Translating a Museum's Mission Into a Culinary Experience

Maquette Museumpark Rotterdam

The Challenge

When the team behind Maquette Museumpark traveled to Silicon Valley to present their vision to Dutch philanthropists, investors, and innovators, they wanted more than a fundraising dinner. They wanted guests to experience the museum's philosophy before the first presentation began.

My challenge was to translate the museum's six guiding principles into a six-course dining experience—turning abstract ideas into something guests could taste, discuss, and remember.

The museum's six core principles became the framework for the evening: Expect the Unexpected • Intimacy • Innovation • Unpacking • Choice • Transparency

The Creative Brief

Rather than designing a menu first,

I began by asking:

"If these ideas could be experienced through food, what would they taste like?"

Amuse-

Expect the Unexpected

Avocado Sorbet

A museum that turns the traditional museum model upside down deserved a first course that did the same.

Guests were served a savory avocado sorbet as the opening course—what appeared to be dessert was, in fact, the beginning of dinner.

The surprise prepared guests for a museum built around unexpected discovery.

Soup Course-

Intimacy

Golden and Red Borscht

Presented separately on each plate.

Rather than receiving a finished dish, guests created their own composition by blending the soups together.

Just as Museumpark encourages visitors to create a personal relationship with art, each guest created a unique experience on the plate.

Seafood Course

Innovation

Poke, tequila-cured salmon, scallop carpaccio, and caviar

Emerged through theatrical fog.

The presentation echoed the museum's innovative approach to exhibiting its collection, inviting guests to encounter familiar ideas in an unexpected way.

Vegetable Course-

Unpacking

Pumpkin Tamal in Banana Leaf
Ricotta • Sikil Pak

Guests physically unwrapped their meal before eating, echoing Museumpark's commitment to revealing the behind-the-scenes process of unpacking and preparing works of art.

Meat Course-

Choice

Filet Mignon with a Flight of Accompaniments
Cognac-Peppercorn Cream • Blueberry-Poblano Sauce • Chimichurri

Rather than prescribing a single pairing, diners created their own combinations, reflecting Museumpark's philosophy that visitors—not curators—shape their own journey.

Dessert -

Transparency

Gelatina Artística by Rosa Rodriguez

A transparent edible sculpture embodied Museumpark's belief that the workings of a museum should be visible rather than hidden. Every layer invited guests to literally "see through" the final course, transforming transparency into both medium and message.

The Outcome

Rather than ending with a meal, the evening began a conversation.
Every course reinforced the museum's mission before a single fundraising presentation had begun, demonstrating how food can communicate institutional values as effectively as words, images, or architecture.
Services
- Creative Direction
- Brand Storytelling
- Narrative Menu Design
- Culinary Concept Development
- Experiential Dining
- Cultural Interpretation

How It Works

Browse our upcoming events to find the one that feels right for you. We host events year-round in all different locations and climates.
Sign up and pay all required fees to reserve your spot. If plans change, you can cancel up to 14 days before the retreat start to receive a 50% refund.
After booking, we'll send you a Welcome Packet with everything you need to know—detailed schedules, packing list recommendations, add-ons to consider, and more.
We'd recommend booking your transportation to and from the event as soon as possible, to ensure you can arrive without any complications or delays.
Now all that's left to do is pack your bags and get excited for your new adventure.