Cover A multisensory dining experience hidden inside Pacific Place (Source: Jing)

Using contemporary art and technology, Jing hopes to preserve Chinese culture and heritage by engaging more than just taste

Almost every part of our daily life is a multisensory experience, that is, experiences that involve more than one of our senses. Take the seemingly simple act of eating, for example, which can make use of five senses in one bite. A multisensory dining experience, however, goes beyond that and—thanks to the study of neurogastronomy and restaurants such as Paul Pairet's Ultraviolet with its animated projections on plates in Shanghai or The Fat Duck by British chef Heston Blumenthal that plays sounds of the sea as you munch on seafood—we're now using technology to add another dimension to dining.

In Hong Kong, there is Jing, a new multisensory dining experience from the creative mind of Amanda Cheung and the team behind Wellwellwell which offers a collection of culinary concepts inside Pacific Place.

The name Jing (䭘) is the result of putting two Chinese characters, food (食) and scene (景), together to aptly describe the experience of transporting a diner to another realm by engaging the senses. The experience takes place inside a round private dining room tucked away in the restaurant Auntie Ayi where 360-degree visuals are projected onto curved white walls and the table, along with music and narration that tell stories as you dine.

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Above Tang sancai dharma scrolls (Source: Jing)

Hoping to incite curiosity, Cheung describes Jing as a "space control room" or "mini spaceship" that brings people on a journey across time and space. "It's a fun and relaxed way to explore Chinese culture", says Cheung. "I want people to step into this incredibly rich world of Chinese history and food culture through these stories, be it from the past or from different regions."

Jing's first story is based on China's Golden Age: the Tang dynasty and features an eight-course dinner priced at HK$999 per person with dishes inspired by ancient legends, poems and tales including that of Yang Guifei, better known as one of the legendary beauties of ancient China and the beloved concubine of Emperor Xuan Zhong. As the story goes, Yang Guifei loved to snack on lychees, so much so that the Emperor sent horsemen to ride day and night to bring the fruit fresh from Guangdong, some 1,900km away from the palace.

Before each dish is served, the room is bathed in light with captivating visuals and stimulating sounds that are designed to intrigue and enlighten, evoking a sense of excitement as you feast on an equally enticing dish. Inspired by Yang Guifei, executive chef Michael Wu interprets the story as golden pieces of fried lobster served with fresh lychee that is stuffed with creamy lobster mousse. The dish is presented with an intricately carved carrot in the shape of Yang Guifei which is produced using traditional, and labour-intensive, techniques.

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Above Yang Guifei lychee lobster (Source: Jing)

Another dish with elaborate carvings is inspired by Buddhist monk Xuan Zang's pilgrimage to India and the Dharma scrolls he brought back. This tri-coloured appetiser features vegetables and mushrooms wrapped in crispy beancurd which convey the popular colours of Tang dynasty ceramics and comes with a detailed yam-shaped lion. Other sources of inspiration include Li Yuen, the Emperor's pear garden and the birthplace of Chinese opera; famous Tang dynasty poets Meng Haoran and Li Bai; and the ancient Eurasian trade routes of the Silk Road.

In a bid to preserve Chinese culture and heritage, Cheung explains that creativity and innovation are key. "You need to find new interpretations that people are interested in", says Cheung. "China has such a long history and there are still so many undiscovered stories waiting for us to, you know, discover them. And for me, food really is the most democratic form of culture. It's a starting point, and helps start conversations and discussions about it."

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Above A journey back to the Tang dynasty (Source: Jing)

Cheung also made it a point to work with local creatives. This includes a trio of artists: IJK (Ice, Jade and KK) to create the digital graphics and projections that are a big part of the Jing experience. On the importance of local talent, she adds, "I want to give them a platform to showcase their talent. This is contemporary art and modern technology that is helping us to preserve our heritage. It brings everything together. And then we have chef Wu, who makes use of all these culinary techniques that are also a form of artistic Chinese craftsmanship."

Furthermore, the service team at Jing, who also have some creative input, organise interactive moments during the dinner to play old games such as pai gow in celebration of Chinese culture.

"I hope, even if it's for newness, people come to Jing to experience this. I hope they enjoy it enough to stay. Then, after some time, we will change the menu and we'll take you on another journey. The Tang dynasty is just the first stop."

To make a reservation for Jing, call or WhatsApp +852 9801 3006.

Jing, Shop 002, LG1, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong

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