Paladar is a term that in Spanish translates literally to "Palatal" and is used with that meaning in the Spanish speaking world, however in Cuba is used exclusively to refer to restaurants run by self-employers. Mostly family-run businesses, Paladares are fundamentally directed to serve as a counterpart to state-run restaurants for tourists seeking a more vivid interaction with Cuban reality and looking for homemade Cuban food. The term in popular usage has its origin in the Brazilian soap opera Vale Tudo, shown in Cuba in the early 1990s. "Paladar" was the name of the chain of restaurants run by Rachel Accioli, the protagonist, played by Regina Duarte. The broadcast of that soap opera coincided in time with the first issue of licenses for self-employers’ work in Cuba, so Cuban popular culture designated the then-new type establishments by this name. Privately owned small restaurants have always existed in Cuba. Until the 1990s they were illegal, but the fall of the USSR and the resulting economic crisis in Cuba forced the government to make the economic reforms of 1993. One of the items in those reforms was the legalization of privately owned small businesses as restaurants. Since its inception, the Paladares were subjected to limitations by the Cuban government concerning the amount and type of products they could offer, hiring of the labor force and the number of seats they could have. The process of renewal of the economic model started in 2010 led to a review of these measures resulting in a substantial increase in the number of Paladares. The models that emerged are quite diverse, ranging from the typical business set up in a family home, up to more elaborated variations including different types of cuisine in rooms specially designed or modified for the activity. Similarly, while most retailers offer Cuban food, and Italian food, which is very popular in Cuba, others have produced more ambitious projects combining local cuisine with Mediterranean and international elements. We chose this name, not because we are Cuban, but because the name lent itself to exactly what we wanted to accomplish. The world could use a bit more vivid interaction. SaveSave SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave SaveSave

Established in January 2012, the mission of Polly's Paladar was to showcase gifted cooks from all over the world, and it worked. Once news of a secret supper club tucked away in the historic district of our little gold rush town hit the neighborhood, the project took off. Since then, we have successfully become a Nevada City institution and food destination. It has changed the way we approach food and the way we gather. Taking the standard supper club model and retrofitting it for our region had value immediately. We showcase local farms, small businesses, regional artists, musicians, and donate to a non-profit every month. We proudly pay a living wage to our rotating team and do not discriminate based on age, gender, orientation, religion, or political affiliation. Our visitors come from all over the world, and so do we. Hand-picked guest chefs, who have gone through extensive interview processes, prepare their menu and we serve it. Live music swells the place with charm. Art lines the walls and charges the room with color. Diners spend over two hours surrounding handmade tables, heirloom silverware, and meticulously crafted arrangements. The supper club offers one dining event per month to our brilliant and audacious membership base. Sign up to receive your monthly newsletter invitations below. This design makes Polly's Paladar unique. Members won't find a typical restaurant experience here. They will find new friends, new flavors, and maybe even brand-new interests. To our guests, what we aspire to convey, is how delicious gathering can be. We hope your experience motivate you in your kitchen. We pray it expands the palates of patrons who didn't believe they were food lovers before. We hope you find that nourishing yourself is more vital than calorie counting or solely fuel to exist. Much love can go into preparing food, and that is what can enrich our lives the most. Since Polly's paladar was born, we have produced over 60 curated events. Published in Outside Magazine, SF Chronicle, Union Newspaper, Sierra Food Wine Art, and many blogs, Polly's Paladar has earned recognition in the food industry of Northern California. We have raised funds for Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, South Yuba River Citizens League, Sierra Harvest, Hospitality House, The Bear Yuba Land Trust, the Nevada County Midwives Collective, the Child Advocates of Nevada County, and are adding more non-profits to that list every year.

Sasha Coben-Scott, Office Manager