We develop multisensory dining experiences that we call food operas. The plate is the stage, as each diner encounters a customized soundtrack that responds to their individual rhythms and decisions. Music pairings are delivered via a custom speaker array that positions the source of the sound as close as possible to the dish it accompanies, incorporating cutting edge music technology to achieve an unprecedently close synchronization of music with a meal. Every stream of sound is coordinated in harmony and rhythm by responsive, real-time software, transforming the entire dining area into a lush, immersive sonic environment. This merging of the senses encourages an intensified awareness, enhancing appreciation and enjoyment of not only music and food, but the overall atmosphere of the restaurant.

We consider food opera to be a whole new genre for aesthetic expression, capable of encompassing a wide range of narratives. In past events, we have explored the phenomenological links between the senses, interpreted poetry, and told the stories of local farmers. Food operas foster community in a unique way; since the music is linked to each diner’s actions, they become complicit in the experience themselves. We hope that participants emerge from a food opera with a heightened sense not only of the interconnectedness of their own senses, but also of the connections that link them to the people around them, as well as their place in the food supply ecosystem and the broader environment.