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6-course mobile gourmet meal served aboard NYC subway car

by Meg Nesterov (RSS feed) on May 9th 2011 at 12:30PM

Pop-up shops, hotels, and restaurants are all the rage, and dining cars are standard on most long-distance trains but what do you call a pop-up restaurant on a subway car? Earlier this month, a 6-course mobile gourmet meal was served on board a New York City subway car by supper club A Razor, A Shiny Knife with participation from "culinary collective" and Gadling favorite Studiofeast. Diners rode from Manhattan's 8th Avenue station on a Brooklyn-bound L train, feasting on caviar, fois gras, and filet mignon, all in under an hour. Courses from several supper clubs were prepared and plated before getting on the train, and perfectly timed to be served by waiters boarding at specific stops. A maître d'hôtel oversaw the luncheon, refilling water glasses (no alcohol allowed as per the MTA) and helping to stabilize makeshift "tables" tied to subway poles with twine.

The full menu posted on Studiofeast's website included:

- Hamchi Crudo, Bone Marrow, Trout Roe, Laproaig, Sweet Lime
- Foie en Brioche, Port Wine, Raisin,
- Ramp, Black Garlic, Cippolini, Morel, Thyme
- Petit Filet Mignon, Pomme Puree, Asparagus
- Pepper Jam, St Andre
- Chocolate & Gold Leaf Panna Cotta, Raspberry

The twelve lucky foodies (including two "walk up" visitors from Argentina pulled in to cover no-shows) were treated to the gourmet meal which cost an estimated $1,600, ending with gold-leaf-dusted panna cotta. The subway authorities were not satisfied customers, though no one was arrested or fined for the stunt. "Subway trains are for riding, not for holding parties," said Charles F. Seaton from the MTA.

Event organizers have yet to announce their next meal-on-the-go, but the video hints at another unlikely location: San Francisco's Alcatraz. Hoping for your own moveable feast? The Dinner in the Sky team is available for rent around the world.

Filed under: Festivals and Events, Food and Drink, North America, United States, Video

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

Laurel May 9th 2011 12:50PM

Stop the madness, already. Please.

Karen May 9th 2011 2:40PM

Okay, the "l" train? Well, I'm not surprised, as it is the Hipster train that goes to Williamsburg, Brooklyn the HIPSTER capital of NY. Ugh, its sickening already. When is the city going to stop catering to these arrogant hipsters already!!

Stacey May 10th 2011 1:46PM

Most hipsters are not arrogant, Karen. You must not know any hipsters very well. I have a few friends who are hipsters and are the furthest thing from being arrogant. Maybe you just don't like the way they dress and you want them to go away? Get over yourself lady. Don't generalize an entire group of people. You don't know every hipster do you? Just because someone is different from you does not make them bad. Your intolerance and attitude is what is sickening. SMH

Blake May 10th 2011 4:42PM

Hi from Chicago here don't know if our hipsters are different or not probably not, but most hipsters are smelly little drunken bar going rich kids who do drugs cause they are "cool" (not all but most, yes this is a generalization and yes i have some hipster friends and have met plenty others and most fit at least one thing i have mentioned if not all) they are the very opinoinated future senators of the U.S. don't let them talk politics you will never get them to shut up, unfortunately that's a bad thing as they will cast off their ridiculous pants for a suit and tie and sell out everything they once knew and stood for that was good (again most not all some might stay steady towards their ideals). They ride cool bikes which are good for the environment and sticks it the gas companies, but then they go and get like 100 of them get drunk and drink while riding down the street mid day in Chicago, yes they really really do that here fun but stupid and not really thinking of the cars who feel like they are going to run over some kid cause they are drunk on a bike next to a car, sigh. They have good music! lol my roommate hipster is gone but his damned music never left, problem is most hipsters don't really know why their music is good, just that others like and it makes their head bob. See alot of hipsters are just poser tools since they use to be emo, metro-sexual, or equivalent trendy tool status. However their are the few true hipsters who represent the best of what it is to be hipster which is a creative, funny, intelligent, fun party person with a shining personality though slightly socially awkward, and environmentally friendly, However those jeans still look silly and belong on ladies, and those mustache's, Note to the world about maybe 1% of the world looks good in a mustache, if you can't pull it off you don't look cool you just look stupid. The people who did this on the train are the true hipsters, A+ for creativity and tasty food in an unexpected place.

kf2011 May 10th 2011 8:29AM

um..i dont think i would ever take food from random people on a subway. Did any of those people ever think what they might have done to that food? nothing good is ever free !

helema alkaabi May 10th 2011 8:49AM

the artical said they were foodies and they actually KNEW what was going on!! ie they bought the tickets to the event and then got on the train at the designated stop...

Laura Lynn May 10th 2011 8:31AM

Classic!

Glenn Posner May 10th 2011 8:37AM

When they run out of money and not before...They are sick and tired of drunks, hookers, druggies and homeless and wanted to upgrade a tad to seduce a different crowd. You got a problem with that? Tough!

M.A.Korman May 10th 2011 8:42AM

What a nice surprise. Why would anyone complain about a free gourmet meal. If the people on the train didn't want to eat I am sure no one forced them to.
Too bad people can't keep their rude negative comments to themselves instead of appreciating the efforts of others to make life a little more pleasant.

Frostbyte May 10th 2011 9:27AM

This food wasn't offered to everyone on the train, the diners were picked in advance, just 2 of these people were random, and these diners and servers took up space that regular commuters use.
How would you feel, standing there wishing you had a seat wondering why these people were stuffing their faces with food and none of it was being offered to you?
If they want to do this sort of thing in public that is fine, but don't use public space that will cause an inconvenience for others.

lskkma May 10th 2011 9:52AM

"Subway trains are for riding, not for holding parties," said Charles F. Seaton from the MTA.
He's just jealous he didn't get any of the food. He is also pissed he didn't know anything about it, had he known he would have charged more for the ride.

Paul May 10th 2011 2:44PM

Regardless is they were taking up seats, they paid for the seats like everyone else. The seat on the train wasn't free. Regardless if they were eating or not, whoever was standing would still be standing because those people paid their fare

GB May 10th 2011 11:56AM

Only in NY. I love it. The MTA had to know as they were bringing in what could have been bombs. I only hope they sanitized the car before they started serving food. Remember the lady that recently threw spagetti or something on another passenger over having food on the train. I miss NYC dearly, God Bless America.

chris May 10th 2011 8:53AM

Why do some people think they are better than others. Breaking MTA laws is not to scoffed at.

Npw350 May 10th 2011 10:29AM

Seriously folks, there are a lot of people who need to get a sense of humor. I wish I had been there. How funny and amazing that they all stayed so coordinated at the stops. Loved it.

Tara May 10th 2011 1:48PM

The riders didn't seem to be annoyed at all......even those not participating in the stunt. Why on earth would this even be a problem? They didn't get in anyone's way and no one seemed to be upset about it. Why would the MTA get upset? That makes no sense.

eddy May 10th 2011 7:37PM

Excellent advertisement idea

chris May 10th 2011 9:10AM

Lighten up, this was something fun and unusual, it did not (from the video) hold up the train or cause the train to be late. I for one thought it was a fun video..Actually something "good" happened, not something horrible as we have seen way too often

Saoirse May 10th 2011 9:20AM

what was their point ? and why would anyone want a "gourmet" meal picnic on the L line ?....or even on the #7 etc -
If this was a charity event it would make sense but being it wasn't ?-oooooooffffffAAAAAAAA.........gaggable.
as for the MTA being bent outta shape ?
why ?
This bunch most likely picked up and cleaned up unlike the millions of slobs that simply leave it right there.