{"id":1113,"date":"2010-02-18T15:56:58","date_gmt":"2010-02-18T23:56:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/topmomblog.com\/?p=1113"},"modified":"2013-05-11T08:59:05","modified_gmt":"2013-05-11T15:59:05","slug":"an-underground-dinner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/an-underground-dinner\/","title":{"rendered":"An Underground Dinner"},"content":{"rendered":"
Don’t feel bad, I didn’t really know what an underground dinner was either; but whatever it was, the name was intriguing, it sounded exciting, and count me IN.<\/p>\n
My invitation to the underground dinner was most graciously extended by Toni Purry, founder and CEO of Purry Communications<\/a>, who I met at \u00a0the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa<\/a> event for the bloggers at OC Family magazine<\/a>. \u00a0You can read about our evening of pampering at the spa here<\/a>. But right now, I need to tell you about my foodie adventure and magical evening in Van Nuys. Say what???<\/p>\n Yes, even though the address for the underground dinner location (disclosed only days before the event) said North Hollywood, a few guests that I talked with referred to the area as Van Nuys. \u00a0I won’t bother to bemoan the travails of driving to Van Nuys from Orange County on a Saturday night before Valentine’s Day. \u00a0These underground dinners are never at a traditional restaurant, how boring would that be… And it is by Invitation Only.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chef Amy Jurist<\/a> and her amazing staff are the orchestrators of these bi-monthly dining experiences which she likes to think of as “food raves”.<\/p>\n Chef Amy’s career path to becoming a personal chef, caterer, and host\/chef of Amy’s Underground Decadent Dinner Parties <\/em>is a bit like Robert Frost’s road not taken <\/a>. Her journey has included being a\u00a0successful entertainment marketing executive, \u00a0a reality star, as well as a photographer, a food product developer, and creator of fine artisanal chocolates! \u00a0Read more about Amy and reviews of her other decadent dinners at Amy’s Culinary Adventures<\/a>. \u00a0While you’re there check out the mouth-watering menus from past dinners: \u00a0Cheese Please,<\/em> Mingle in the Mediterranean<\/em>, One Night in Italy<\/em>, The Mushroom Experience<\/em>, and The Bacon Affair<\/em>.<\/p>\n Our evening in Paris began with Michel Olivier 2007 Cremant de Limoux Blanc de Blanc<\/em> champagne and a selection of \u00a0three amuse bouches: \u00a0 brie with truffle honey, foie gras mousse, and tiny crepes filled with ham, gruyere, and mushrooms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n At the ringing of the dinner bell, guests were seated and Toni Purry introduced Chef Amy along with a little back story on Amy’s Culinary Adventures<\/a>. \u00a0Amy’s breezy style put everyone at ease and we \u00a0were treated to her self-deprecating and amusingly irreverent sense of humor with each course.<\/p>\nThe evening was billed as “La Nuit \u00e1 Paris” and, with this name, promised to transport us to the banks of the River Seine and the romance of the City of Lights.<\/span><\/h3>\n
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