COPENHAGEN (AP) — In a groundbreaking collaboration between a Michelin-starred chef and a Florida-based startup, fine dining in space is set to become a reality in late 2025. Danish chef Rasmus Munk will join six guests aboard Spaceship Neptune to serve up an immersive dining experience in the stratosphere. Munk’s menu will be inspired by space innovation, aiming to tell stories through food and highlight research from the past 60 years. The unique dining experience aims to provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for those with a taste for adventure.
Spaceship Neptune, more of a balloon than a rocket, will lift a pressurized capsule to an altitude of around 100,000 feet, allowing guests to dine while watching the sunrise over the curvature of the Earth. Though the experience comes with a hefty price tag of $495,000 per ticket, organizers are promising an out-of-this-world experience for participants. The trip is expected to last six hours, and potential participants are still in discussion with organizers. This offering is one of the latest in a line of space tourism ventures by private firms such as Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and SpaceX.
Munk’s menu for the space dining experience is expected to be unlike the meals traditionally eaten by astronauts. From squeezing beef and liver paste from tubes to dining on rehydrated soups and casseroles, astronauts have had limited options for meals in space. However, Munk plans to incorporate unique elements such as glow-in-the-dark stars made from aerogel and jellyfish protein, as well as an edible piece of space junk from a satellite. By focusing on issues like deforestation and climate change, the menu aims to spark conversation about important global topics during the immersive dining experience.
At Munk’s Alchemist restaurant in Copenhagen, guests are treated to a multi-sensory dining experience involving 50 edible “impressions,” accompanied by performers and installations within the restaurant’s unique architecture. The restaurant features a large planetarium dome where guests dine surrounded by projections of Earth seen from space, creating a truly immersive experience. Munk believes that the future of fine dining is evolving towards providing more experiential offerings for guests, moving beyond simply the food on their plates. This shift towards experience-driven gastronomy reflects a desire for something special that goes beyond just a meal.
Danish food and wine writer Rasmus Palsgaard acknowledges that fine dining is changing, with a greater emphasis on the overall dining experience rather than just the food served. Wealthy individuals and companies are increasingly looking to create unique and memorable dining experiences that go beyond traditional meals. This aligns with Munk’s philosophy of telling stories through food and incorporating meaningful elements into his culinary creations. As the world of gastronomy continues to evolve, the space dining experience with Chef Rasmus Munk promises to be a pioneering venture that combines art, science, and fine dining in a truly out-of-this-world setting.
