A Roma Bisque

This work transforms the familiar comfort of soup into an experiential, multisensory narrative. Using the process of distillation, I have captured the essence of an heirloom tomato and basil bisque contained within a small glass jar sealed with a cork. Each globe, dipped in red wax to recall the form and color of a tomato, becomes both vessel and metaphor, holding not only the scent but also the memory of a meal.

The cork, hand-painted with a parmesan-scented medium of my own creation, completes the course with the suggestion of a crouton garnish. Paired with the bisque’s distilled aroma, it re-imagines tasting through smell alone, inviting the guest to experience flavor beyond the boundaries of the palate. The jars are housed in a tomato basket with a crochet “warmer”, extending the work into the realm of tactility and memory.

By presenting “Soup” in this form, I have asked participants to reconsider the rituals of dining and the ways food connects to comfort, culture, and care. The piece blurs the line between nourishment and art, allowing a simple bisque to become an immersive sensory story, where scent, touch, and imagination together create a new way of savoring.

This work was part of a group seven course meal where each artist brought a composed course.