Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Weinberg.
Jennifer, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 2017, my good friend Mayela Lanza learned of a New York based dinner that started the dialogue on sustainable food practices. We were both inspired to take action but wanted to modify the idea to suit a Miami audience and bring awareness of the challenges regarding food waste and sustainability to where we lived. We also wanted to take things one step further and give back to the community as a result of our efforts.
As this idea was just starting to take shape, we called a mutual friend to see if she’d lend us some forks and knives, not even knowing where the event would take place, and the next thing we knew Verde at the Perez Art Museum Miami was offering to host our first dinner!
That initial dinner, a vegetarian meal prepared by Top Chef Janine Booth, was a big hit. Hungry Harvest provided sustainable produce and they’ve been a great partner of ours since then. As guests were leaving Verde that evening, they were all asking when the next dinner would be. Two days later, we were approached by another venue and started planning our second event.
We’ve been planning unique pop up dinners ever since, and have brought on Tammy Martinez as President. We have partnered with Pao at Faena, the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, W South Beach, and more. Our events have benefited several organizations, including Lotus House, Debris Free Oceans and Surfrider Foundation Miami Chapter. We’re looking forward to our third event this year, an Earth Day Remix Brunch at Planta, which will be held on Saturday, April 25th.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Sustainable Supperclub has been fortunate in that the community has embraced us and supported us from day one. Sustainability is such an important issue and we try to make it accessible and easy for all, which I think has helped us. We’ve definitely learned some lessons along the way and have gotten a little more savvy, but since this is a passion for Mayela, Tammy and I, we don’t let our feathers get too ruffled!
Sustainable Supperclub – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Sustainable Supperclub specializes in curating pop up, vegetable forward events in order to raise awareness regarding the importance of eliminating food waste while supporting like-minded non-profit organizations. We’re known for providing unique, educational, high-quality dining experiences to our guests and providing them with some easy to implement ideas on how they can make a few lifestyle changes, which can have a big impact.
I’d have to say we’re proud to be bringing this information to a Miami audience in terms that everyone can understand. The food waste element is an important part of each event, but so is the sense of community and connection, and the giving back. We don’t want the sustainability conversation to take the form of long lectures but prefer it start the conversation and let it get the diners thinking about it, talking about it organically and making changes on their own terms. What sets us apart from other dinner clubs is the charitable element, as well as the sustainable slant and use of produce that would ordinarily go to waste. We also try to work with partners who have similar beliefs, like Simple Vodka and Vero Water, for example.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Good luck has definitely been important to Sustainable Supperclub. From that first phone call, which led to us working with Verde, to the time when two volunteers cancelled at the last minute and then two others miraculously turned up out of nowhere, we have been very, very fortunate. Even picking our name about a year before “sustainable” became a buzzword was pure luck. Knock on wood.
Contact Info:
- Website: sustainablesupper.org
- Email: jennifer@sustainablesupper.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablesupperclub/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sustainablesupperclub/
Image Credit:
Pictures 1 and 2- Vivian Vo
Pictures 3, 4 and 5- Reelmax Media
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