The Ghetto Gourmet is an underground dining experience in the United States, in which diners pay between $40 and $100 and are served a table d'hôte meal prepared by a professional chef at a non-restaurant location. Local restaurant chefs cook on their days off. Douglas Adesko at Time magazine wrote: "Jeremy Townsend, the original Ghetto Gourmet, came up with the idea when his brother, a line cook, wanted to try some dishes. They started in their house in Oakland, California. Two years and one visit from a health inspector later, Townsend took his idea mobile, trying out chefs in other cities. 'My ultimate dream is to tour the country like a rock band, except with dinner parties,' he says."