Vancouver’s Michelin-starred Burdock & Co is set to redefine dining with an immersive culinary and auditory experience featuring world-renowned plant musician and biologist Tarun Nayar, also known as Modern Biology. Launching on February 20, the Taste Sound dinner series will allow guests to not only savor their meals but also listen to them, blending food with the ethereal sounds of nature.
Chef Andrea Carlson’s Citrus Scented Rain Under a Snow Moon menu serves as the foundation for Nayar’s innovative biodata sonification. Using bioelectric signals from raw ingredients, Nayar transforms these subtle energy changes into immersive soundscapes. Guests will wear wireless headphones, experiencing a profound connection between taste and sound.
Nayar, an electronic musician with a background in Indian classical music and biology, rose to prominence during the pandemic through viral TikTok videos showcasing plant-generated music. His performances have since captivated audiences at global venues such as the Nobel Prize Museum and Thailand’s Wonderfruit Festival.
The Taste Sound series will continue throughout the year with themes including Resin (May 22), Road Trip (Sept. 25), and Radicchio (Nov. 20). Tickets for the February event are priced at $200 per person, covering a four-course meal and headphone rental.
Burdock & Co’s innovative approach takes inspiration from research by Oxford professor Charles Spence, whose work in Gastrophysics explores how different frequencies influence taste perception. High frequencies, for example, can enhance sweetness, while low frequencies amplify bitterness.
Carlson, captivated by Nayar’s performance at VanDusen Botanical Garden, first invited him to perform at a staff party before deciding to develop a larger event series. In a test-run at Burdock & Co last November, the results of pairing music with food were “crazy and fascinating,” she notes.
The February/March menu highlights citrus from The Garden, Jane Squier’s regenerative farm on Salt Spring Island, featuring rare and vibrant fruits such as Rangpur lime, Buddha’s hand, and bergamot. “Citrus is a symbol of hope during the darkest days of winter,” Carlson explains.
For tickets and more information, visit burdockandco.com.
