Burdock & Co’s ‘Taste Sound’ Series is Back, Beginning on February 20th

“If high frequencies tend to make things taste sweeter and low frequencies bring out bitter – what happens when you actually ‘listen’ to the bioelectric changes of the food itself WHILE you eat it?” So implores musician/biologist, Tarun Nayar (you may know him by his musical nomer, “Modern Biology”), when spelling out the inspiration driving his collaboration dinner series with Burdock & Co… For those who weren’t convinced by the decidedly unusual concept the first time around, back in November 2024, we have good news: ‘Taste Sound’ is back by popular demand this month, with an all-new theme and opportunity to throw yourself into the multi-sensory experience where your food ‘sings’ to you. Don’t miss out!

For the second edition, happening on Thursday, February 20th, Burdock & Co Chef/Owner Andrea Carlson’s new lyrical, seasonal botanical themed tasting menu for February/March, ‘Citrus Scented Rain Under a Snow Moon’, will be providing Nayar with his sonic inspiration. The ‘Taste Sound: Citrus Edition’ dinner also promises to turn things up a notch from the first one, since fruits with high-water content are especially “energetically active” and conductive. Just a guess, but the fruit sourced by the Burdock & Co kitchen from The Garden – a regenerative farm located on Salt Spring Island growing nearly three-dozen types of citrus! – should be bursting with material for a particularly playful soundtrack.

If this is your first time hearing about Taste Sound, here’s the rundown: Through custom-designed equipment, Nayar translates the bioelectric activity of fruits and vegetables into sound, allowing diners to literally listen to their plates. Guests wear “silent disco” style headphones during a portion of the meal and are encouraged to experiment—playing with their food in small science-based interactions to tease out new sounds. “Part of the fun is the experience of exploration for everyone,” says Nayar. “It’s not a rehearsed situation. It will unfold very organically.” He’ll also perform a live score using raw ingredients, adding another dimension to the experience.

Tickets to this vibrant and juicy four-course meal are $200 each (plus tax and grats) – a price we think is well justified by the exceptional ingredients on your plate, manipulated by one of the city’s best chefs, plus the (priceless) memorable experience and remarkable story to tell that’s attached to the price tag. Natural wines selected by sommelier Kelcie Jones (This is Wine School) and a special bright, yuzu cocktail created by Jeff Savage (Prophecy Bar) will also be available to complement the tasting menu, for an additional price. This time around there is just one 6pm seating, so snag your spot here now because space is extremely limited (we’re talking, only 40 spots total) and it will sell out!

Not into citrus? No sweat. Burdock & Co and Nayar have three more ‘Taste Sound’ dinners locked in for 2025 – May 22nd: Resin; September 25th: Road Trip; and November 20th: Radicchio. More details and tickets for all upcoming editions can be found on the Burdock & Co Tock page.