Complete sensory happiness

03 : 10 : 2016 Cacao In E Major : Ysanne Spevack : The Optimised Self

New York – An immersive dining experience explores the cross-modal nature of happiness.

  • Cacao in E Major combines sound, sight, taste, smell and touch in search of synaesthesia
  • The experience was conceived by composer and chef Ysanne Spevack
Cacao in E Major at The Alchemist Kitchen, New York. Photography by Riley Johndonnel Cacao in E Major at The Alchemist Kitchen, New York. Photography by Riley Johndonnel
Cacao in E Major at The Alchemist Kitchen, New York. Photography by Riley Johndonnel Cacao in E Major at The Alchemist Kitchen, New York. Photography by Riley Johndonnel
Cacao in E Major at The Alchemist Kitchen, New York. Photography by Riley Johndonnel Cacao in E Major at The Alchemist Kitchen, New York. Photography by Riley Johndonnel

Cacao in E Major brings together art and science in a work designed to stimulate synaesthetic ecstasy. Spevack developed a 5-course vegetarian menu featuring various incarnations of cacao, an ingredient containing mood-enhancing neurotransmitters, and visually infused with yellow (another happiness-generator).

Throughout the experience, diners were serenaded by The Conscious Chorus, whose music focused on the positivity-inducing E Major, while members of the choir fed and sensually touched the guests. Throughout the experience diners were monitored by neuroscientist Denis Pelli to record the effect of these stimuli on their brains.

Spevack, who works as both a composer and a chef, talked about the importance of adding a tactile element to her work. ‘Adding touch seemed essential, and was something that seemed very lacking in both [music and gastronomy] so it was really nice to go fully five cross-modal,’ Spevack tells LS:N Global.

The Big Picture

Consumers are in search of new social wellness experiences and are using food and dining as a means of improving their mental state. See Mood Dining in The Optimised Self for more info.

Discover More Daily Signals
Rosewood leans into modern luxury with refreshed brand identity

Daily Signals

Rosewood leans into modern luxury with refreshed brand identity

Luxury hotel group Rosewood is repositioning itself as a lifestyle and cultural leader, with a focus on storytelling and experiential travel.
Luxury : Hospitality : Rosewood
Foresight Friday: Olivia Houghton, insights and engagement director

Daily Signals

Foresight Friday: Olivia Houghton, insights and engagement director

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, insights and engagement d...
Culture : Beauty : Fashion
Stat: Study shows decline in social media use among younger adults

Daily Signals

Stat: Study shows decline in social media use among younger adults

Adults are spending less time on social media, following a peak three years ago. By the end of 2024, those aged 16 or older were spending an averag...
Media : Technology : Statistic
Ulta Beauty opens UB Marketplace to 100 emerging brands

Daily Signals

Ulta Beauty opens UB Marketplace to 100 emerging brands

Ulta Beauty has launched UB Marketplace, a new online platform introducing more than 100 emerging beauty and wellness brands to its website and app...
Beauty : Retail : Ecommerce
Travel platform Curated Spaces is powered by trusted tastemakers

Daily Signals

Travel platform Curated Spaces is powered by trusted tastemakers

Travel start-up Curated Spaces has launched a booking platform that puts personal style, trusted recommendations and curated experiences at the hea...
Travel : Hospitality : Digital
Stat: Gen Z women are shaping a new liberal majority in the US

Daily Signals

Stat: Gen Z women are shaping a new liberal majority in the US

New polling highlights a sharp political gender gap within Gen Z, positioning young women as the most liberal demographic in the US, according to a...
Youth : Politics : Gen Z
Heineken transforms Seoul’s rooftops into social sanctuaries

Daily Signals

Heineken transforms Seoul’s rooftops into social sanctuaries

Heineken is transforming Seoul’s empty rooftops into vibrant social spaces as part of a new campaign combatting urban loneliness and removing barri...
Culture : Drink : Loneliness
Feeling introduces transdermal energy patch to combat daily fatigue

Daily Signals

Feeling introduces transdermal energy patch to combat daily fatigue

Manchester-based wellness brand Feeling has launched a transdermal energy patch designed to address persistent fatigue in individuals who maintain ...
Health : Wellness : Supplements
Stat: Gift cards become inflation-era solution for festive shoppers

Daily Signals

Stat: Gift cards become inflation-era solution for festive shoppers

As inflation continues to put pressure on spending, gift cards are set to dominate this year’s festive period in the US. According to Blackhaw...
Retail : Consumer Spending : Inflation
Yōjō harnesses vagus nerve technology for everyday wellbeing

Daily Signals

Yōjō harnesses vagus nerve technology for everyday wellbeing

Yōjō is a new wellness eco-system using non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS), biofeedback and human coaching to help people calm their bodie...
Health : Wellness : Technology
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN