Bettina’s Sunday Supper Club: Building Community, One Meal at a Time
Three years ago, what began as an invitation to gather around Bettina Carey’s dining table has grown into one of Des Moines’ most meaningful community traditions, Bettina’s Sunday Supper Club has welcomed more than 150 guests from across South King County and the greater Puget Sound region. People from every walk of life have come together to share a meal, make new friends, reconnect with neighbors, and discover the simple joy of conversation around the dinner table.
In a world where so much interaction happens online, the Supper Club has become a place where genuine relationships are formed. Every gathering reminds guests that community is built one conversation, one laugh, and one shared meal at a time.
The four-hour experience is made possible by an incredible team of volunteers who help prepare the meal, set the table, greet guests, serve courses, and clean up afterward. Their generosity has transformed the Supper Club into far more than a dinner party—it has become a community of people who believe in giving back.
Each gathering also serves a greater purpose. Guests are encouraged to bring food donations for the Des Moines Area Food Bank, while optional financial gifts support We EmPOWER Africa, Bettina’s non-governmental organization (NGO), that provides food assistance, healthcare, clothing, school supplies, educational opportunities, and microloans to families in Uganda.
A New Chapter Begins
Now entering its third year, Bettina is excited to launch a new chapter for the Sunday Supper Club.
Beginning Sunday, October 11, 2026, 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm the monthly gatherings will move from Bettina’s home into local restaurants and event venues throughout Des Moines and neighboring communities.
The goal is simple: continue bringing people together while also supporting the local restaurant community, particularly during the slower fall and winter months when fewer people venture out to dine.
Adding another unique dimension to the experience, Bettina plans to collaborate behind the scenes with participating restaurants to create memorable dining events.
Holding a current Washington State Food Worker Card, Bettina brings years of experience as both a passionate home chef and culinary enthusiast. She has spent years creating memorable nine- to thirteen-course tasting menus that celebrate seasonal ingredients, thoughtful presentation, and the art of hospitality.
Working alongside restaurant chefs—not replacing their vision—Bettina hopes to contribute menu ideas inspired by her own culinary style while showcasing each restaurant’s unique flavors and specialties. Together, they will create one-of-a-kind dining experiences that guests won’t soon forget.
Beyond the menu, Bettina also brings more than three decades of experience in marketing, branding, public relations, publishing, photography, and event production. Through Bettina Carey Productions and Seattle Means Business magazine, participating restaurants will benefit from professional storytelling, photography, social media promotion, editorial coverage, and community engagement designed to introduce new customers to their businesses and encourage repeat visits.
A Win for Everyone
The new format creates what Bettina calls a “win, win, win, win.”
Guests continue enjoying unforgettable evenings filled with great food, meaningful conversations, and lasting friendships.
Local restaurants receive additional exposure, new customers, and community support during traditionally slower months.
The Des Moines Area Food Bank continues receiving food donations from generous guests.
We EmPOWER Africa continues receiving financial support that helps provide food, healthcare, clothing, school supplies, and microloans that empower families to build sustainable businesses and brighter futures.
From Des Moines to Uganda
The spirit of the Sunday Supper Club is now reaching beyond Washington State. Coincidentally, this September, We EmPOWER Africa plans to launch its own Supper Club in Uganda, extending the same values of hospitality, generosity, fellowship, and community halfway around the world.
Whether gathered around a table in Des Moines or in a village in Uganda, the mission remains the same: bring people together, share a meal, strengthen relationships, and create opportunities that improve lives.
As Bettina often says, “Some of life’s greatest conversations happen around the dinner table.”
Beginning October 11, everyone is invited to pull up a chair.
“Because when people gather around good food with open hearts, amazing things happen.” - Bettina Carey
