Dada, one of the world’s most exciting and controversial art movements of the 2oth Century, is celebrating its 100^th birthday this year and it’s being done in typical style. The art and cultural movement was born out of the avant-garde world that was thriving in the Swiss city of Zürich in the 1910s before spreading to Paris and New York and beyond.

Through a series of ‘Zürich meets …’ dinners, art shows, food markets and festivals of music, culture and science the movement that gave the world unusual, witty even absurd combinations of words, sounds and images will be celebrated across the city of London.

Its food festival will be held at London’s famous Borough Market, where a five-course menu takes its cue from the Dada philosophy of “anything goes”. It will be prepared by experimental head chef Fabian Spiquel, of the Michelin starred Maison Manesse in Zürich.

The event will highlight the city’s buzzing food festival culture and the ‘festival hub’ at Borough Market’s Market Hall will present an eclectic selection of local specialities.

“What a great challenge this is going to be!” says Fabian. “To apply the concept of Dada to cooking and to be surrounded by the global food pantry that is Borough Market – anything is possible!”

Accompanying the feast will be a typically Dadaesque spectacular devised by Zürich Chamber Orchestra and the Zürich Festspiele with performances of the renowned Tonhalle Orchestra as well as the Schauspielhaus Zürich theatre group.

The menu to be served at Borough Market will challenge tastes and expectations and culinary references:

bitter. sweet. salty. sour. umami.

1 pike fish. green tomato. bergamot.

2 luma pork. tuna. seaweed. truffle.

3 morel. kombu. wild strawberry.

4 beef. corn. onion.

5 rhubarb. birchermüesli. tarragon.

Wine Flight

Markus Ruchl, Amphore
Müller Thurgau, Klettgau, Schaffhausen, Switzerland

Donatsch Weinbau, Completer
Malanserrebe, Bündner Herrschaft, Switzerland

Tom Litwan, Wanne
Chardonnay, Aargau, Switzerland

Weinkellerei Hasler, Perpetuum Nobile
Pinot Noir, Lake Biel, Switzerland

Domaine de Soleure, Cuvée Wengi
Merlot/Malbec, Lake Biel, Switzerland

Turicum Gin with Gents Tonic Water.

For more information about Zurich Meets London click: www.zurichmeetslondon.org

We’ll post our thoughts about the Dada dinner and ‘Zurich meets London’ on The Lemon Grove shortly.