Art Cooking: Bone Meal | The Art Assignment | PBS Digital Studios

TL;DR

Recreating a historic and unique meal from the 1970s that was served at the FOOD Restaurant in New York City's Soho neighborhood.

Transcript

NARRATOR: Throughout history, food has served as subject matter, inspiration, and, of course, sustenance for artists. Food has also been the art on a number of occasions. Today, we're going to recreate a highly original meal that sprang from the mind of a highly original artist. And it even comes with a souvenir necklace. Our meal in question happe... Read More

Key Insights

• 😘 FOOD Restaurant was a significant part of the experimental art scene in 1970s lower Manhattan.
• 💦 Gordon Matta-Clark's artistic works involved physically cutting into buildings to create new perspectives.
• ☠️ The Bone Meal served at the restaurant was a unique and legendary meal that included various bone-based dishes.
• 🦋 Clarifying butter was done to enhance the cooking process and make it suitable for frying.
• ❓ The recreation of the Bone Meal involved collaboration, experimentation, and creativity.
• 🧑‍🎨 The restaurant supported and employed a large number of artists.
• 🥰 The Bone Meal's leftover bones were turned into necklaces, blurring the line between art and food.

Questions & Answers

Q: Who founded the FOOD Restaurant, and what was its concept?

FOOD Restaurant was founded by Caroline Goodden, Tina Girouard, Suzanne Harris, Rachel Lew, and Gordon Matta-Clark. It was a communal effort that aimed to offer food that artists enjoyed and provide a supportive workplace for artists with flexible working hours.

Q: What were some of Gordon Matta-Clark's notable artistic works?

Gordon Matta-Clark was known for making architectural "cuttings." He would physically cut into buildings and other structures to create voids and open up spaces. Some of his notable works include cutting houses in half and slicing through buildings in Paris.

Q: How did the artists recreate the original Bone Meal menu?

Since the original recipes were not available, the artists used the internet to find similar recipes. They used Jamie Oliver's Oxtail Stew recipe, Fergus Henderson's roasted marrow bones recipe, and Martha Stewart's stuffed marrow bones recipe.

Q: What was the purpose behind clarifying the butter used in the recipes?

Clarifying butter removes the milk proteins and water contained in it, resulting in a higher smoke point and longer shelf life. It is also known as ghee and is commonly used in Indian cooking.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The FOOD Restaurant, run by artists, offered a rotating menu featuring fresh and available ingredients.

• Artist Gordon Matta-Clark created a legendary meal called the Bone Meal, which included oxtail soup, frog legs, and roasted marrow bones.

• The restaurant was a hub for artists and played a significant role in the experimental art scene of 1970s lower Manhattan.