DELIGHT & DEVOUR Benefit Dinner at Locust Projects

Le Basque staff preps for the immersive and indulgent event.

An evening of indulgence, artistry, and theatrical restraint

Locust Projects’ DELIGHT & DEVOUR Benefit Dinner welcomed more than 120 artists, patrons, and cultural leaders for an evening that explored the intersection of food, art, and performance — a celebration designed to feel immersive and playful.

At the heart of the evening was an installation by artist Tara Long, who transformed the space into a sugar-spun dreamscape. Operatic in scale yet delicately balanced, the environment unfolded through ethereal sound, performers drifting through the room, and a monumental cake that anchored the experience — equal parts centerpiece and provocation.

Le Basque approached the evening as a dialogue between the artist’s vision and the culinary and service elements that define our work. Locust Projects encourages their featured artists to fully participate in the design and flow of the gala as their artwork surrounds the seated guests and is often performative in nature. A working session with Lorie Mertes, Director of Locust Projects, and artist Tara Long led to many avenues of exploration.

Creative Director for Le Basque, Alejandro Muguerza, distilled what concepts might be best transformed into memorable culinary or service moments and then engaged with the culinary and event teams to bring these to life. Our waiters, for example, were given a costume change just before dinner. For the cocktail hour, waiters wore long white lab coats, referencing the shadowy science behind sugar’s place in South Florida. Then they changed out of sight into black performance tights with white ruffled collars and subtle blush, joining Tara Long’s actors in a series of choreographed moments. The culinary team developed dishes in parallel with the ideas of the evening. Savory tomato water “gummy bears” were served during the Candy Shop cocktail hour alongside other savory confections, presented in glass apothecary jars.

Projects of this kind depend on the trust of clients and the adventurous and creative spiirt of artists to produce work that belongs to that event alone.