Supper clubs have a storied and diverse history in the United States, ranging from prohibition-era roadhouses to private, exclusive clubs providing exceptional food and entertainment. Patrons customarily spend an extended evening enjoying cocktails and multi-course meals followed by entertainment. Chef Jorden Dolan began The Woodlands Supper Club as a fresh concept connecting guests with seasonal food at rotating locations, affording a unique opportunity to socialize with new friends and gain insight into the origin of remarkable cuisine.
As executive chef and founder of catering service Savory Events, Chef Jorden shops for regional organic produce, meats, and seafood, supporting local businesses and ensuring she has the highest quality ingredients. Originally from Santa Cruz, California's Covid shutdowns inspired Jorden to start “travel catering,” offering services as a private chef out of state. Friends asked her to cater small parties, and business quickly grew to include destination weddings, galas, and corporate events. In 2022, Jorden moved to The Woodlands with her husband and daughter and became an enthusiastic new Texan.
Chef Jorden started The Woodlands Supper Club to build a community of people who appreciate quality, sustainably-sourced food. She offers seasonal menus that showcase her style – and every menu she writes is a custom menu.
When choosing sites for monthly supper club evenings, Jorden prefers locations where the kitchen opens to the dining area, allowing her to engage with diners and field questions. Guests are welcome to hang out in the kitchen and chat. Jorden likes to explain what’s being served, how it’s prepared, and where ingredients originated. As she demonstrates the benefits of whole foods, the pleasure of cooking for oneself, and sourcing organic, local ingredients, Jorden hopes to encourage patronage of local farms and vendors.
The premiere of The Woodlands Supper Club took place this past October on three acres of picturesque, shaded land, and featured a cocktail hour, live music, exquisite flowers, live painting, exceptional table settings, and family-style food service.
Jorden’s second supper club event was a more traditional affair: a group of 14, with a seated, six-course meal including French wine pairings with each course. Her third supper was a Winter Harvest party at Premiere Events in Conroe. It proved to be a lively venue for an evening of tray-passed hors d’oeuvres, a grazing and dessert table, signature cocktails, and a mocktail display courtesy of The Mocksy Bar. Upcoming suppers will return to a small group format, with seated, multi-course dinners in uncommon locations.
Chef Jorden plans to continue hosting the supper club in a different location every month. She’s exploring spots around The Woodlands and Montgomery to bring the supper club experience to new audiences. She revels in the challenge of cooking in unique locations and strives to build a foodie, culinary community group.
Jorden’s vision for a typical monthly supper club evening is an intimate sit-down dinner, with seasonal, locally-sourced organic food served family style. All menu items are fresh and handmade without processed ingredients. Meals feature six courses, allowing guests to enjoy one another’s company over an extended evening.
Chef Jorden aims to share not only her delightful food, but an understanding of the beauty of whole foods, prepared to please the senses and nourish the body. Working in conjunction with local nonprofit The Keyes Ingredients, Jorden holds cooking classes for high school students as well as The Texas Autism Academy to give youth a hands-on cooking experience and ownership of their health in the process. Jorden endeavors to teach all ages how to make wise ingredient choices and prepare food that nourishes the body.
Chef Jorden envisions supper club evenings as an opportunity for people to relax and make friends and believes it’s as much about socialization as the pleasure of the meal. We anticipate watching Jorden make her mark on The Woodlands’ food culture! To check out Jorden’s next curated supper club experience, follow her on Instagram at @thewoodlandssupperclub.
"I like to find like-minded individuals who care about where their food comes from."