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"Expect edible creations that glow in the dark, flavor-changing desserts, and rare ingredients including new-to-the-plate plants." - Vogue
Explore the full interstellar menu here.
A pioneering culinary experience inspired by space, microbiology, artificial intelligence and hyperintelligence stirred the senses of curious diners at Expo 2020 Dubai, in a new concept designed to challenge the future of dining.
The Future of Food: Epochal Banquet was a never-before-seen experience cooked up by UK-based multi-sensory experience design studio Bompas & Parr, in collaboration with Expo 2020. The ground-breaking foodie adventure featured numerous world firsts, taking creativity, innovation and technology to a new level.
Diners had the opportunity to taste super-light delicacies formed using the same technique that NASA used to collect comet dust; edible creations that glowed in the dark; flavour-changing desserts; ultra-rare ingredients, including new-to-the-plate plants; and much more.
The immersive experience was inspired by the ‘Novacene’, a new era hypothesised by eminent 102-year-old scientist and inventor James Lovelock. The new age, he prophesised, will take over the ‘Anthropocene’ era, in which humans will be able to make large-scale changes to the planetary environment, and introduce a future where robots and artificial intelligence will rule.
The curated experience featured a multi-course exploratory menu, designed to entertain and inspire, while exploring important themes involving the future of food, including how humans and artificial intelligence could combine to sustainably feed a growing global population and tackle food waste, as well as the implications for future nutrition.
Marjan Faraidooni, Chief Experience Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “Our World Expo is a global experience that will offer an endless journey of discovery – including through food and beverages. The Future of Food immersive experience is extremely exciting, offering foodies and the curious a world-first taste of the culinary experiences of tomorrow, while also delving into pressing global challenges based around food security and how innovation and food will combine in the future.”
A food destination in its own right, with 200-plus food and beverage outlets offering a world of cuisines and innovative concepts, Expo 2020 ensured there was something new for everyone to taste. Coupled with up to 60 live events – including film nights, poetry readings, art activations, musical concerts, cultural tours, parades and interactive journeys for all ages – the site was alive with sounds, rhythms and flavours from across the globe.
Expo 2020 ran from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022 (now closed), inviting visitors from around the world to join the making of a new world and experience a six-month celebration of human creativity, innovation, progress and culture.
"Though the tech-infused menu sounds playful, it’s still engaging with themes like food waste and sustainability—just with a cyberpunk twist." - WIRED Magazine