Local chef Jessie Spiby is serving up an experiential art-infused dinner service inside of Kaspar Schmidt Mumm’s exhibition, 'ROCKAMORA'.

Art gallery Adelaide Contemporary Experimental (ACE) is about to bring Adelaide’s cultural set deeper into their exhibitions, launched Diner Club – an experiential dinner service that combines art, food and drink.

For one night only, the city-based gallery will welcome guests into the depths of Kaspar Schmidt Mumm’s exhibition, ROCKAMORA, to dine beside his giant animatronic puppet (also named Rockamora).

The brainchild of local hospitality expert, Mark Kamleh, and ACE Board member, Anton Andreacchio, ACE’s Diner Club brings together contemporary artists with the very best chefs, restaurants, wineries and breweries of South Australia.

“It’s all about bringing new people into the ACE family and showing them what ACE is all about,” Mark says.

“And for those who already know and love ACE, it’s about giving them a new unique experience with the gallery.”

The first Diner Club of the year will be cheffed by the acclaimed Jessie Spiby, who is known for her time on MasterChef, and her cafe at Plant 4 Bowden, My Grandma Ben.

Jessie will bring her kitchen into the front gallery space for a rare dinner service designed to complement and celebrate the themes and ideas of Kaspar Schmidt Mumm’s exhibition – such as care, environmental consciousness, and community.

Diner Club dinner guest Rockamara

“When Kaspar and I caught up, it was almost like he was taking the words out of my mouth of the ethos of my business,” says Jessie.

“He spoke about connection and sharing, and that’s exactly how I feel – everything to do with food is about putting a little bit of yourself on the plate and inviting people in to know a little bit more about yourself. I think his approach to his art is very much a personal connection to him as well.

“For me, food and art and culture always go hand in hand. What I enjoy about travel and going places and experiencing culture is the art, design, architecture, and always the food.

“That’s the best part of life, and Diner Club brings it all in one event.”

The artist will guide guests through each course with narration-as-performance, and a live action touchpoint with the giant puppet.

Jessie says the menu for the event will be completely different to what diners might expect from her.

“It’s one of the more immersive events I’ve done, just because the artwork is so big,” she says.

“There will be so many fun details on the night, from Kaspar’s music, to making little activations with all of the food elements.”

Spiby’s menu will be paired with the great wines and beers of ACE sponsors Charlotte Dalton Wines and Bowden Brewing, and Studio Botanic will create bespoke floral installations inspired by ROCKAMORA on every table.

“I think we’re in for a very special and unique experience,” says Jessie.

“It’s going to be really fun.”

For more information on the event, head to Eventbrite.

And you can read more on the ROCKAMARA exhibition here.