How to Host Like It’s Theatre: Inside Le Supper Club’s Story-Driven Dinner Parties (Dress Codes and Dessert Reveals Included)

There’s something alchemical about a night at Le Supper Club; where velvet banquettes and cassette DJs meet caviar bites and fried chicken, all under the spell of Camille Collard’s singular imagination. A trained performer with a flair for storytelling and a deep love of nostalgia, Camille was once transforming her 380 sq. foot, studio apartment into a stage for immersive dinner parties that blurred the line between memory, mood, and meal.

Her fétes are theatrical but never fussy, a kaleidoscope of eras, aesthetics, and emotion; each one conjured from a flicker of inspiration and brought to life through cinematic tablescapes and thoughtfully curated menus. What began as a way to “date herself” during lockdown has evolved into a vibrant creative platform, blending hosting, design, and community into a deeply personal art form. At its core, Le Supper Club is an ode to the magic of gathering where tradition meets play, and every guest is part of the story.

Rooted in nostalgia and kissed with a distinctly Parisian flair, Le Supper Club reimagines the classic dîner party as both memory and mise-en-scène. Inspired by childhood traditions, favorite films, and long-lost eras, Camille’s tables are tiny worlds unto themselves. Designed to delight, surprise, and suspend disbelief, if only for a night. Her approach is part old-school hostess, part avant-garde director, weaving narrative through place cards, plating, and playlists alike. It’s a love letter to the theatre of dining, where food is not just sustenance but set design, and each course moves the story forward.

From dress-code-only invites to menus that match the mood, Camille Collard’s Le Supper Club is rewriting the rules of the modern dinner party. Here, she shares her secrets to storytelling through table settings, seasonal menus, and unforgettable reveals. In a world desperate for connection, true community can still be found over candlelight, conversation, and a martini (or two).

 

 

Camille’s Take on Hosting, Storytelling, and the Art of Surprise

Morgan: You describe dinner parties as an art form. What are the key elements that make a dining experience truly immersive and transportive? The idea of ‘theatre in dining’ is so compelling. How do you approach the storytelling aspect of your gatherings, from the moment a guest walks in to the final toast?

Camille: For me, dinner parties have become a form of self expression. A creative outlet. Coming from a theatre and dance background, I crave storytelling and immersive experiences. So it seems only natural for me to view a dinner party as a sort of one night only performance – The table becoming the stage. Menu and seating arrangement, the players. And the theme and requested attire, the foundation for the tale itself. It all comes together in an utterly unique way, building upon itself to create a beautiful and unforgettable evening. 

 

 

A Show with No Rehearsal, Just Gasps and Laughter: The Art of Hosting Like It’s Theater

For my guests, the menu and aesthetics are always a surprise. The only hints that they have leading up to the event are the invitations and the dress code (that everyone knows must be absolutely adhered to!) It is much like getting tickets to a show that you have only been told the title and quick quip about. I have come to love the reveal moment with the arrival of each guest. The hello from the hall as they enter, me calling back from the kitchen where I am inevitably finishing up a task or five and then giggling to myself upon hearing the reactions to the table setting or buffet as they step into the space… Gasps of delight and excitement for what is to come. This is the curtain up moment for me. The moment when the evening truly begins to come to life. 

The concept of the ‘Theatre of Dining’ has become so ingrained in Le Supper Club and is, without a doubt, the element I love most about these dinner party evenings. The telling of a story, to me, is the most wonderful thing. And just as the stage itself does for a live performance, the table always sets the tone. We step into a little fantasy via a tablescape and we suspend our disbelief that this is all happening in a little apartment in Los Angeles. We let go of the day-today, and for a night, we are all transported. Whether it be a dinner party at a Parisian bistro or a step back in time to a 70’s inspired Christmas party… from the moment my guests arrive to the final farewell, I hope to create an unforgettable experience. Much like live theater, it lives only in the moment, captured by a few video clips and a couple roles of my favorite 35mm film. I think that is what I love the most about it all. The memories that are created. Fuzzy and warm and full of laughter… only in existence for a single evening. 

