Prior to visiting Hunt and Darton cafe I was unsure what to expect. Described as a social and artistic hub where engagement, spontaneity, action, artists and performance meet great food and drink; the award winning pop up is in Brighton for this years Sick festival.
Entering into the shop in the heart of a very sunny Brighton, we are greeted by an incredibly smiley waitress with a floret of broccoli on her head, ensuring us that this will be a lunch on the more unusual side. With a menu that resembles afternoon tea crossed with a children's party. From crumpets and nesquick, to the decidedly more peculiar roast dinner sandwich, this isn't a place for the cynical. Yet, arriving on social media day and being told we have to tweet out orders ensures we are engaged from the offset. I order the trio of finger sandwiches, which is displayed to me in a structure resembling a tower. I am informed that the first layer of cream cheese and cucumber is my starter, the second of salmon is my main course, and the third of sugar is my dessert. Though I had never before been subject to the wonders of the sugar sandwich, it turns out the invention speaks of simple pleasures and I was left feeling satisfied, if not a little anxious for more.
From the presentation of the food to a continuous conversation with the waitress via the Internet, the detail put into the entire experience is clear. Half way through the meal my friend receives a tweet instructing her to come inside and change the record on the old vinyl player, which leads to the feeling of having our own input into the walls of the cafe. When asked of the inspiration behind the project, the waitress tells us (or more accurately, tweets us), 'we wanted to create an instillation to perform within and being into food we thought what better than a cafe!'
Causing passersby to stop in their tracks with curiosity, there is no doubt that the cafe is out of the ordinary. Although the portions are not vast, upon telling them of this my friend is given a pound of her money back, indicating a level of care that is rarely seen. The shop is around until the 29th. With a theme that alters daily, and a fake Christmas dinner on the 26th, there is no doubt that Hunt and Darton is worth a visit. If only to marvel at the peculiar interior and dissever how your lunch can be transformed into an interactive experience that won't easily be forgotten.
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