Celebrity Chef Todd English to Open Massive, Interactive Food Hall

Celebrity chef Todd English is planning an enormous food hall in Stamford, CT that could hint at the future of experiential dining, Restaurant Hospitality writes.

Spanning 80,000 square feet, the two-story concept will feature Web 3.0 technology, an interactive art exhibit, a food science museum and an educational center.

English first announced the project in March. It will open sometime in the next 18-24 months as part of the chef’s newly launched English Hospitality Group, the article says.

The food hall will rely on flexible design elements that allow for quick pivots from one experience to another. “One day you could be in a March Madness-themed sports bar with dry-aged burgers and brick-oven pizzas, and the next time you come you’re enjoying French cuisine in an immersive 5-D Van Gogh art experience,” English said.

On the first floor, the 44,000-square-foot food hall will showcase 4K digital projections with rotating themes and four or five different cuisines, such as Italian, French or Mediterranean.

Speaking with the outlet, English emphasized the educational aspect of the concept.

“I think we’ve moved on to a new generation of food as entertainment. … Food is science and we want the opportunity to teach kids about food science. We want to be a place of education, and it’s not going to be in a classroom: This will be exploratory as you walk around the different exhibits.”

Read more at Restaurant Hospitality.