By Amy Zimmer
DNAinfo News Editor
MANHATTAN — There has always been an element of the theatrical at many of New York's top restaurants. But the performance aspect of dinner has reached new levels as artist and chef collaborations have become all the rage.
The public art organization Creative Time curated a yearlong series of four artist/chef seasonal collaborations that kicked off this winter with the godmother of performance art, Marina Abramovic, at an Upper East Side restaurant called Park Avenue Winter.
In keeping with the change of season, the restaurant at Park and 63rd Street has shed its wintry layers and re-christened itself Park Avenue Spring for the next round of collaborations, which launched on Wednesday with artist Paul Ramirez Jonas.
Jonas, who dreamed up last year's "Key to the City" project, which gave out 25,000 custom-made keys that opened locks at hidden New York City gems, is partnering with chef Kevin Lasko on a piece called "Plus One."
The "social culinary installation" is intended to connect "diners with absent friends, family and acquaintances that are present in conversation, though not physically in attendance," according to a press release announcing the piece that runs through May 29.
Eaters who opt for Plus One — which is presented for a $5 donation that will go to Creative Time — start their meal with a beet-pickled egg with crème fraîche and caviar, accompanied by a refreshing glass of rose water and beet spring tonic.
Another spare glass of the beet tonic is also presented.
Over the course of the meal, that glass — which has a tiny hole in it — slowly drains liquid onto eggshells placed beneath it, turning them the color of beets.
Jonas' amuse bouche is decidedly less explosive than Abramovic's $20 dessert called "Volcano Flambé." Her avant garde take on a traditional Baked Alaska topped with gold sugar crumbs came with an MP3 player and headset so diners could listen to Abramovic guiding them through the experience of the dish.
The restaurant will have summer and fall incarnations with artists Janine Antoni and Michael Rakowitz.
This year's Armory Arts Week also included a series of artist/chef collaborations.
The "In Good Taste" dinner hosted by the Anonymous Gallery, included an evening with chef Michael Hartnell of Le Caprice, the elegant London brasserie imported to the Pierre Hotel, with the sculptor Will Ryman, whose massive site-specific art installation, "The Roses," sprouted up nearly 25 feet along 10 blocks of Park Avenue.
