You could maybe take a half-step with "underground catering". Cook for parties and such.

I know someone who has a bbq place in a small town, and he does catering with it. Most of it is bbq, but he's personally a foodie and he does some very adventurous high-end menus for special events. It's nothing he advertises, but if you know who to ask...

His is legit since he's a food business already, but it feels like there's room for a similar but underground vibe.

Here's another vote for Jiro. Not the most exciting movie ever (or even in the top 100) but it's always inspiring to get an inside look at someone who has truly mastered his/her craft. The way Jiro speaks about sushi made me think I'll never really understand anything on that level (but it doesn't hurt to try).

Nice buzz words!!

Hey now. That's not very nice.

Here's an edit just for you. Better?

I read this the other day and completely fell in love. What a fantastic thing to be doing - but, as jaysonelliot says, from the perspective of the person running the unofficial restaurant. It's worth noting that by the end of the article, he's opening a real restaurant. This was his way in, and it was very effective, probably because his enjoyment of his work shone through.

I wonder, though, if the same trick could be repeated by creating an unofficial restaurant aimed at diners who like good food but wouldn't think of trying to get into a fancy restaurant, or paying for one. Could you arrive from outside the restaurant "scene" and make a name for yourself in the same way?

Meanwhile, the movie Jiro Dreams of Sushi is on a related topic, and very good.

You're right - I apologize. I am just getting a little tired of hearing the D word 10 times a day in relation to anything that is not strictly normal.

I'm with you, and I tend to agree with the Pando posts lately about "disruption" and the malformed philosophies that tend to go along with it. I didn't use it though, I promise!