Disappointed in Hidden Kitchen

[lepetitchat]

Has anyone else had a poor experience in dealing with the couple who run Hidden Kitchen? I am less than thrilled with them, but mostly I'm really disappointed; here's why....

I contacted them back in November trying to make reservations for any day from 1 July - 5 July, 2011; their response, understandably, was that they weren't booking that far ahead yet and that I should contact them "after the New Year". I thought for sure 5 Jan was early enough to make reservations, but gave them an expected few days of vacation before they started doing their 2011 summer business. Instead, I find that their calendar " does not leave us any dates for Hidden Kitchen the week you are in town"! I am SO disappointed that I gave them TONS of notice, too much notice, and yet doing what they asked left me too late! Frankly, if I were them, I would have put my name on a waitlist for when their calendar was available so I would have been first in line *sigh*. The other explanation is that they'll be on vacation, in which case I have zero hard feelings, but it seems odd that they would plan their vacation during high tourist season. I was really willing to stretch our budget for such an experience, but I guess it is not to be

I'm not sure where we'll look to yet, but there's no doubt that HK is NOT the only place to dine, it just would have been a fun and different experience for us. On to something else....

[PariS]

Vacation is very likely. The French like to vacation during the summer just like we do, and many places are closed an entire month during the summer--Berthillion's ice cream, for example (closed during the peak ice cream month of August!). Living life is more important than economics to them, and that's one of the little "quirks" that we must accept if we love vacationing in France! You might try to snag a reservation at Spring or Nomiya instead.

[lepetitchat]

I knew that most Parisians disappear for August, but I'd thought most things were still up and running for at least the first part of July. You're right though, it is a quirk that I must see as part of the charm of France. Thanks for cheering me up

I do wonder why they phrased their response the way they did. They're ex-pats from my state, so I know they speak English fluently. Oh well, I'll look at Spring and Nomiya; I'm sure I'll find something just as fun as HK.

[PariS]

Yes, their wording is weird since they're Americas! I can understand your disappointment. I hear if you follow them on Twitter, they frequently post cancellations-- twitter.com/HiddenKitchen That may be worth a shot, but unfortunately last minute.

[jazzcat]

It is my understanding that they only have a dinner 6 nights a month on weekends.

[jo]

I understand your disappointment ~ when you've got your heart set on a particular restaurant, it's hard to accept that it won't happen.

I've been to both Spring and Nomiya ~ both have been highlights of our trips, so if you can get in to either, I think you will have a wonderful experience. There are so many great restaurants in Paris ~ I'm sure you will find someplace fantastic to generate great memories from!

Jo

[lepetitchat]

After emailing them my response, they let me know that their day jobs are preventing them from hosting that week. I fully understand this and am no longer disappointed because they can't help what they can't help. I looked at Jim Haynes' website last night, but his gatherings are large enough that I don't think the atmosphere will feel intimate enough to get us out of our shells, if that makes any sense. What I was looking for in HK was an evening that would expand our cultural knowledge-base and open us up to people we never would have met otherwise in a small enough group that it's less like a public event. I wonder what else is out there...

[PariS]

Do look into Nomiya--it's a small place, where 12 (?) diners sit together at the same table all evening. Look up some of Jo's reviews here and read about it!