Alasdair Gray

Glasgow Restaurant to showcase the World’s first 3D dining experience

Ingr3dients, the world’s first 3D interactive sensory dining experience, will take place in the Ubiquitous Chip in Glasgow, Scotland, during March 2011. Combining the talents of foremost Scottish artist, and longtime friend of the Ubiquitous Chip, Alasdair Gray and digital artist Debs Norton, Ingr3dients will see diners interacting with a host of art installations and witnessing the exclusive unveiling of Alasdair Gray’s first digital mural.

Guests will go into the courtyard restaurant over an interactive sea bed disturbing shell fish and other sea life as they enter. During the meal a flock of wood pigeons will fly overhead. 3D visual spectacles include a seascape scene featuring leaping salmon and appearances of ‘Morag’, the Highland Cow who will be ambling in the middle of the courtyard. Throughout dinner diners will be alerted to the improbable appearance of the virtual stars of the evening by cues from the ambient soundscape, complemented by the specially devised menu.

Each evening digital artist Debs Norton will create a live mix of 3D images in accordance with the diners’ reactions and other spontaneous factors, ensuring that every experience is totally unique. Famously, in the early days of The Chip, Scottish playwright and artist, Alasdair Gray, created a mural in the restaurant’s leafy central courtyard. In the signature style of the original mural, a new digital version for the 21st century will be slowly unveiled layer by layer throughout the course of the meal. This highly anticipated new artwork is the first time Alisdair has created a digital mural.

Commenting on Ingr3dients, restaurateur Colin Clydesdale, said: “We wanted to do something truly unique to celebrate this milestone in The Chip’s history. The concept behind Ingr3dients includes many of the things for which The Chip is celebrated: visual art, locally sourced Scottish food and a focus on the whole dining experience. In keeping with our reputation as leading the way in the Scottish restaurant scene, this ground breaking collaboration will explore the relationship between 3D art and food for the first time. It is ambitious. We can’t wait to see the reaction from our customers.”

Ingr3dients will run Monday to Thursday from 7th - 31st of March and around 100 guests will be taken through the experience each evening. Ingr3dients will be repeated again from October 3rd. Like many artistic ventures, the idea for the project was incubated in The Chip over a long lunch and a few glasses of wine. The 40th anniversary had to be true to founder, Ronnie Clydesdale’s, legacy. The Chip team wanted to bring Scotland alive in the restaurant. Carol Wright of The Chip wanted to see a deer running through the courtyard. Neil Butler, Event Producer, said he knew a way. A couple of hours later and a phone call from Colin Clydesdale (proprietor) to Alasdair Gray, and the wheels were set in motion. Manager Ciaran Gourley then named it Ingr3dients Ingr3dients takes place as part of a year long programme events designed to celebrate The Chips’ 40th Birthday, which will also include a unique social media challenge and the launch of a commemorative book of memories. Since the restaurant was established on 11th January 1971, The Chip has enjoyed iconic status in Scotland and beyond. Formerly a derelict stable, The Chip was the first establishment to open in Glasgow’s now legendary Ashton Lane thus forming the hub of the bohemian West End. Ronnie Clydesdale made the Chip an instant hit. He was one of the first chefs in the UK to highlight the provenance of Scottish ingredients. The restaurant was always an incubator for Glasgow’s artistic community.

Ingr3dients will cost £49.95 per person (not including wine).