 

 

The Family Recipes, Traditions, and Stories Behind Each Supper Club Night

Simply put, I find much of my inspiration within history and storytelling. I always strive to create a unique feeling within my work and I often pull from tales and visuals that have sparked my fancy, hosting mini events that transport my guests to a different time and place. I adore leaning on different elements that I have fallen in love with… certain time periods, films and novels, and then pulling aesthetics and recipes that will evoke nostalgia and joy and a bit of wonder. At the end of the day, it is all about creating an experience, building tableaus from my imagination and bringing my wild dreams for tablescapes and menus to life.    

 

 

Pairing Aesthetic with Appetite

Morgan: Food, of course, is central to every dinner party. How do you conceptualize your menus to complement the aesthetics and emotions of the evening?

Camille: For me, hosting is one of my biggest love languages. And the menu for the evening is always a massive element. Success of the night comes from a marriage of the theme, the visuals and of course, the menu. Without a cohesive table, from menu to setting, the evening would be lackluster and fall flat. There would be no story, no flavor. And in my opinion, food is one of the best ways to not only satisfy hunger but to tell a story. 

 

 

The Menu Is the Plot: Why Great Dinner Parties Start With the Right Bite

Food has the ability to take us on a journey, and I lean on this talent for the night as a whole. The menu, with its power to breathe life into the evening is paramount to the success of a dinner party or a mini soirée. From a signature cocktail to a show-stopping dessert, the table and what you serve is going to guide you and your guests through the experience of the evening. It is the beginning of ‘The Theatre of Dining’. You simply cannot set the scene for a sprightly summertime fête with the warm glow of the July sun and the scent of sunscreen in the air and then serve pot roast, roasted carrots and mashed potatoes.

It simply would not do. You will have lost the plot. Instead, save the pot roast for autumn/winter and close your eyes and simply remember what summer feels like. What does it smell like, taste like, sound like? Perhaps you remember summers at the park and you opt for a picnic of fried chicken, potato salad and wedges of watermelon. From there you can elevate the experience by having an adult themed lemonade stand and send your guests down memory lane with a mouth puckering signature cocktail that oozes summertime happiness. Sprinkle in a bit of the long lost days of a childhood summer and you have something chic and nostalgic and most importantly, nourishing.

 

 

How Camille Envisions Growing Le Supper Club’s Creative Platform

Morgan: Your magazine beautifully captures the essence of Le Supper Club. What inspired you to extend your vision into print, and how do you see it evolving?

Camille: At the moment it remains a digital magazine, though as I continue to build a platform and community that brings like-minded people together, I would love to do a physical magazine. Something that maybe comes out once or twice a year… A bundle of dinner parties past to inspire those who are looking for a new way to approach entertaining, lifestyle and community. 

Ultimately, though, the dream is to produce a coffee table book. A big beautiful collection all bound together, full of visual inspirations, some personal musing and my favorite recipes. That would be an absolute dream come true. 

 

 

Dinner Parties Designed to Bring Us Back to Each Other

Morgan: Community and connection are at the heart of the dinner party experience. What do you hope your guests feel and take away from an evening at Le Supper Club?

Camille: I love this question. It is so poignant for this day and age!

So much of what I create and build for Le Supper Club is about coming together for a shared experience. We innately crave community and I believe that a true sense of community has been lost over the past several years. The pandemic and the isolation that came out of that experience was something that cannot simply be forgotten. It changed us. It changed the way we go out. It changed how we socialize. And it was from within that overarching shift of community, that I found I needed to rebuild the idea of shared experiences for myself. The idea of Le Supper Club grew from originally being a way to ‘date myself’ during lockdown, and naturally, that concept slowly transitioned into what you see today. A little community around the table. Friends with whom I can gather and laugh with. A club of sorts. A break from the never ending ‘grind’ culture. A place to find nourishment and joy. 

