A Famine of Fashion

Editors Note: The Endless Simmer inbox is the recipient of mostly press releases, a lot of product offers and once in a while, something really funky.  I had absolutely no idea what an interactive fashion show dubbed Avante Garde Supperchic would be like, but I knew I needed someone to check it out. The early April event took place in San Francisco so I invited ES fan Mariah Carey to attend on our behalf. She convinced her friend, who we’ll call interWEBBz, to go with and write it up. Here’s her take on this trial of fashion and food.

“It’s a Famine of Fashion.  A FAMINE OF FASHION.”

I’ll be honest, there was no shortage of fashion or lack of food, but whenever there is an opportunity to paraphrase André Leon Talley, my fellow lover of all things cuisine and couture, I can exhibit no self-control.

When this San Franciscan thinks of San Francisco, three things instantly come to mind:

1. An abundance of restaurants with delicious (albeit sometimes pretentious) food
2. Fashion-forward designers and last but CERTAINLY not least
3. The likelihood that you will be out-dressed (and all around out-done) by the gays

Sure, some who’ve never been here might be inclined to say the Golden Gate Bridge, Trolley Cars and Nancy Pelosi.  Other San Franciscans may say GoCars, Bay to Breakers or Mission Hipsters at Dolores Park on a sunny day. But the above three constant sources of inspirations in my life converged at the “Avant Garde Supperchic” interactive event at Supperclub.

I thought the bed in bars thing was over the second Carrie Bradshaw and her crew drank champagne while laying on sheets, but I guess not. Upon entering this fashion and food event, I was escorted to a roman-style bed by a woman with rhinestone nipple tassels (see first picture, left). My lord, I thought, the evening could only go up from there.

The irony.  Notwithstanding a few pleas and an eyeroll, I agreed to remove my 5-inch heels and I ruggedly climbed up into my seat for the night: a bed.  To add insult to irony, my 5’10” friend, also known as “Mariah Carey” to ES fans, shimmied herself up gracefully.

Supperclub quickly gained back points with the unique three-course menu created by Executive Chef Daan Jetten.  Each course perfectly complemented the graduated fashion show by IIMUAHII Couture designer, Elena Slivnyak.

The presentation of Jetten’s first course, a Japanese Garden – complete with tuna sashimi, nori powder and lotus root was a lot like the model’s hair and makeup demonstration – a big fussy take on a classic.  Luckily, I’m ok with fussy food and classic taste – especially when you can tell the fish arrived fresh from your neighborhood, blocks away.  And I’m more than okay with big hair.

The classic Beef Tenderloin with potato mousseline, snap peas and purple potato chips showed a bit too much restraint and let Slivnyak’s couture performance take all the attention.  I’d like to tell you more about this performance, but my friend and I were only able to watch with our fingers shielding our vision – we caught creepy choreography, scary makeup and NIN playing in the background.

The Rhubarb crumble with vanilla parfait was absolute perfection. I shot Mariah Carey the “Do You Really Think You Should Eat The Whole Thing?” glance, finished my dessert, waited until she got up and devastated hers.  Sorry I’m not sorry.

Basically, throw in a Madonna “Vogue” video reenactment and you’ve got yourself a standard San Francisco Tuesday night.  Note to self: next time don’t forget the day-glow underwear.

Photography by: Elena Zhukova