Diners call it the ‘Airbnb for dinner.’ It’s a new way of eating out, and it’s gaining popularity in the Bay Area.
This week, Rebecca Williams was preparing a meal for ten people at her San Francisco home. She’s a teacher by day, and cook by night. The people on their way were complete strangers.
"I smelled it outside” one guest said with a laugh as she arrived.
"Great, I hope it was a good smell,” Williams laughed.
It was.
The guests made dinner reservations through the website eatwith.com. It connects home cooks with travelers and locals looking for alternative dining experiences. Rebecca’s “Three Acts” dinner had a suggested donation of $35 each.
"The chef is actually part of the whole experience bringing his/her personal story into the dinner. That's something you just can't replicate outside of those homes,” said EatWith co-founder and CEO Guy Michlin.
This type of service has raised questions at the San Francisco Department of Public Health. A spokesperson said they’ve received a number of inquiries. They’re waiting to hear back from the city attorney’s office, to find out whether or not the chefs are regulated.
"We're looking to work with the local regulator to find the right framework just as we have in Spain and Israel,” Michlin added.
Before a chef can be featured on the website, an employee of EatWith must attend a dinner to ensure the chef can cook and the service is up to their standards.
"The wine actually matched the salad really well, compliments to the chef,” guest Eric Schreiber said of Williams.
Users can also leave reviews on the chef’s EatWith page.
“People are really personable,” guest Becky Poplawski said of the dinner. “They have interesting lives, it's easy to talk with them about what they're doing."
"I’ve been on an event blitz recently, being new to the city to try and meet a lot of new people and try out a lot of new things. A tech, food, startup event is pretty much in my home base,” said Eric Schreiber.
"I just like to make people happy, and food usually makes people happy,” Williams said.
Most of the meals on EatWith in San Francisco range from $23 to about $50 dollars apiece. There are several dining experiences along the Peninsula as well. No professional training is needed for chefs, but the company says many hosts have backgrounds in cooking or catering.
Similar companies like eatfeastly.com have also expanded to the Bay Area.
