Mystery Dinner in Cuenca!
They’re known variously as supper clubs, secret suppers, closed-door or underground restaurants. Especially popular in Buenos Aires (where they’re dubbed “puertas cerradas”) these esoteric eateries are often held in obscure and/or roving locations. Generally they’re operated out of someone’s home or at some secret, out of the way location. And discovering one is pretty much a matter of word-of-mouth – knowing someone that knows someone that knows someone.
Dining at these elusive eateries can be a set, multi-course dinner (often not revealed in advance), or a hand-crafted tasting menu. And the variety of chefs that oversee these clandestine food-fests can range from Michelin-starred legends, to young rogue chefs seeking to expand their creative skills – to your average neighborhood foodie that’s eager to serve up authentic local cuisine and encourage the camaraderie of sharing good eats and convo around a communal table.
Generally though, these secret suppers are tucked into hidden corners of large, prominent foodie cities like New York, Mexico City, Barcelona, etc.
Not little ol’ Cuenca, Ecuador.
So imagine my surprise when I first got wind that there was a closed-door, gourmet restaurant, right here amid the cobbled streets of my El Centro neighborhood. I’d heard rumors of it, but hadn’t a clue where it might be.
And then I got lucky. Turns out, one of my loyal TravelnLass readers (hi Christine!) was visiting Cuenca with her husband on their “grown-up gap-year” travels ’round the globe, and we initially rendezvoused for a steamy bowl of pho at my one of my favorite Cuenca restaurants, Vietnamita. Later, Christine and Yung were joined by a another couple they’d originally met in Chile, and…
Turns out, that couple happened to be staying at a place tucked deep inside the bowels of a building in El Centro – directly across from the kitchen of the secret restaurant!
Long story short? The 5 of us stumbled down a looong, pitch-black corridor (lit only by the glow of our cellphones), and (passing through the kitchen) entered a dark, cavernous, candle-lit dining room with but a trio of tables.
Apparently you can order 3, 5 or 7 course meals – with or without wine pairings. We opted for the full 7 course dinner (natch!) and enjoyed a most eclectic array of delicious dishes (including two desserts!)
The young, enthusiastic staff carefully described each dish as it was served. But alas, I now don’t recall the details – only that we all enjoyed the diversity of flavors and textures of our entire mystery dinner!
A most unique and memorable dining experience to be sure – made even better by the chance serendipity of discovering it. Thus in keeping with the spirit of such “Secret Suppers”, I shan’t divulge the exact location of this hidden culinary gem here on the digital super-highway. Better that you too, should chance upon it as I did, preserving the mysterious charm of dining à la “hush-hush”.
P.S. Then again… a handful of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups might persuade me to spill-the-beans privately. 😉
About the Author
Dyanne Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion,and I’ve always lived life “like-a-kid-in-a-candy-store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been: This ain’t a dress rehearsal, folks!
Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion, and I’ve always lived life “like a kid in a candy store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been:
Hey, we’re two “older” Peace Corps Volunteers living and serving right here in Cuenca! I just stumbled on your site and am glad I did! When can we meet up?
Well hey there Douglas – I’m always happy to meet up for a bite, most anywhere in El Centro (I live just around the corner from Fabiano’s). Indeed, I’ll take any excuse to sit down to a steamy bowl of pho at Vietnamita (near San Sabas). Shoot me an email via my TL contact form (up there at the tippy-top right).
That makes me wonder about the bakery that I could see from the apartment we rented in Cuenca a couple years ago. There was always activity that started up long after the bakery had closed and small groups of people would come for what I assumed was food but I never saw a sign that advertised evening hours or menus.
Might be connected Robyn. I don’t believe this underground restaurant has been open more than a year, but who knows? That’s the magic of these mystery dinners!
I can’t believe you have a Vietnamese restaurant and Pho in Cuenca let alone a place that serves secret gourmet dinners. The food looks delish. I’m so jealous!
I KNOW Anita – the international eats scene here in Cuenca has expanded exponentially in the 4 years I’ve been here. Needless to say – this foodie couldn’t be happier! 😉