Q1. What is The Single Gourmet? A. It is a nationwide membership dining and travel club offering single adults a fun and relaxed way to meet while enjoying superb culinary and travel experiences. We offer a wide range of "gourmet" events such as wine dinners, cooking classes, tapas and tasting menus and fondue parties. We do not do "diner dinners" or the same inexpensive buffets at the same places month after month. There are various singles groups that do this and every group has its niche; ours is "fine dining".
Each event is unique and carefully planned. We seek to experience the wide variety of outstanding culinary experiences available to us, and are open to trying new things and meeting new people. And, lastly, we are not a matchmaking or dating service (although matches and dates do occasionally happen).
Q2. How many events do you host, and where are they? A. We host 2-3 events monthly in Westchester/Fairfield counties (occasionally in Rockland, Putnam or Dutchess). In addition, there are 4-6 events in NYC each month. If you look at the "Events" page, under "Past Events" you will see all the places we have been recently.
Q3. When are events held? A. Most often Sundays, Fridays, and sometimes Saturday. Usually evenings; occasionally we'll do a lunch or brunch.
Q4. How many people attend each event? A. It varies greatly, from 1-2 dozen but always a manageable number for the particular restaurant to provide us top notch food and service. The events are friendly and collegial; our members are very elcoming and will make you feel right at home. If you have been to other singles functions which are very large, faceless, and pressure-filled, you'll find this quite refreshing!
Q5. What is the format of the events? A. There is a casual mingling period for 45-60 minutes prior to the start of the event. The Single Gourmet Director is always on hand to greet you and make introductions, as well as give you your seating assignment. Our members are very nice and friendly and will make you feel immediately at ease. Seating, usually pre-assigned, is arranged broadly by age group and/or interests. We have found that most people prefer assigned seating; and, of course, it is flexible. You can certainly make special seating requests when you make your reservation, or even at the event.
Q6. How much do events cost, and how do I pay? A. Because we offer such a variety of events, there is a wide price range, roughly from $50 - $100, and always includes soft drinks, tax and gratuity. Sometime wine is included. The details are specified in the newsletter. Events are prepaid through The Single Gourmet-Metro NY. You don't need to worry about splitting a bill or getting a separate bill at the end of the evening.
Q7. What is the age range? A. Very wide. We have members in their mid thirties, through 60s. In our experience, each event attract the entire range of members.
Q8. Are there more women than men? A. As you will find with most groups, the answer is (not surprisingly) "YES". That being said, an occasional "match" has been made, and countless friendships have been born. Also, I think that part of the reason we have such congenial and relaxing events and nice people is because everyone knows what to expect upfront, there is no pressure; and the people attracted to the group tend to be outgoing and fun, looking to make new friends and enjoy great food. The Single Gourmet-MetroNY is an excellent, elegant, enjoyable, and no pressure way to expand your social and professional network--and you never know where the network will lead. All while enjoying great food at some of the best venues in the area!
Q9. Can I attend a trial event before joining? A. No. The policy of all the chapters is that the Single Gourmet is a membership club, and only members or guests of members may attend events. It is impossible to judge whether you will like the club based on any one event. Each is unique, depending upon the restaurant, the type of event, and perhaps most importantly, the unique mix of guests. And at any event, you will only meet a small portion of the membership.
Q10. I'm still tentative about joining--what if I don't like it?
A. When you think about it, there really is no risk---what is the worst thing that could happen? You'll have a nice evening at a great restaurant, perhaps one you've been meaning to try, with interesting people. And, we offer a money back guarantee: if after attending 2 events within 2 months of joining you aren't happy, we will issue a $50 refund. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Q11. What is the membership fee? A. The UNLIMITED membership fee is just $135 -- with reciprocal privileges at ALL Single Gourmet chapters. [If you join online, you'll save $10.] With membership, you can attend as many events as you like, at any Single Gourmet chapter, and you will never need to renew. Our members have told us that this is much easier (and less expensive) than an annual membership fee where you need to renew each year; and there are no worries if you aren't able use your membership for extended periods of time (such as if you are traveling, dating, or otherwise unavailable). You can "drop in" and "drop out" whenever you like. It's a small investment for a lot of fun!
Q12. Why do you charge a membership fee? A. There are many expenses associated with running the club -- phone, fax, website, internet, advertising, printing, postage, office equipment/supplies, etc. etc. In addition, it takes quite a bit of time. Unlike some of the other singles groups, this is a "Gourmet" club and we put a tremendous amount of effort into researching and planning each event and trip; we don't just "phone it in". Providing this level of professional service is expensive and time consuming. But our members are worth it!
Additionally, it can help in negotiating with the restaurants, because they know that we have a committed and upscale group who appreciate "fine dining". Some restaurants have not had positive experiences with other "singles groups"; but they come to realize that ours is different, truly a "gourmet" group interested in experiencing the best the restaurant has to offer. So most people find that the service we provide is worth the nominal membership fee---a small investment for an easy, fun social life!
Q13. How do I join? A. Just fill out and submit the membership form along with payment. See the "Join Us" page for more details. Or request a membership application be mailed to you by emailing info@singlegourmet-metrony.com or calling (914)600-4267.
Q14. What are the policies and procedures of the club? A. We're glad you asked! Please click on the "Policies & Procedures" page (the last tab on the navigation bar).
|