Ottawa has always had a reputation of being a boring government town. Sure it’s more tame than Toronto or Vancouver, but that doesn’t mean the city is devoid of unique offerings, you just have to look a little harder to find them.
Last night I had the opportunity to attend one of the city’s most exclusive [and elusive] dining experiences, Cobra. This event can be summed up in one word. cryptic. It all begins with the sign up process, which can be found [but not easily] at EatCobra.ca, once you enter your email prepare to wait. Guests are chosen at random from a draw. It can take years for your name to be chosen, but when you finally receive the news, do not turn the invite down.
After being chosen, you’ll be given directions to meet an individual holding an obscure item, who will then lead you to your dining destination. From my research most Cobra events are quite intimate with only 10 – 12 guests. Last night was completely different. After following our guide through alleys and back entrances, we slid [yes, literally took a slide] into the party of a lifetime.
Excitement and anticipation were at an all time high as we climbed to our final destination.
Foodie Paradise.
Our secret destination was filled with about a hundred eager foodies, mingling and sampling sips and bites from Ottawa’s most talked about restaurants. Chefs from Atelier, El Camino, Black Cat Bistro, Zen Kitchen, Absinthe, and Union 613, just to name a few, lined the perimeter of the room preparing gourmet dishes for diners to try.
While we didn’t have the opportunity to eat cobra as the name implies, we did sample some unexpected items:
This is by no means an inclusive representation of the items offered, but in the theme of the event, I am keeping some of the goodies to myself! I will say this, everything was delicious, which made it almost impossible to choose a favourite. Neil absolutely loved the “Lord’s Bounty” from Union 613, while I couldn’t get enough of the “Flu Season” from Atelier, which was made from cough and cold syrup, Halls and Flintstones vitamins. Sounds strange but it was surprisingly delicious.
The evening ended with a live band and flowing wine. It was an experience of a lifetime and I can only cross my fingers that I am one day selected to attend another Cobra event!
If you’re interested in attending Ottawa’s Secret Supper Club, here’s what you’ll need to do:
1. Visit EatCobra.ca and figure out where to enter your email.
2. Stay informed by following @CobraOttawa on Twitter.
3. Wait patiently until you receive your mysterious e-mail!
PS: In case you’re wondering, I ate everything (with a little help from my lactose pills) and my body hated me for it, but sometimes feeding your soul is more important than worrying about food intolerance.
Have a wonderful day friends!
xo Lauren
A 5'3 Perspective 