclubs

Our Supperclub is always a fun and friendly affair. We have a diverse group of Londoners and visitors who come from afar. We’ll have communal tables so you can come in a group or just by yourself and  make some new friends.

At our supperclubs, we like to take everyone on a taste journey and introduce them to Malaysia’s varied fusion cuisine and flavours. From our unique Nyonya cuisine to familiar Malay curries like Beef Rendang to Indian Muslim Mamak dishes and Malaysian Street Food favourites. More details here.

Malaysian by May has been hosting Malaysian Supperclubs in London for over 7 years. She has hosted Malaysian Supperclubs and Pop Ups at venues around London including a popup at Oliver Peyton’s National Gallery Cafe and she has done cooking demonstrations for Malaysia Kitchen.

“I also expected the tastes and flavors to be toned down for the English palette, after all, we are in London. I was so wrong! I really enjoyed this supperclub experience, and the food, flavors and textures reminded me so much of my childhood!’ Rosana, Hot and Chilli

Charles verdict: ‘very good value for money, given all the effort that has been put in, the quality of food and ingredients, and the fact the supperclub host may not necessarily do this full time, and diners need to be aware of how difficult it is to pull off a great supperclub like this one’.

Directions to Darjeeling Express

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: Lunch Club

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