Supperwith
Strangers
Changing theway travelers connect
through food
BY JENNYADAMS
E
atWith is taking theworldbystorm,onebite
ata time.Thesocial-mediasiteconnects
homechefswith travelers looking fora
moreauthentic,personaldiningexperience.
Launched in2012, thecommunityhasgrown
to500EatWithhosts in160citiesacross30
countries.But itall startedwithonesimplemeal.
Co-founderGuyMichlinwasonvacation inCrete
whenhewas invitedtodine ina localhome.The
meal turnedouttobethehighlightofhistrip.
Michlindecidedhewantedtogiveother
travelersthesameopportunityand
so, togetherwithpartnerShemer
Schwarz,he launchedEatWith.
Dinersstart theprocessby
selectingacityanddateon
thewebsite.Chefswilling
toprepareadinner that
nightpostproposed
menus, aswell as food
andsettingphotos.The
price isdeterminedby
thechefbut is typically
around$50 for four
coursesandwine.
However, theexperi-
encereallyhingeson
thehost.
“Wewant it tobevery
special,”saysNaamaShefi,
communitymanager for
EatWith. “Agoodhostshould
bedynamic, enthusiasticandgive
guestsapictureofhow it is to live in
thatparticular town.”
Prospectivehostshave toundergoan
approvalprocess,whichalso includesa trialdinner
for theEatWithstaff.Standardsarestrict:EatWith
hasapprovedroughlyonly5percentof the thousands
ofapplications ithasreceived.
AthostShuchiMittalNaidoo’sapartment in
Manhattan, guestsarrive toacandlelitdining table,
anopenkitchenand incredibleviewsofOneWorld
TradeCenter. “Iwasworking in investmentbanking
andwhileIwanted todosomethingwith food in
the future, Iwasn’tsureof thedirectionIwanted to
take,”saysNaidoo. She’snowservedherIndianand
SouthAmerican-inspiredcuisineatmore than60
EatWithdinners.
Afteranightcap,guestscanpostfeedbackaboutthe
dinneronthesite.Michlinhopesthatthey leavewith
arealization liketheonehehadinCrete:Diningwith
localscantrulymakeastrangecityfeel likehome.
EATWITH.COM
HOTELS &RESORTS
FINEDINING
NIGHTLIFE
Style
CELEBRATED LIVING • SPRING 2015
28
THE PLATINUM LIST
