Eating out has never been more exclusive. Whether it’s a hot new French bistro in the West Village, or a seafood spot in Paris’s most bobo quartier, it has never been harder to get a reservation at some of the world’s most coveted tables.
At the same time, the ubiquity of food content online has made the act of eating at a new restaurant feel like something to knock off your checklist, instead of actually experience. You already know what you’re supposed to order, and when you’re supposed to film a certain tableside maneuver. A thousand other people have already enjoyed your meal for you before you’re even handed a menu.
A new dining club, Savienne, aims to offer an alternative to this cycle of food tourism. Founded by Stephen Werther, and produced in collaboration with the James Beard Foundation, Savienne curates luxury vacations built around unique dining experiences. Picture lounging by the pool, the scent of lavender wafting through the air, as you enjoy a long weekend at an estate in Provence. Come evening, Chef Chintan Pandya, the mastermind behind the Michelin-starred Indian restaurant Semma, prepares a fabulous dinner using the freshest produce the South of France has to offer.
Perhaps you’d rather stargaze in the deserts of Morocco, as Chef Ludo Lefebvre—of LA’s Trois Mec and Petit Trois—marries French technique with the spoils of Marrakesh’s famed spice market. Or how about a coq au vin or beef bourguignon, interpreted by Mexico’s Daniela Soto‑Innes, enjoyed in a cliffside château in Burgundy alongside fine wines produced mere miles away?
Members can enjoy these trips and more, which bring the world’s best chefs to fabulous settings, and allow travelers to dine with local artisans and tastemakers, giving them a once-in-a-lifetime window into a new culture. Stephen Werther, the man bringing this remarkable concept to life, cites Gertrude Stein’s salons as a big inspiration: “What she accomplished in the 1920s in Paris is to this day the holy grail of entertaining. Bringing together interesting, talented, opinionated people from diverse backgrounds and vocations, for evenings of food, drink, and most importantly, memorable conversation. That is what Savienne aspires to do.”
Savienne launches this fall with 24 exciting travel experiences. A significant portion of revenue from these trips will go towards supporting the James Beard Foundation’s education and sustainability initiatives, as well as food-related nonprofits selected by participating chefs. Check out their website for more details on the new era of exclusivity in dining, brought to you by the brightest culinary talents of today.
Catherine Rickman is a writer, professional Francophile, and host of the Expat Horror Stories podcast. She is currently somewhere in Brooklyn with a fork in one hand and a pen in the other, and you can follow her adventures on Instagram @catrickman.
