February 2011 Supper Club Review: Paley's Place

We're 2 for 2 so far on Supper club choices.
Our February Supper Club night started out with cocktails at Nathan and Alexis' place. We started a new tradition to kick the night up a a notch. We put all of our names* into the Supper Club box and drew one name out--That person has to take a shot of some sort of liquor from the hosts booze stash. Jeff was the lucky winner and he enjoyed the first official Supper Club shot.

Ready to go, we piled into 1 car, braved the chilly temps and made our way to NW for dinner at Paley's Place. The cheese tray in the doorway was a sign that we were in the right place. Even though it was a slightly older and more 'refined' crowd, the food was excellent (although Jeff wasn't thrilled with his last selection; the beef tartar). The menu is primarily NW inspired dishes with a focus on local, organic ingredients. Paley's Place has been a Portland staple since 1995 and has been featured in the NY Times, Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Sunset and O Magazine. It was also good timing because Executive Chef Vitaly Paly is going to be featured in an April episode of Iron Chef America, going head to head against Jose Garces.

Favorite dishes: The vegetarian cassoulet, rabbit ravioli

Budget Spent: $260

Current Dinner Box Budget: $45

Paleys Place

1204 Northwest 21st Avenue
503-243-2403

Paleys Place Website

More Rules

Our 2011 Supper Club rules are a 'work in progress' which means that at any time, we can make up new rules, most likely developed at one members expense. But since we are all official with our own blog and our awesome goth-chic dinner club box, we thought we better right down the rules as they exist today.

• The first rule of Supper Club is that there is no Supper Club. (Todd suggested this one. Shocker.)
• One couple is responsible for Supper Club each month. That months hosts are responsible for a) planning the restaurant and making a reservation if necessary b) hosting drinks and appetizers for the group before dinner
• We always go in the following order (Todd&Kara/Nathan&Alexis/Jeff&Dani)
• The host must keep the location a secret until all members of the club have arrived. At that point, they can reveal the location in any manner they see fit (20 questions/sky writing/a haiku)
• Each year, the members are allowed to invite guests to the club 1x per couple, if approved by the group
• Roles and responsibilities were established January 2011 and are locked in for 1 year terms. At that point, we will revisit the roles. In the meantime, any person can be impeached with a unanimous vote from the rest of the club
• The club must take something from each restaurant to enter into the club box (i.e. matches/business card)
• The club always tips at a rate of 20% unless unanimously decided upon differently
• There is a minimum of 1 dessert per Supper Club
• When your food arrives, if you begin eating, anyone can eat
• You can switch date if the social chair approves
• Once a year, Supper club is out of town
• Once a year, Supper club is changed to Brunch Club.
  

Roles & Responsibilities:
Todd: President
Nathan: VP
Jeff: Social Chair
Danielle: Secretary
Kara: Treasurer
Alexis: Legal Counsel/Bail Coordinator