It started among neighbors. Four friends dining and drinking in each other’s Richmond homes. They would throw private parties, hire chefs. Word spread.
Now a secret dining society, The Underground Kitchen will spread into Williamsburg in November.
“It’s more than just a restaurant experience, although it’s very food-oriented,” CEO Micheal Sparks said. “It’s the whole experience.”
Sparks, one of the original four, took over the operation in 2014. He draws from more than 35 years of experience in fashion, design and branding. His career has taken him from Beverly Hills to Madrid to Richmond as owner of Micheal Sparks Design.
Sparks oversees the Underground Kitchen team, meticulously crafting each experience.
Here’s how it works.
The Underground Kitchen selects a venue. Past locations range from a penthouse loft to a 200-year-old farm.
Sparks then reimagines the space to create an atmosphere corresponding to the night’s theme. This theme might reflect the season, cuisine or chef. Regardless, it’s woven through the entire dinner.
The chef, chosen from the local restaurant scene or beyond, designs a five-to-seven course menu, each course paired with wine.
One of Spark’s favorite dinners followed an “Into the Wild” theme. Guests foraged for mushrooms in the morning, which the chosen chef cooked into a gourmet meal for the evening.
Usually limited to 60 guests, the evenings marry the intimacy of a family dinner with the quality of a gourmet restaurant.
That’s why tickets sell out in minutes.
Underground Kitchen sends email invitations before the event, revealing the dinner date, a location clue and the date and time tickets go on sale. Ranging from $140 to $175, tickets are first come, first serve.
The exact venue is revealed just one to two days prior to the dinner.
“It’s inclusive and secretive at the same time,” Zachary McElgunn, director of business development, said.
Because once there, guests immediately feel at home. “It is community-building, you speak to people very personally,” McElgunn said.
Guests often start the dinner as strangers and leave as friends.
“This takes people out of their circle,” Sparks said. “Great networking, great connecting.”
Even more, it’s about learning.
“We want to explain to you what you’re eating,” said Sparks. “We want to be able to have time with you and explain to you the wine you’re drinking.”
The initial Williamsburg dinner is planned for mid-November, before Thanksgiving. Underground Kitchen will spread to Virginia Beach the same month, with plans to expand to North Carolina including Charlottesville, Charlotte and Raleigh.
Sparks thought Williamsburg a good fit for The Underground Kitchen. in fact, one of his favorite restaurants is Fat Canary, on Duke of Gloucester Street.
“The foodie scene there is insane,” Sparks said.
At its heart, The Underground Kitchen blends food and culture. It creates a community of people.
“It’s a person who’s actively seeking out a unique experience,” McElgunn said. “They’re looking to experience something that they haven’t before.”
To register for an invitation and chance at tickets, visit theundergroundkitchen.org.
Any venue owners or chefs interested in collaborating can email McElgunn at Zachary@popup-revolution.com.
Contact Underground Kitchen at 804-441-8683.
Bridges can be reached at 757-275-4934.
