Why Dining In Is Just As Great As Dining Out, According To Curtis Stone

Between his LA hotspots Maude and Gwen and his many television appearances, Curtis Stone has become an internationally recognized chef and personality. Hailing from Australia, Stone has been featured in cooking shows like "Iron Chef" and "Top Chef Masters." In 2019, Stone expanded from Los Angeles and opened Dallas-based restaurant Georgie, expanding his reach and influence across the country. 

Stone's newest venture is a booking platform called Gathar. "What Gathar did is not dissimilar to what Uber did, where they matched someone that wants to drive you with someone that wants a ride, and they do that at different levels," explained Stone. "With Gathar, you can entertain at home for a small group or a larger group, and you can do it at different price points." During an exclusive interview with Tasting Table, Stone discussed the differences between LA and Dallas diners, gave his greatest grilling tips, and shared why he thinks dining in is just as great as dining out. 

When discussing the inspiration behind Gathar, stone explained that the overall goal was to make entertaining at home easier and more affordable than ever. "For a while, a private chef was only for someone that had a huge budget or entertained a lot at home. That's what it used to be. Now, it's for absolutely everyone," Stone said. "You can have someone come over and help you with a backyard barbecue. You can have someone put together a five-course menu. The best part is that they do the cooking, they do the shopping, but then they also do the cleaning, and they take care of business at the end of the party."

While entertaining at home might seem intimidating or extra expensive, Gathar ensures that it can be done on a budget and with minimal effort. Plus, there is a special charm to being able to dine and drink from the comfort of your own home. 

Dining at home means being totally free and in control of your dining experience. Rather than having to abide by the restaurant's schedule, menu, and fellow patrons, dining at home allows people to take a more intimate and personal approach. "The beauty of entertaining at home is you get to be in the privacy of your own home, and you can choose the music, and you can stay up as late as you want, or you can kick people out whenever you want. When you're in a restaurant environment, you are fitting in with what someone else has set ... which is nice," Stone shared. "Don't get me wrong; I'm a restaurateur and I love restaurants. But there's something special about being able to control that at home, save money on the drinks that you would normally be buying in a restaurant environment ... It's a wonderful experience."

On top of that, dining can be just as expensive as entertaining at home. "When you go next to a restaurant with a group of friends, take a look at the bill and see how much you spent on the alcohol," Stone told us. "Think about if you were drinking your own alcohol, what that would've cost."

Gathar is now available to use in Los Angeles.