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Scoop: Members-only dining club coming to buzzy Twin Cities restaurants

An exclusive national dining club is partnering with some of the metro's buzziest restaurants for off-the menu five-course meals that could run guests less than $100 per person. The big picture: Bûcheron, Hyacinth and Oro by Nixta will host the first three events by Tasting Collective, a New York-based dining club that partners with local chefs at top restaurants to serve five-course meals at $75 per person before tax and tip. Marketed as the "anti-Yelp," the events offer chefs a chance to test out new recipes while obtaining constructive, collaborative feedback from diners in private, Tasting Collective CEO Nat Gelb told Axios. The company, launched in 2016, operates in 18 other cities. How it works: To gain access to the events, guests must be a member of Tasting Collective (normally $165 per year outside of promotions). All proceeds from ticketed events go directly to the restaurants, Gelb said. The club will hold at least one dining event per month — typically on nights restaurants would otherwise be closed — and diners have access to the menu before purchasing tickets. Members can also bring up to three guests for $95 per person. What they're saying:"We definitely aren't the kind of place with the same set menu, and this gives us a chance to share new dishes and the stories behind them with people who are really excited about food," said Jeanie Janas Ritter, co-owner of Bûcheron. What to expect: Chefs will join diners around three times throughout the five-course meal to share details on dishes, and guests are given comment cards to weigh in on each item. Many dinners will have communal seating if the space allows, though patrons can request private or smaller tables. Drinks are priced a la carte, but wine pairings are available at some events, including Bûcheron's, Ritter confirmed. Stop by: Memberships to Tasting Collective are open now, with the first event to be held at Bûcheron Feb. 25. The first 500 to sign up in the Twin Cities get a lifetime discounted rate of $99 a year and access to events in 18 other cities, Gelb said.