Chef John Traynor’s pop-up events, Undercover Dinner Society, are more likely to be popping into people’s houses for the rest of the year.
The popular series of restaurant events with menus showcasing local produce, particularly seafood, managed to host their last evening in Mesa on Duke Street shortly before lockdown.
Pop-ups have been a feature of the local food scene but may be scarce in future, he says. “About five years ago, I had the idea for pop-up events as an outlet for creativity. It allowed me to create menus around themes, make some weird and wonderful stuff in different places, bring people together.
"For the last couple of years we’ve worked with small venues in the city and we sell 20 tickets quite quickly. The model relies on me being able to use other premises and I don’t think that is going to be an option for the immediate future”.
The development chef will now concentrate on offering private dining, something that he sees as a growing trend.
“We put together something for a house close to One Devonshire Gardens last year and it worked great.
"It is something that we are now getting more enquires about and that’s where I see things heading.
"I think people will be interested in socialising at home and they will feel more comfortable at home rather than going out to a big venue”.
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