Introducing MOFAD, The (Not Yet Built) Museum of Food and Drink
It’s hard to imagine a city that loves and celebrates its food culture more than New York — so it’s surprising that NYC doesn’t already have a food museum. But that’s what Dave Arnold and the folks behindthe educational non-profit, MOFAD (Museum of Food and Drink), are aiming to launch.
An actual on-the-ground museum is MOFAD’s ultimate goal. But in keeping with the times, they’re starting off the way so many restaurants do nowadays: with Kickstarter and pop-ups. Just last month, MOFAD raised more than $100,000 through a Kickstarter campaign for its first exhibit, entitled BOOM! It’ll feature and demo the “puffing gun,” a 3,200-pound machine that heats, pressurizes and literally explodes food. It’s how breakfast cereals were made in the early 20th century — just imagine the difference between rice and Rice Krispies and you’ll get some idea of what it does. Imagine a cannon launch and you’ll have an idea of what it sounds like.
Thanks to its successful campaign, MOFAD is taking BOOM! to the streets: after a launch preview for supporters on Aug. 13, the puffing gun will make an appearance in Foley Square on Aug. 17 as a part of New York City’s Summer Streets (nyc.gov/html/dot/summerstreets/html/home/home.shtml).
While a brick-and-mortar museum may be an ambitious project, there’s reason to believe this team can do it. Founder Dave Arnold is a food science man of the highest order. He created and directed the first-ever Department of Culinary Technology at the International Culinary Center (formerly the FCI), masterminded the mad-scientist cocktails at Booker + Dax, and much more. On his advisory and culinary boards are such luminaries as Mario Batali, David Chang, Anito Lo, and food science writer Harold McGee.
So check out the puffing gun, and keep an eye on its website (mofad.org); there are sure to be more exhibitions to come.
An actual on-the-ground museum is MOFAD’s ultimate goal. But in keeping with the times, they’re starting off the way so many restaurants do nowadays: with Kickstarter and pop-ups. Just last month, MOFAD raised more than $100,000 through a Kickstarter campaign for its first exhibit, entitled BOOM! It’ll feature and demo the “puffing gun,” a 3,200-pound machine that heats, pressurizes and literally explodes food. It’s how breakfast cereals were made in the early 20th century — just imagine the difference between rice and Rice Krispies and you’ll get some idea of what it does. Imagine a cannon launch and you’ll have an idea of what it sounds like.
Thanks to its successful campaign, MOFAD is taking BOOM! to the streets: after a launch preview for supporters on Aug. 13, the puffing gun will make an appearance in Foley Square on Aug. 17 as a part of New York City’s Summer Streets (nyc.gov/html/dot/summerstreets/html/home/home.shtml).
While a brick-and-mortar museum may be an ambitious project, there’s reason to believe this team can do it. Founder Dave Arnold is a food science man of the highest order. He created and directed the first-ever Department of Culinary Technology at the International Culinary Center (formerly the FCI), masterminded the mad-scientist cocktails at Booker + Dax, and much more. On his advisory and culinary boards are such luminaries as Mario Batali, David Chang, Anito Lo, and food science writer Harold McGee.
So check out the puffing gun, and keep an eye on its website (mofad.org); there are sure to be more exhibitions to come.
August 15, 2013
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