The Sun Post
Thursday, October 18th, 2007
Single Gourmet offers social opportunity
August 12, 1999
By Deserae del Campo
There comes a time in most singles’ lives when the once exciting bar scene isn’t as appealing as it used to be. The unromantic and repetitive pick-up lines have suddenly lost their humor, and the loud music and dim lighting eliminates pleasant conversation. But there is hope. The Single Gourmet is an organization where fine dining, intelligent conversation and a good glass of wine come together to contribute to a respectable evening out.
Established in over 20 years ago, The Single Gourmet has spawned twenty seven chapters in the U.S., Canada, and one in London and another in production in Australia. Barry Adelson, co-director of The Single Gourmet for Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, says it all began as an organization for single people to meet, and dine in a safe location. His partner in this organization is Laura Simoncini. Between Adelson and Simoncini lies over fifteen years in the field of helping people meet people.
With over 2,600 members locally, The Single Gourmet is an innovative and formal way to meet professional people. ”We just keep growing and growing … and we give people (members) the opportunity to mingle, meet and have a fabulous meal. These are people I would welcome into my own home,” says Adelson.
The restaurants where the members meet and mingle are most often four and five star locations. Adelson and Simoncini choose the restaurants where they believe the service and food will be excellent. They also have to make sure the restaurant will accommodate large amounts of people, ranging from 60 to 200 members.
“The selections of the restaurants have been very good,” says 63 year old Berny Gartner, who has been a member for one year. “It’s the group that has kept me coming back … I’ve enjoyed their company. It’s one
pleasant evening out. “ “We constantly change restaurants every week … maybe two or three times a year we use the same place,” says Adelson. At the dinners there are no pairing of couples or any of the horrid blind-date situations. The members are seated at a table fit for eight to ten people – all within the same age group. ”The ages range from the 20s to the 80s,” says Adelson. ”I have a wonderful time. The restaurants are very nice and there is definitely a mix of great people from all different age groups,” says 41 year old Kathryn Stevenson, another member of The Single Gourmet.
Each member receives a monthly newsletter, which provides them with all the information they need on any upcoming dinner events. They can choose to attend any dinners they wish or wait until next month’s list of fine restaurants. There are no obligations.
Adelson and Simoncini are adamant about each member feeling complete comfort and ease at all dinners, which are held on a weekly basis. They accomplish this by making members wear name tags – new members have blue tags while red tags are assigned to those on their third or fourth dinner. In addition, they also are aware of any dietary restrictions that some members may have, such as allergic reactions, vegetarian diets and religious restrictions.
But with so many people looking for love and companionship through dating services and advertisements, Adelson claims The Single Gourmet is not a dating service, “we’re not a match-maker organization. The main reasons we do this is for love, friendship, fine dining and even business ventures,” Adelson says. Whatever the reason, The Single Gourmet tallies almost 45,000 members around the globe. Yet, great dinner parties are not all the organization sponsors. Ballroom dancing, concerts, cruises, sporting events and wine tasting functions are also provided for the members. The price for membership is $99. a year. Along with the membership fee, there is a $35. – $59. dinner price (depending on the restaurant) for every dinner attended. This includes a 4 – 5 course meal, tax and tip, all inclusive .
Randy Waech, 47, says The Single Gourmet is the best. “I will continue to go and enjoy it,” Waech says. “I’m tired of the bar scene.” So for all singles, of any age, who are tired of the same old bar scene and who need to meet intelligent people of all ages, it may be time to try something new.
To receive an application, or for additional information, call Barry Adelson or Laura Simoncini at 305-371-8717 in Miami-Dade County, 954-723-9608 in Broward County or 561-276-2595 in Palm Beach County.