World-renowned Scottish illusionist, Scott Silven returns to The McKittrick Lodge for At The Illusionist’s Desk.
(Tickets accessible by means of mid-October.)
On this extraordinary efficiency, the enigmatic host and mastermind guides friends by means of a fascinating night. It’s a singular fusion of delectable culinary experiences, heartfelt storytelling, and mind-boggling mentalism. Put together to query your senses as candlelight dances, whisky flows, and fascinating conversations unfold towards the backdrop of a meal crammed with astonishing illusions.
Following a sold-out run earlier this yr within the lodge’s winter rooftop, The Hideout at Gallow Inexperienced, At The Illusionist’s Desk returns, by widespread demand, for a restricted engagement this fall.
“It’s a nice privilege to return as soon as once more to my residence away from residence at The McKittrick Lodge. I’m delighted for New York audiences to affix me for a rare night this fall,” shares Silven.
From the second friends step into the Membership Automobile, a bar designed to seem like a basic practice automotive, for his or her first cocktail to discovering their seats within the efficiency area on the intimate, candlelit lengthy dinner desk with Silven on the head, who charms and mesmerizes with tales of rising up in Scotland. The three-course dinner menu is crafted by the lodge’s Govt Chef, Pascal Le Seac’h and paired completely with basic whisky cocktails together with rigorously chosen drams from Silven’s hometown. Past the Illusionist’s tales and tips, the true magic comes from the host’s means to attach his friends by means of a shared expertise round his dinner desk. We requested Silven to inform us extra about At The Illusionist’s Desk.
Inform us what impressed your widespread eating expertise.
Earlier than creating At The Illusionist’s Desk, my work was predominantly skilled by means of conventional theater and tv resembling The Kennedy Middle, Sydney Opera Home and The Right now Present. I wished to push the boundaries of my craft and create an expertise in an intimate setting that explored the ability of connection and the senses in a brand new and revelatory means.
I consider nice foods and drinks ought to present a singular sensory encounter, and maybe spark an emotional reminiscence. It appeared like the proper crossover to deliver the aesthetic of a cocktail party and design a magical theatrical expertise round this.
It’s actually rewarding to sit down down with an intimate group each evening, break bread, watch every of them start to attach with one another and immediately develop into brokers within the not possible. The intimate setting of a single desk additionally permits me to speed up the connections within the room, often a lot faster than in a theatre atmosphere. Most significantly, the non-public nature of the setting and the openness of the dinner desk additionally heightens the impossibility of the expertise.
What ought to friends know in regards to the expertise? What can they count on?
At The Illusionist’s Desk has very kindly been referred to as by critics ‘the very best ceremonial dinner you’ll ever attend’ and, though that’s a variety of stress, it’s actually what I purpose to attain! You’ll be a part of me as a part of a choose group round a single desk in a secret area in The McKittrick and we’ll go on a sensory journey collectively the place meals, drink, phantasm and reminiscence intertwine to create a very outstanding expertise. You’ll depart realizing that you haven’t solely witnessed however have been an intricate a part of one thing extraordinary.
The expertise is essential to profitable F&B packages. Discuss to us about this concept.
I consider that individuals are on the lookout for extra than simply good meals and repair. They need a particular second that they are going to discuss for years to come back. Once I arrived in NYC with At The Illusionist’s Desk just a few years again, it was heralded as an expertise that broke the mildew of what ‘dinner theater’ could be. Lately I’ve been delighted to see theatrical parts percolate into different dinner packages, however for it to be efficient, I strongly consider that every ingredient ought to be capable to stand by itself and never depend on gimmicks that will present flash however no emotional resonation.
What can friends count on from the meals and whisky served at your occasion?
The menu is designed by the great Pascal Le Seac’H, Govt Chef of The McKittrick and previously govt chef of Pastis and Balthazar. Combos of flavors are rooted in my Scottish heritage and tied to the narrative of the present which explores the forests from my childhood. The whisky is rigorously chosen from areas from my hometown in Scotland and loved in each distinctive cocktail codecs and neat.
How are the dishes and drinks paired collectively and integrated with the illusions?
The foods and drinks should not merely an addendum to the present however woven deeply into the expertise. My friends will take pleasure in three courses- The Sea, The Forest, and The Examine- referring to the three acts of the present in addition to two particular sensory whisky tastings. The hyperlinks between the meals and narrative are hopefully elegant and refined and as the expertise builds develop into extra profound. And, after all, there’s fairly just a few surprises alongside the best way…
Why whisky because the spirit of alternative?
I grew up in Scotland, so the water of life gave the impression to be the very best spirit to conjure up the very best emotional connection to the present. There’s additionally a depth and complexity to aged single malt scotch whisky that works effectively in sparking reminiscence and permits the viewers to offer themselves extra deeply to the expertise.
What else are you able to inform us about this expertise?
My hope is that your time At The Illusionist’s Desk will probably be one that you simply’ll keep in mind and discuss for a really very long time.
You’ll end up participating in not possible and thrilling illusions, however it is going to additionally hopefully make you look intently at your personal life, discover inspiration, and uncover what you’re able to, all while having fun with a particular meal within the unforgettable environment of The McKittrick. Your seat on the desk awaits!
The McKittrick Lodge (530 West twenty seventh Road, NYC), residence of Sleep No Extra, introduced the return of internationally acclaimed illusionist Scott Silven’s At The Illusionist’s Desk. Performances of the intimate expertise, the place mystical mentalism intertwines with superb eating, will probably be supplied from September 14 by means of October 21, 2023.
Seatings are supplied on Thursdays at 7:30PM and Fridays & Saturdays at 7PM.
Cloud 9 reservations embrace specifically chosen wine pairings with every course. Seasonal cocktails are additionally accessible for buy from The Membership Automobile’s bar. Visitors are welcome to go to the lodge’s rooftop backyard bar and restaurant, Gallow Inexperienced, earlier than or after the efficiency. Go to www.mckittrickhotel.com/gallow-green for menus, reservations, or to customise a non-public gathering.
For tickets and details about Sleep No Extra and different experiences on the lodge, go to www.mckittrickhotel.com.
Tag/Comply with: @themckittrick @scottsilven Hashtag: #McKittrickHotel #attheillusioniststable