Le Supper Club is meant to be an escape. A place that feels a little bit like home and yet unexpected and inspiring. Ultimately, I hope that my guests arrive with a sense of adventure, leaving the day at the door and stepping into something unique and sometimes a little (or a lot) eccentric. I hope that whether it is an evening rooted in bits of nostalgia with adult twists on our childhood staples, or a theme built around a favorite movie with a menu meant to transport us somewhere else entirely, my goal is to provide a place where imagination still runs wild. An experience that reminds us to take a moment and dream. 

 

 

A Summer in Italy and a Blast from the Past: Camille’s Favorite Events

Morgan: What has been your most unforgettable dining experience? Whether it's one you’ve hosted or attended. What made it so special?

Camille: That is very much a ‘Sophie’s Choice’ kind of question for me. I love so many of my Le Supper Club creations, though there are some that are easily classified as more successful than others and therefore at the forefront of my mind. But if I were to narrow it down, my mind immediately jumps to two soirées in particular. My Amalfi Coast Dinner in July 2024 and December 2024’s A Very Retro Christmas Party. The Amalfi Coast dinner felt as though we had been transported to a summer in Italy. With a focus on a simple ingredient forward menu and a fresh, vibrant tablescape, it was truly a night away from LA. The best part was having my friend ‘DJ hostile Tapeover’ do a set through cocktail hour. Having a cassette DJ was beyond unique and added such a fun, unexpected vibe to the evening with myself and my guests having grown up at the tail end of the boombox era!

And then for a close second, we have the retro Christmas party. It was an absolute blast from start to finish. The outfits were amazing, there was a shrimp tower, endless dips, insane jello molds and an overall sense of joyous time travel to a time where food art and frankly disgusting recipes were the epitome of a successful cocktail party. It was truly unforgettable!

 

Pictured Above: Amalfi Coast Dinner in July 2024

 

Camille’s Guide to Dinner Party Success

Morgan: What advice would you give to someone looking to host their own ‘theatrical’ dinner but feeling intimidated by the process?

Camille: Stay true to your style and aesthetics first and foremost. I always suggest starting with a bit of inspiration – It all begins with the flicker of an idea. A flavor, a shift in seasons, a favorite dish... Be inspired by a moment in a film, a childhood memory, a festive season tradition. Anything can be the spark that ignites the imagination and sets the scene for a dinner party to remember. From there you would want to build out the menu and begin to piece it all together. And most importantly, the evening of the soirée… It all comes down to being a good host. Exceptional hospitality is the key to a successful dinner party! 

I have a great little dinner party guide called Le Dîner Diary that I have painstakingly put together. A little workbook with prompts and insight that spell out my dinner party process. I have recently made it available in my digital boutique, I highly recommend using that if you are looking for dinner party guides, tips and insight.

 

 

Morgan: If you could create a dream dinner party with no constraints; location, guest list, menu, what would it look like?

Camille: Ooooh! I currently have at least two bigger ideas brewing that I am very excited about. I would kill to do them on a huge scale, but for now, will simply have to settle for apartment sized. And as mentioned earlier, I hate to spoil the surprise reveal of a Le Supper Club party… So I am going to keep those to myself, for now :) 

Maybe one day I can bring to life, on a much larger scale, some of my wildest dinner party dreams. Until then, I shall fit the Le Supper Club designs into my little apartment that I lovingly call La Boîte à Bijoux and do my best to spark imagination and inspiration. Xx

 

 

At Le Supper Club, every soirée is a celebration of creativity, connection, and the kind of magic that only happens when strangers become friends over a shared meal. Camille reminds us that dinner parties don’t have to be perfect. They just have to be personal. Stay tuned for more Supper Club features from Venue Report, where we uncover the tastemakers turning tables into stages around the world. 

Image Credits: Camille Collard

 

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