Comedian and television personality Katherine Ryan this month launched a world first TV dinners pop-up restaurant, for one day only, with food scientifically paired with TV shows.
The limited time only restaurant, TV Dinners For U, was opened on 17th July by Ryan and TV actor Shaun Williamson, also known as Barry from Eastenders. The menu was created by Michelin-trained chef Sam Brotchie and food scientist Dr Stuart Farrimond, designed specifically to enhance the viewing experience across a number of shows on UKTV's new streaming service, U.
Dr Farrimond identified five genres of television shows around which to formulate the menu and ingredients. These were:
Factual & Real Life – with calming foods that aid clear thinking
Entertainment & Comedy – a mood-boosting menu for sharing
Action-adventure Shows – intense flavours for added excitement
Comforting Classics – comforting foods that feel familiar
Crime Drama – food to evoke intrigue and concentration
A crime drama food pairing would include the likes of complex (low GI) carbohydrates to provide sustained energy, aroma compounds to increase alertness and caffeine or dark chocolate to increase alertness, energy, and concentration.
The menu at the 'TV Dinners for U' restaurant will include a specially devised main, dessert, drink and appetiser for each genre of programme on offer.
Penny Brough, Chief Marketing Officer, UKTV said: “To celebrate the launch of UKTV's new streaming platform, U, we wanted to bring the extraordinary range of U's free quality content to the public through a culinary immersive experience. Given that the British public love a TV dinner it seemed the perfect match for this unique dining-viewing experience. And for those who aren't able to get down to the event, hopefully it can inspire them to try out pairing food with their U TV programme of choice at home!"