Photo by Darlene Donloe
By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — In Los Angeles, numerous dining choices offer diverse options.
The latest option is The Gallery, a new, restaurant and bar in downtown Los Angeles that is redefining the entertainment dining space by offering a unique, whole-dinner experience called Elementa.
Elementa is a unique take on dinner and a show. It celebrates the five classical elements told through food, music and visuals.
The brainchild of co-owners Chuck Fawcett and Daren Ulmer, Elementa invites diners to immerse themselves in a world full of visual surprises, a dramatic musical score and a two-hour, five-course dining experience complete with optional wine pairings, cocktails or non-alcoholic libations.
“My business partner and I come from a theme park entertainment background,” said Fawcett, who opened the restaurant with Ulmer in February. “We decided to try to do something on our own. We took all of our collective experiences and decided to open up The Gallery, which is the collection of two experiences, with The Horizon lounge, which is like an everyday corner pub where folks can relax and socialize, and The Theater at The Gallery, which is like a Broadway performing arts center, with Elementa as its first show.”
Fawcett, who spent 30 years designing puppetry and animatronics for theme parks, said the Elementa show experience is a “combination of entertainment and elevated experiential dining.”
“That means you’re enjoying a Broadway quality show while fully immersed in an environment,” Fawcett said. “There are storytelling elements everywhere. All four walls are being mapped with media, with little objects happening around you. There is interactive media projected onto your tabletop. You can play with it. I encourage people to do it. You can see fish swimming across your table. It’s a playground for adults. That’s why we did this.”
The moment you walk through the gallery’s door, the experience begins. The welcoming bar area, Horizon, displays a brilliant, purplish 3D cityscape brought to life with dramatic lighting and media vignettes.
Elementa, the show, transforms the surroundings into an exploration of the elements through visuals, music and an extraordinary cuisine curated by The Gallery’s Culinary Director, Chef Joshua Whigham.
According to Fawcett, the experience will cost diners $200, which includes a $150 fine dining experience and a $50 show.
As you enter the restaurant, you are immediately enveloped in an environment that awakens your senses. The interior design looks like a work of art, with each element carefully incorporated into the décor.
Four walls project various images of the elements, while other projectors illuminate the dining tables.
A maître d and a live curator suddenly appear to begin the show and usher in the food.
The mysterious curator encourages diners to check out the projected images — many of which are out of this world.
The culinary journey begins with a series of small plates crafted to represent one of the five elements. The bar is a fantastical vision of an idealized city, and the dining room is a blank canvas for a host of interactive, heavily detailed projections.
“The Beginning” has amuse bouche, followed by ‘Earth’ roots and dirt with strawberries and flowers. ‘Water’ Hamachi and seaweed with Kabocha squash and tamari-shitaki dashi dressing. A vegan offering includes Kabocha and seaweed with tamari-shitaki dashi dressing.
Next is “Air” eggplant and duck with pickled eggplant chermoula and candied pistachios with a vegan option for eggplant.
The ‘Fire’ element includes tenderloin and mushrooms with a coriander and peppercorn crust, mushroom soubise and escabeche. The vegan plate offers roasted mushrooms with a coriander and peppercorn crust, mushroom soubise and escabeche.
The “Aether” (ether) offering includes ube and coconut with candied ginger and ginger snap croquet, as well as a vegan option of Japanese sweet potato and Medjool dates with candied ginger and ginger snap croquet.
At Elementa, a testament to the power of creativity and innovation, diners can marvel and play with the tabletops and walls between courses.
The music and visuals are carefully curated throughout the meal to enhance the elemental theme.
The soundtrack features a mesmerizing blend of nature sounds, classical music and ambient electronica, while the visuals include stunning projections of natural landscapes, abstract art and mystical symbols.
“Everything we designed is to heighten your senses and set up each course of the meal,” said Ulmer, responsible for the projections on Cinderella’s Castle at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. “Elementa was a natural first place for us to go with the hundreds of concepts we had for this room. We thought it was fundamental and tangible for everyone to experience.”
Elementa at The Gallery is more than just a restaurant — it’s an immersive, awe-inspiring experience. With its innovative cuisine, stunning visuals, and harmonious atmosphere, this revolutionary dining destination is a must-visit for anyone seeking a unique and unforgettable culinary adventure.
“There is nothing like this in L.A.,” Fawcett said. “Nowhere, you can get an elevated five-course chef’s tasting meal with a show wrapped around it.”
Elementa at The Gallery, is located at 330 W. Olympic Blvd.
Information: www.thegallerydining.com.
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
