UK Company Creates Powdered Asparagus With Plating That Mimics Cocaine Snorting
London-based caterers Bubble Foods recently served powdered asparagus, meant for sniffing rather than eating, to a group of designers. The boundary-pushing plating mimicked how a cocaine user snorts the drug.
The off-white powder was served to each diner on a small rectangular mirror. The powder was formed in a straight line, with a rolled up bill next to it. According to Bubble Foods, the suggestive plating and dish itself was meant to serve as a tongue-in-cheek presentation about stimulating the different senses while eating, rather than glamorize drug use.
The asparagus is available for about $80 per gram, which, based on some estimates [pdf], makes it roughly the same price as actual cocaine.
Not surprisingly, there have been accusations that the powdered asparagus is glamorising drugs, but the company insists it is all ‘tongue in cheek’.
Mr Collins said: ‘I don’t think it’s going to be on every dinner party menu we design but we’ve started to do molecular gastronomy to make events more fun and interactive.
‘It’s about deconstructing and reconstructing food to stimulate all the different senses: smell, taste and vision.’
However, the dish was called ‘deeply irresponsible’ by drugs campaigner Lucy Dawe, from Cannabis Skunk Sense. ‘This helps in no way whatsoever with educating people about the dangers of these drugs,’ she said.
‘It risks drawing more and more people into a world where there’s nothing but misery waiting for them.’
Molecular gastronomy was pioneered by TV chef Heston Blumenthal, who put dishes such as egg and bacon ice cream and snail porridge on the menu.
Bubble Food also produces an exploding liquid-filled olive and a green tea mousse that uses liquid nitrogen to send vapour from your nostrils. And if you want to try the powdered asparagus, start saving: it’s £50 a gramme.
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