I
mentioned the old speakeasy Chumley’s in a post a while back because it is one of my favorite places in New York City.
There really aren’t any more speakeasies around since alcohol is now legal. But there is a new phenomenon spreading in
places like New York and San Francisco that is quite interesting: speakeasy cuisine.
This article in the SF Chronicle
discusses the secret eating culture in SF. But I know for a fact that this type of thing exists in Manhattan. People
offer their private homes for personal dining experiences…they are, of course, hard to find. They are also often
illegal.
The place they mention in the SF Chronicle piece is called Ghetto Gourmet, and it is said to be one of the hottest restaurants in the
Bay Area that you have never heard of. Ghetto Gourmet isn’t listed in the phone book and there is no sign out
front. You find it by word of mouth…and then your stomach becomes very happy. Personally, I love the idea of these
secret dining hideaways. In fact, after writing this post I’m going to see if I can find some around here in the city,
and will post what I find.