New Ideas CityHello Museum

Smog Tasting

Cover Image:

Smog Tasting performance in Bangalore, India, 2011. Photo: The Center for Genomic Gastronomy

Part of the Street Program

The Smog Tasting project makes urban air quality tangible by harvesting air from highly polluted areas and serving it in meringue form. Egg foams are up to 90 percent air, and whipping the eggs causes particulate matter to be trapped in the batter. Our custom Smog Tasting cart will feature a portable smog chamber and will serve up free, edible smog meringues from different cities and eras, as well as printed materials, including field guides to smog harvesting and suggested food pairings. The cart, decorated with supergraphics displaying air-quality data, will also serve as a base for smog harvesting workshops.