I left my 9 to 5 job to focus on my at-home supper club which sees strangers dine at my Edinburgh home
Edinburgh couple open up their home for unique dining experience
After building a career in the corporate world, an Edinburgh man has stepped away from his 9-5 job to pursue his passion for food with his Latin American dining experience offering.
Located in the heart of Edinburgh’s West End, Gringo Supperclub began as a side project launched by Kevin McPadden and his wife Paulina.
Driven by a simple idea to cook for strangers in their home, the couple initially wondered if anyone would even turn up. Today, the supper club has grown into a must visit culinary experience where guests arrive as strangers and leave as friends, whilst enjoying their food.
To prepare for his full-time transition and sharpen his skills, Kevin has just returned from an intensive two-month trip across Mexico and Peru.
During his time in Latin America, he honed his craft by learning and working in several acclaimed restaurants alongside world-class chefs, including Chef Ruffo Ibarra at Oryx in Tijuana, Mexico, and Chef Sebastian Vega at Piedra in Lima, Peru.
The core concept of Gringo Supperclub remains the same, bringing strangers together in a warm, welcoming home environment to connect, share stories, and enjoy an eight-course tasting menu.
Inspired by the bold, diverse flavours of Latin America, the menu changes every two months to showcase new specialities and seasonal ingredients. The latest menu is designed to showcase the excellence of Scottish seafood, but prepared in the Mexican and Peruvian styles Kevin learned on his travels.
He said: “What started as a weekend side project has completely taken over my life, and I couldn't be more delighted to take Gringo Supperclub full-time.
“There is something really magical about opening your front door to complete strangers and watching them bond over an eight-course tasting menu.
“We’ve seen guests swapping numbers and making future plans by the end of the night.
“The success so far has given me the confidence and chance to follow my dream, travel to perfect my skills, and make bringing people together my full-time job.”
In addition to the signature eight-course dinner experience, Gringo Supperclub has expanded its offerings for those looking to get hands-on in the kitchen.
Kevin now hosts specialised Taco Cooking Classes, as well as a dedicated Veggie Taco Cooking Class, teaching guests the techniques and flavour profiles he perfected during his travels of Latin America.
To find out more, book the dinner experience, or reserve a spot in an upcoming cooking class, visit: https://gringosupperclub.com/