In picturesque New England locations and around the world, Secret Supper turns meals into adventures.
By Rachel Arroyo
On a chilly late afternoon this past January, more than 60 guests arrived at Wanderwood Farm in Nobleboro, Maine, uncertain of what awaited them. Most were strangers, and many had flown in from across the country, learning their ultimate destination only a day before. The occasion? A one-of-a-kind dining experience designed by Secret Supper founder Danielle Firle and her team.
The afternoon unfolded with surprises at every turn. Guests began gathering around cozy fire pits on the lawn, shucking locally sourced Glidden Point oysters, and sipping cocktails. As rain clouds rolled in, they moved to the farm’s rustic barn just in time—settling in moments before the first drops began to fall. Inside, warm and dry beneath the barn’s rafters, guests dined by the cobalt glow of night and the soft percussion of rain on the roof.
The four-course, family-style menu offered an elevated nod to comfort food—tuna tartare sliders, a refined riff on the classic Manwich—balanced by farm-raised meats and the bounty of Maine’s winter harvest, including a main course of braised and roasted pork with Maine Grains polenta, and charred Wanderwood rainbow carrots. Every dish, crafted by Chef Brent Foster, was a surprise. Before guests took their seats inside the heated barn, along the white-linen banquet tables, they had no idea who would be cooking for them—or what delights the evening would reveal.
This is the essence of Secret Supper: an evening of mystery, beauty, and connection that invites guests to savor not just exceptional food and wine, but the joy and discovery each fleeting moment presents.
The Ritual of Surprise
At the height of the season in mid-August, we caught up with Ariel Knoebel, Secret Supper’s director of marketing and event producer. She and her team had just wrapped a Portland, Oregon, gathering—one of 20 to 30 intimate dinners they host each year. Guests purchased tickets back in May and June, knowing only the city where the event would be held. A month before the event, they learned the nearest town; a week out, a slightly closer clue came, with the exact location revealed just 24 hours before dinner. “The whole point,” Knoebel says, “is adventure—stepping outside the rhythm of everyday life and embracing the moment as it comes.”
Secret Supper hosts dinners year-round, with June through November being their busiest season. One of the standout events this summer was a Nantucket supper on the lawn of The White Elephant luxury hotel overlooking the harbor, part of their Savor Series with Patrón. “The Nantucket chef was really excited about coastal New England summertime cuisine,” Knoebel recalls. The menu featured oysters with crème fraîche, lobster risotto, and sweet corn custard, each course paired with a Patrón Tequila cocktail.
In September, they took Secret Supper to Martha’s Vineyard and as far away as Burgundy, France. This winter, the team is brought their secret suppers to New Orleans, Dallas, and, of course, New England.
“Some of our most anticipated events—the ones that sell out fastest—are New England in the winter,” says Knoebel. For the past few years, they’ve hosted a Maine winter dinner, with guests starting the evening outdoors with cocktails on a scenic farm, then stepping into a cozy, winterized barn for dinner.
Setting the Table
For some, booking a flight to share a meal with strangers may seem unusual—or even audacious. Yet Secret Supper founder Danielle Firle has turned that curiosity and the thrill of the unexpected into an art form, creating experiences that draw guests fully into the moment.
What began in 2015 as a side project—a photography and design experiment among friends—has since grown into a full-fledged business. Firle’s background in design, combined with a growing passion for wine, laid the foundation for these intimate, immersive gatherings. By 2019, a partnership with Patrón Tequila funded a seven-supper series across North America, marking the pivotal moment when Secret Supper transitioned from hobby to career.
Since then, the enterprise has grown steadily, weathering the pandemic and emerging with even greater demand. From Oregon to Maine, Dallas to New Orleans, and Burgundy to Tuscany, the suppers now span continents. In 2025 alone, Firle and her small but expanding team will host between 20 and 30 dinners. Each one is entirely unique—they rarely return to the same venue twice. One supper, you may be dining outdoors amid summer wildflowers in full bloom, and the next, you could be seated at an elegant table carved from snow.
The Secret Supper Circle
The one-of-a-kind dining experience has attracted a loyal following, with events often selling out within minutes. In response, the founders created the Secret Supper Circle in 2023, a membership program offering early access to tickets. Many members have attended multiple events, spotting familiar faces across the country and forging friendships over shared meals. “It’s incredible to watch guests who first met at one supper plan to attend another together,” Knoebel notes, highlighting the sense of community that grows with each gathering.
Beyond the Meal
The latest evolution of Secret Supper is a program called Culinary Pursuits. “The suppers are where it all began, and they are amazing experiences,” Knoebel says, “but a meal can only last so long.” With 60 percent of guests traveling in from out of town, the team began to imagine a way to extend the magic. What if the spirit of adventure, excitement, and surprise could unfold over an entire weekend—or even a week abroad? That vision became Culinary Pursuits, immersive getaways that weave meals into a broader journey. Past trips have taken guests to France and Italy, with more destinations on the horizon.
A Singular Moment
In an age of constant noise and endless distraction, Secret Supper offers something rare: intentional presence. Guests arrive not knowing where they are headed, who they will meet, or what they will eat. They leave with friendships, memories, and the lingering taste of a singular moment that can never be replicated.
“We hope people walk away having forgotten about the chatter of the world,” Knoebel reflects. “That they’ve been able to sit at the table, connect, and savor an experience that exists only once—because of the weather, the chef, the people who gathered. It will never happen again in exactly the same way. That’s the beauty.”
For those lucky enough to find themselves with a seat at the table, Secret Supper is not just dinner. It is discovery, connection, and an invitation to step into the unknown—and to taste the fleeting luxury of the present.
