When wife and husband Needhi and Rick Patel sold their Mid City restaurant Tap65 in August, Needhi Patel wanted to curate an intimate cooking atmosphere where she could explain each course's backstory and origin to her guests.

“I wanted to do something where I can do it from the house, but it’s intimate, small, while I cook and hang out with people who are here,” she said.

Spice Affair Supper Club was born in October, a business hosting about seated dinners for up to 36 people in the Patels' Shenandoah backyard. Every dinner, the couple opens their home to guests, and Needhi Patel takes care of the cooking while Rick Patel handles the drink pairings.

Turning a home into a business doesn’t happen overnight.

The Patels acquired a home-based business permit and underwent backyard renova

See Full Page