What is a "La Casa dels Aigua Molls"?   This is the name of our beach house in Rockaway Beach, Oregon.  We named it when we lived in Barcelona (when we bought the lot), hence the semi-recognizable Spanish.  It's actually not Spanish, it's Catalan.  It means "the house of the swampy water", or as we like to call it, Swamp House (it's actually slightly misspelled Catalan- it should have been "Aiguamolls", but that's another story).

What is an underground restaurant?  No, we're not a real restaurant.  This is our way of sharing our beach house, giving Kim a creative outlet for her cooking skills, throwing excellent food and wine-centric parties, and reminding us that running a full time restaurant is not the job that either of us want to have.  We schedule 5 or so dinners throughout the drier months of the year.  About a month before the date we email a flyer to everyone on our "La Casa" list (this is a distribution list of new and old friends who like to come to our dinners) and wait for people to call us and reserve spots.   

How do I sign up?  Call Kim at 360.600.8006 or write her an email (kim@class-cooking.com).  We only ask that you give us the courtesy of coming if you sign up (so far, in 3 years, everyone has).  Note that often the spots fill up very quickly.  If the dinner is full we can put you on the waiting list, and we'll let you know if someone who signed up has to cancel.

What does it cost?  It doesn't actually "cost" anything, but we'd like you to donate whatever you think it's worth.  We list a suggested donation that we think is about what you'd pay for a similar very nice meal that you would get at a nice restaurant, not including the wine.  We'd like you to consider what you'd pay (meal, wine, gratuity) at a restaurant.  We can take checks or cash, but we're not set up for credit cards.    

How does it work, and what should we expect?  We open the doors at 6pm and serve wine.  General mingling seems to happen every time, so expect to meet and talk with everyone.  Kim will be busy putting the finishing touches on the meal, and it will be ready about 6:30pm.  We serve buffet-style because there are so many dishes, and because just about everyone goes back for seconds.  There are usually enough vegetarian options that  everyone (well, ovo-lacto everyone) will be as happy as the omnivores, but if you're vegetarian, check with Kim first.  We have a large communal table and a couple of smaller ones, so there's a very good chance that you'll be sitting with others that you've just met.  The atmosphere and the dress code is beach-casual, but the focus is on great food and wine.  Dessert and coffee or tea is served at the table at the conclusion of the meal, and if the weather cooperates, we have a fire outside- so you can brave the cool evening if you want (most do).  Guitars and ukuleles have been known to spontaneously appear from time to time, so if you feel like kumbayaing, it's cool.  We'll join in.

So who comes to these dinners?  Everyone who likes food and wine and people.  The movers and shakers from Portland (and Vancouver).  Visiting dignitaries from New Zealand, Nehelem, and Wheeler.  Young folk, and some of us who used to be younger.  Everyone is welcome and will have a great time.

Can I make it back to the Portland area after the dinner?  We don't recommend it.  There are places to stay in the area (check out our list here) and a few excellent breakfast places to check out.  And you don't want to miss the morning walk on the beach before you head back to civilization. 

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