Creatures of Compassion: A Performative Dinner Event!

_{Amuse bouche‍}

_{Pine nut zucchini bites on orange zucchini pasta with rose pepper}

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Compassion is the basis of togetherness. We understand the challenges of navigating its complexities, where personal agency and cultural references may intertwine, and experiences may be oversimplified. To develop compassion, we need to find a common ground.

We invite you to explore this framework of thought through a shared event: plant-based culinary experiences.

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_Starter

_{Toma crudo, Sesame soy marinated tomato with sesame radish cream and caviar of the land on nasturtiums}

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We embrace cooking as a creative act—a combination of imagination, performance, experimentation, and artistic expression. Each dish is an experiment where technical expertise meets artistic imagination. With creativity we are inventing new recipes, experimenting with flavours and textures, and presenting sensorially captivating dishes.

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_Soup

_{Smoked Pea sage soup with cashew cream and crispy sage & potato spirals}

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Cooking and dining transcend mere creativity; it embodies togetherness and social bonding. Across cultures, the act of sharing meals has fostered connections, sparked conversations, and forged relationships. As we collaborate in the kitchen, we celebrate teamwork and cooperation, pooling resources and working towards a shared culinary experience.

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_{In between}

_{Black garlic almond ricotta ravioli with on almond butter chives cream}

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From London to Spain, Germany, Italy, and beyond, our culinary events have served as platforms for performance, discourse, and interaction. Through food we honour culture, social wellbeing, and behaviours. We trace the origins of ingredients, showcasing local roots and environmental relationships. With plant-based cuisine, we champion compassion and awareness, creating moments of shared values and enjoyment within a creative setting.

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_Main

_{Sour dough pockets with rosemary- garlic mushrooms in a crimson reduction}

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You are joined at the dinner by the creatures of ‘Raqeeb’ resulting from a series of Devising Sessions that were cinematically filmed. During the culinary experience you will witness the characters of the film simply existing. Dadaism is here treated as an ontology for examining empathy and compassion. The Raqeeb ensemble, considers the two to be teleologically volatile, accepting it to be an ‘a posteriori’ matter of concern. The creatures resembling humans, co-conspire with each other over trivialities, innuendos, and existential discourses.

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_Desert

_{Agave caramelised chillies apple & walnuts.}

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During our events, we aim to create positive experiences for all involved. Through example and evidence, we aim initiate discussions, cultural impact and personal well-being.

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_Finale

_{Basil lemon chocolate bite}

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Credit List:

Food and Concept: Theo Lorenz and Tanja Siems

Raqeeb:

Direction: Atimanyu Vashishth

Costume Art and Design: Beatriz Marco Sanchez-Peral, Violet Yue Cao (Violet), Qian Yang
Cinematography: Amalia Ekshenger

Choreography, Devising and Performance: Anneli Tan, Carmen De Mattia, Emma Edwards, Faye Singleton, Isabella Gaynor, Leyan Xie, Julianna Schmaus, Shea Sullivan, Serra Kösebay, Tom Germain, Yuchen Yolanda Wu

Graphic Design: Eddie Farrell, Farah Aly

VFX: Diganta Ghorai

‍Special thanks to David McAlmont

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For booking inquiries please contact: aaisevents@aaschool.ac.uk