Should an under-30 couple join the Beard House?
December 10, 2006 9:25 PM Subscribe
Anyone know anything about dinners at the James Beard Foundation in Manhattan?
My boyfriend and I live very close to the Beard House in Manhattan, and seeing how we love to eat tasty things, we're considering joining. However, we're both under 30 and afraid that most of the other people at these dinners would be much older than us, and we would feel awkward eating at a table with random strangers. I see on their website that they have some special events for the under-40 crowd, but we're really more interested in the dinners at the house.
So, anyone done one of these? Would we feel terribly out of place? Is it worth it even if we feel out of place?
Thanks!
My boyfriend and I live very close to the Beard House in Manhattan, and seeing how we love to eat tasty things, we're considering joining. However, we're both under 30 and afraid that most of the other people at these dinners would be much older than us, and we would feel awkward eating at a table with random strangers. I see on their website that they have some special events for the under-40 crowd, but we're really more interested in the dinners at the house.
So, anyone done one of these? Would we feel terribly out of place? Is it worth it even if we feel out of place?
Thanks!
You did see the Greens, you say. The fact that they're organizing something different for the 21-40 crowd makes me suspect that they figure that they'd be out of place at the regular dinners.
we would feel awkward eating at a table with random strangers.
If that's true, maybe you should go to a restaurant. Manhattan does have one or two good ones.
These kinds of events are as much about bringing people together as they are about the food. If meeting other people with a passionate interest in food and wine, and chatting with them about who they are and what they do, doesn't interest you, I doubt that this is for you. On the other hand, I'd guess that if you did attend, and made at least a token effort not to create a total conversational vacuum, you'd quickly find that you had more in common with the other guests than you think.
posted by ikkyu2 at 9:53 PM on December 10, 2006
we would feel awkward eating at a table with random strangers.
If that's true, maybe you should go to a restaurant. Manhattan does have one or two good ones.
These kinds of events are as much about bringing people together as they are about the food. If meeting other people with a passionate interest in food and wine, and chatting with them about who they are and what they do, doesn't interest you, I doubt that this is for you. On the other hand, I'd guess that if you did attend, and made at least a token effort not to create a total conversational vacuum, you'd quickly find that you had more in common with the other guests than you think.
posted by ikkyu2 at 9:53 PM on December 10, 2006
Beard House dinners are for foodies. If you're foodies, you'll have plenty to talk about with the random diners you're seated with.
mrs. enrevanche and I are not members of Beard House, but we have been to a number of "foodie" events in Manhattan and surrounding environs and despite the fact that neither of us are particularly extroverted, we've always had pleasant and memorable conversations with the people we've been seated with, and have even made a few new friends this way.
One especially pleasant special-event evening at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown, NY comes to mind; most of the couples at our large table were much older, one couple was a good bit younger than us (we're in our early forties); a good time was had by all.
posted by enrevanche at 7:31 AM on December 11, 2006
mrs. enrevanche and I are not members of Beard House, but we have been to a number of "foodie" events in Manhattan and surrounding environs and despite the fact that neither of us are particularly extroverted, we've always had pleasant and memorable conversations with the people we've been seated with, and have even made a few new friends this way.
One especially pleasant special-event evening at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown, NY comes to mind; most of the couples at our large table were much older, one couple was a good bit younger than us (we're in our early forties); a good time was had by all.
posted by enrevanche at 7:31 AM on December 11, 2006
The restaurant company I work for had one of our chefs cook at the James Beard House. As the marketing person, I didn't get to go, (of course) but I did get to deal with all of the photos of the event. Everyone attending was over 30...by a lot.
posted by Futurehouse at 8:25 AM on December 11, 2006
posted by Futurehouse at 8:25 AM on December 11, 2006
My firm has a Beard House membership and I've been to several dinners over the last couple of years. The environment there is friendly and "foody". While I definitely wouldn't go there by myself, with a significant other I'm sure it would be perfectly fine. While you will be on the younger side, the older people you'll meet are going to be the kind of older people you should want to meet -- successful media, culture, and finance types -- the types who are (not suprisingly) interested in meeting younger people, as well. (Youthful company is invigorating the successful, while it makes the unsuccesful bitter...)
posted by MattD at 9:02 AM on December 11, 2006
posted by MattD at 9:02 AM on December 11, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
I'd imagine that since a lot of the presenting chefs are young, you may find that they have young friends and family members at many of the meals. But personally, I think I'd sit with an older couple again. Imagine what tidbits on great travel spots or fantastic local restaurants someone with experience can pass onto you. Go! Have fun!
posted by saffry at 9:52 PM on December 10, 2006