Zuma Restaurant Launches "You Eat, I'll Watch" Gastronomic Project, Blending Art and Cuisine

Vladivostok's Zuma Restaurant Turns Paintings Into Edible Art

PrimaMedia, March 26

The pan-Asian restaurant Zuma in Vladivostok has launched the gastronomic project "You Eat, I'll Watch" (18+) in collaboration with the Art Object gallery, where cuisine does more than meet contemporary art—it engages in direct dialogue with it. Each new exhibition and the works of different artists inspire a unique gastronomic dinner, where every dish becomes an original interpretation of a painting. In this way, the artists' ideas take on flavor, while visual imagery gains its own culinary language.

"The 'You Eat, I'll Watch' project vividly reflects our restaurant's mission—to create extraordinary experiences for our guests. We want to show how gastronomy can interact with contemporary art and give rise to new cultural formats," said Antonina Ikonnikova, Zuma's managing director.

One of the project's dinners took place on March 12 in the Art Object gallery space in Vladivostok. Guests immersed themselves in the world created by artist Vasily Galaktionov, literally "tasting" the narrative behind his exhibition "The Man Beneath the Costume" (12+). Five paintings were transformed into five signature dishes, each revealing the artistic concept. The evening's atmosphere—like those to come—was enhanced by art installations and décor.

The exhibition's official partner was Millennium Residential Complex. To mark the collaboration, Zuma's executive chef Roman Kotovsky crafted a dessert inspired by Galaktionov's painting "The Banana Conspiracy" (6+): a panna cotta with berries, blueberry mousse, and crispy meringue, embodying the spirit and mood of the artwork. The dessert's concept emerged from the interplay of gastronomy, art, and living space. The partnership between Zuma, Art Object, and Millennium Residential Complex brought these elements together, serving as the evening's final highlight.

The restaurant's first collaboration with the gallery took place in spring 2025—and now, it has received its long-awaited continuation. Exhibitions rotate every six weeks, and with them, the chef's signature menus evolve. Visual imagery finds new expression in taste: textures, aromas, and presentations convey the stories embedded in the art, turning each dinner into a journey of its own. Thus, every event becomes a unique experience—a new exhibition, a new artist, and a specially designed menu. Roman Kotovsky develops gastronomic compositions inspired by works of art, ensuring that each encounter between cuisine and creativity leaves a lasting impression.