Good food and friends—it’s a combination that’s hard to beat. There’s something undeniable about breaking bread with those close to you, and the experience can be just as nourishing for the spirit as for the body. Dinner groups those that dine out or at home— are a perfect way to partake in such a connection, and members from two we spoke with agree that regularly dining with friends is one of the sweeter things in life.
Thao Fanger always has been interested in food. “I’m Vietnamese, and my mom does a lot of home cooking,” she says. After she got married, she felt like she needed to step up her culinary game and took classes at Kitchen Conservatory to gain an understanding and even greater appreciation for various cooking techniques.
A mother of four, Fanger says she was the first of her friends to have kids. “I didn’t know any other moms, so I joined an online group to meet some,” she recalls. Around 50 women were members, and Fanger gravitated toward two fellow West County stay-at-home moms: Julie Zes and McKenleigh Swailes. The trio bonded over common interests in everything from the Kardashians to food. The latter led to the formation of a dinner group, and four years later, they still meet monthly.
The group serves as a chance for the ladies to explore St. Louis and take time for themselves. “Living out in West County, there’s not a whole lot to choose from,” says Swailes, a mom of two. “It was awesome to find people who want to venture out to the city and try new things.” Zes, who has four kids, adds, “It’s an opportunity to escape the suburbs and feel how we used to before we had kids. We get to be ourselves beyond homemakers.”
Fanger says she keeps her ear to the ground to find out the latest on the St. Louis food scene. “I read a lot online, and I have a few friends in the industry,” she explains. “We all take turns picking restaurants and tend to choose places that recently opened or those on Ian Froeb’s list.” The group recently dined at Louie and chose Billie | Jean to celebrate Swailes’ birthday. “It was a lot of fun—good food and a great atmosphere,” she recalls. “We just laughed and had a great time. It’s what we do everywhere we go.”
Every six weeks for 21 years, Amy Schenk has met with friends to share a home-cooked meal. “We create a schedule every January to determine who hosts when,” she says. “If I’m hosting, I make the menu and provide the alcohol and main entree. Then, I assign recipes to the rest of the group.” Sometimes, the meals are themed around holidays or other events like Mardi Gras, but the menu is always decided by the host. The group usually meets at a member’s home, but Schenk says it’s also gone on weekends away, visiting hunting clubs and farms. “One of the original members has a yacht, and all of the girls went on it once, which was really fun,” she recalls.
Schenk and her husband are one of three couples who started the club. She had the idea when she learned her brother-in-law was part of one in Chicago. “I’ve always loved to cook, and when I was growing up, I was always looking at cookbooks and recipes,” she says. “I was at dinner with friends, and we thought we should do it ourselves since we all love food.” The group adopted Schenk’s brother-inlaw’s format and has been going strong for more than two decades. “It’s probably my favorite night out, and I just love seeing everyone,” she says. “We have so much fun together.” She jokes that there’s another surprise benefit. “Everyone registers for fine china when they get married, but the only time we get it out is for dinner club!”
Pictured above: Amy Schenk (far left) with the group
