We tried a startup that serves strangers a gourmet meal in random houses when the owners aren't home

Sarah Jacobs

Enjoying dinner cooked by a Michelin-starred chef inside a photographer's Park Avenue loft is not how I typically spend my Friday nights. But at a recent event I attended with PlaceInvaders — a traveling pop-up dining experience that takes place in private homes while its owners are away — that became a reality. 

Chef Danny Brown had been looking for a place to serve his meals since his Michelin-starred Wine Bar & Kitchen shuttered late last year due to disagreements with the landlord. So when PlaceInvaders asked Brown to collaborate on their weekend-long New York City run, he couldn't say no.

The event took place in a gorgeous Flatiron loft, and we got the invite. Ahead, see what our experience with PlaceInvaders was like. 

PlaceInvaders was founded by couple Hagan Blount and Katie Smith-Adair, who connected over their mutual love for both food and real estate. "We were inspired to find a way to travel and live in the world's most amazing apartments," they told Business Insider.

Together, they find prime real estate spots in various cities around the US and rent them out for short periods of time. They host ticketed dinners or brunch parties of between 15 to 25 people. They've even called themselves "the ultimate real estate tourists."

Locations and guest chefs are not revealed to attendees until 24 hours before the event. The goal is to keep guests on their toes and create an element of surprise.