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Luminary Popped Up at RAFI North Sydney for one week only!
29 JULY – 5 AUGUST 2023
Best experienced after dark.
Our guest discovered an exciting dining experience at RAFI North Sydney. Luminary, was Australia’s first AI-generated restaurant concept, created to reimagine your culinary journey.
For one week, Luminary by RAFI captivated guests with the art of illumination, inspired by earth, water, air, and fire. Delve into an immersive culinary adventure, as light, food and drinks intertwine to ignite your senses.
The entire restaurant was transformed for this extraordinary pop-up event.
Pushing Boundaries
The menu was presented under the four elemental pillars, inspired by the multitude of meanings we took from the word ‘luminary’. We thought of what illuminates naturally or inspires us, how to bring theatre and romanticism to the table, and how light interacts with our produce.
Read what the media are saying:
Sydney Morning Herald | 9Honey | Broadsheet | Time Out | Good Food | Daily Telegraph
About
In March 2023, Applejack Hospitality launched the ‘Create Your Dream Restaurant‘ competition, pushing the boundaries of AI in the restaurant industry in Australia.
The competition, which ran from March-April 2023, challenged participants to explore the potential of AI technology by submitting a restaurant concept developed with the help of AI tools, for the chance to have their restaurant concept brought to life by the Applejack team.
Perth local, Stefanie Wee beat hundreds of entrants from across the country to have her AI generated restaurant concept ‘Luminary’ crowned winner.
Food
Applejack’s Director of Culinary, Patrick Friesen, and RAFI’s Executive Chef, Matias Cilloniz will join forces in the kitchen, crafting and illuminating dishes that play into the four elements, whilst continuing to illustrate the fresh, seasonal menu, inspired by the coastal elements of Sydney, that RAFI is famed for. Led by nature, Friesen and Cilloniz have curated a menu to celebrate the essence of these elements.
Water: Locally sourced seafood dishes such as Crystalline scallop with ponzu, sea grapes, caper leaves and seaweed will be served on dry ice.
Earth: Sustainably sourced produce, and vegetables grown in local soils.
Fire: Cooked over charcoal, and served atop burning bay leaves, herbs and torched paperbark, larger share plates will include Bioluminescent calamari with butter beans and black pudding; and Grilled lamb backstrap with mint salsa verde and quince Mostarda.
Air: Experimenting with techniques to produce culinary foams, dessert dishes will feature bold, and decadent flavour profiles.
Drinks
Continuing the elements’ theme into the bar, RAFI’s Bar Manager, Cameron Freno and Applejack’s Group Beverage Manager Joe Worthington will devise a series of illuminated cocktails and non-alcoholic mixers, with a focus on minimising food waste by utilising botanicals, imperfect fruits, and reworking kitchen offcuts into delicious and unique drinks.
Their scientific, and culinary approach to mixology uses methods such as rapid infusion, and wood-smoking will also feature high on the ingredients lists (fire). Clarification, carbonation and the use of cream whipped infusions creating light and playful textures (air).
Design
Luminary aims to redefine the art of fine dining by seamlessly integrating the four elements of nature – earth, air, fire, and water – into a captivating immersive experience. Through the expert use of lighting, haze, and LED technology, we aim to transport our guests to a realm where culinary mastery meets sensory wonder.
Applejack has partnered with Reelize Studio, an interdisciplinary media art ensemble, to bring the concept to life. Reelize Studio’s innovative approach to lighting design, combined with carefully curated atmospheric effects, creates an ethereal environment that evokes a sense of awe and intrigue.