The first project I wanted to do was something different. I wanted to create a clothing website for pre-teens that doesn't use traditional sizing. However, I realized someone from last year's class already did something like that so I changed my mind. I thought about it a lot, trying to pick something good. I figured I love cooking and the idea of designing a restaurant and my Abuelita is Peruvian.
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Let’s do a Peruvian restaurant… Well as cool as it sounded I got some very helpful feedback, restaurants are boring at least design-wise. Well, it wasn’t said like that but that's what I got from it. So I thought hmmm how do I make a restaurant not so boring? I slept on it and I woke up and had an idea, what if it was more than just fine dining, what If the customers could feel like they were there? What if we could use technology, art, and music to immerse the customers into Peru, each dish a different place? I went with this but with a little more. I decided to make it an event. A Peruvian food festival and the dining immersion would be an experience at this food festival.
THESIS
Eating is an experience, a time for connections and family. Food is a window into a culture, a way into feeling, tasting, and smelling somewhere, even if you have never been there. Implanted from the Incas thousands of years ago to the Spaniards who came to Peru in the 16th century, history is written all over the food of Peru. Unfortunately, finding true Peruvian food in Massachusetts is not easy. My project introduces an event where everyone and anyone can experience Peruvian food and culture. La Mesa is a Peruvian food festival, filled with many restaurants and businesses from Peru and the local area.
Not only will restaurants share a taste of their menu, but there will also be music artists playing on various stages throughout the event. Other highlights include an art gallery where Peruvian artist can showcase their work and sell it. Lastly, there will be an Experience: A place with a 360-degree display that immerses you in the cities of Peru while enjoying a five-star set menu, taking you from place to place in Peru through each dish. The sounds and display match the place where the food is from. It’s like a 4D experience: an event to redefine the way people experience food festivals and show Massachusetts what Peru has to offer.
