What would you be willing to do to make new friends? Would you sit down to dinner with a group of complete strangers? Brook Anderson, the founder of Second Helping Supper Club , believes that sharing a meal is one of the fastest ways to break the ice and spark genuine connections.

When Anderson, a native Minnesotan and passionate home cook, moved to Chicago in early 2020, she didn’t know a soul in the city. Over time, as her circle of friends grew, she began hosting dinner parties and soon realized they were more than just meals—they were a chance to connect with intention and care. Anderson scaled that notion city-wide in 2024, when she launched Second Helping Supper Club, a series of pop-up dinners and events hosted at various secret locations throughout the city.

“I hope that peopl

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