Check Out The Hidden Kitchen Leading The Pop-Up Supper Club Revival

By Melissa McEwen in Food on Aug 13, 2015 2:16PM

Scallops by Ryan Bell

Not too long ago, pop-up supper clubs were the hot thing in Chicago. These days it seems like all of them have either graduated to restaurants (42 Grams, Elizabeth) or have issues with being in a legal grey area. But a small revival has happened at Ampersand, a 100 percent legal space for pop-ups, like Maddy's Dumpling Club, located in the back of the restaurant Kinmont (419 W. Superior St.). It's here Ryan Bell will do his first Urbs in Horto pop up this Sunday, Aug. 16, as part of a new generation of popup dining.

Urbs in Horto is Latin for "City in a garden" and is the official motto of Chicago. It also distills Bell's philosophy for using local produce and representing the kind of confluence of cultures and access to ingredients you see in a big city.

Bell draws on his ten years of experience in the restaurant industry and as a butcher, as well as his Korean-American heritage. He also says he is highly inspired by the Japanese art of the kaiseki, a seasonal multicourse meal.

"I'm influenced by the elements that permeate that tradition: the structure, progression, having certain elements across multiple courses and representing the location we're in" says Bell.

You can grab a ticket over at Ampersand's website for $85 a person, which includes pairings.