No Play with Food

As we grow older, our egos expand, and self-consciousness takes hold, making it harder for us to play. We're conditioned from childhood to behave, which only deepens this barrier. At the dining table, the rules can feel even stricter — parents often discourage play, whether out of fear of messes, choking hazards, or simply the chaos of scattered food. But play is how children learn.

Inspired by the familiar phrase every child hears — "No play with food!" — this experience invited guests to rediscover their playful side.

Six courses, each reimagining how we experience food: burnt butter on bubble wrap (pop and taste); tomato water with a basil-balsamic bubble; kushari eaten blindfolded; vine leaf risotto fed to someone across the table with long utensils; a bowl of brownie batter and a whisk; and finally — coffee on coffee on coffee.