More than a meal

More than a meal

FACTBOX

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE

Lithuanians Reda Stare (left) and Audra Pakalnyte (right) co-founded PlateCulture to offer a unique dining experience. The service enables a small group of diners to have a meal at a host’s private home. There are two ways to join. If you’re a gifted cook and want to open your home and life to others, then consider joining them as a host. If you’re a foodie looking for new things to try while meeting new people, then consider booking a PlateCulture dinner. Go to www.plateculture.com for more information. Reda talks to us about spreading the new dining trend in Bangkok.

Photo courtesy of PLATECULTURE

WHEN DID PLATECULTURE START?

We began in Malaysia around June and expanded to Singapore in August. We just recently launched in Bangkok.

WHERE DID THE IDEA COME FROM?

It came to me while I was travelling in India three years ago. An Indian woman invited me to her house. She made a really nice home-cooked dinner in her yard and charged me for it. We decided to reproduce the idea in Malaysia where my co-founder lived for eight years. We first thought our service would only be of interest to tourists but later many people joined us, especially expats, offering various cuisines. Then locals started going to dinners hosted by expats as it was a new experience for them.

HOW DOES PLATECULTURE WORK?

Go to our website to check out the hosts. Their profiles include pictures of their places and food, their stories, prices and locations. Book for a seat and pay online, then simply show up for dinner.

HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM GOING TO A RESTAURANT?

You’ll get to taste some home cooking so the portions aren’t too huge. Each host offers a limited number of seats per meal. The other difference is that the host sits at the table and communicates with you. You’ll get to share stories. Food is obviously a conversation starter but it can lead to other topics so people on the table can get to know each other.

WHO ARE THE HOSTS?

Basically, they are people who are great at cooking but without any professional training. Through us, they can turn their hobby into a source of income and realise their dream of running a restaurant. They get to have a great time, treating their guests to their home-cooked meals, and get to make new friends as well.

HOW DO YOU SCREEN THE HOSTS?

Our team visits them first to check out their place and food. We take photos and get to know them to make sure they are what we’re looking for. We also collect reviews from customers. If a host scores very low, then we consider taking them off PlateCulture.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO POTENTIAL HOSTS?

We would like to encourage both expats and Thais to join us. So far in Bangkok apart from traditional Thai cuisine we already have enlisted Mexican, Ghanaian and fusion of Italian and Japanese cuisines. Our team is about to meet cooks who will prepare some more fusion cuisines as well as Lithuanian, South African, vegan and others. If you’re interested, contact us via the website.

ANY MESSAGE FOR POTENTIAL PLATECULTURE DINERS?

Please go to the website and browse the hosts’ profiles to find what you like. They are quite detailed with photos as well as stories about the hosts and their food. With us, your dinner will be unique because you get to eat at different houses and meet different people. 

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