Underground Restaurants
I’m of two minds about the underground restaurant movement. On one hand, I’m sympathetic to chefs who want to do something fun and different. Forcing underground restaurants to settle down in one place and get a permit would defeat the purpose. And I don’t think you should need a permit just to serve dinner to a bunch of people in someone’s living room.
On the other hand, it’s unfair for these chefs to take “donations” under the table while everybody else is complying with the law and paying taxes.
Anyone want to convince me one way or the other in the comments?
As long as all the participants know what they are getting into, which from the article it appears that they all do, then I think this is really cool and should be totally legal. If you want places with permits and insurance and hepatitis vaccinations, then go to an above-board restaurant. If you want to just have an interesting night and accept the very minor risks that might go with this, then more power to you.
On a related note, the various health departments in our area have gone way too far in making sure that every parish pincic, school field day, etc., has a permit to serve any food at all. I know, it is for our own good and we should be good little citizens and accept the fact that we are too stupid to know what is good for our own lives. How crazy of me to momentarily believe I am responsible for my own life…
Comment by David Stokes — May 4, 2009 @ 11:21 a.m.
“it’s unfair for these chefs to take ‘donations’ under the table while everybody else is complying with the law and paying taxes.”
tax evaders are heroes
Comment by vroman — May 4, 2009 @ 7:51 p.m.