A monochromatic feast of black food has just been announced as part of the London Design Festival events.

Diners are invited by Bompas & Parr, (the lovely people who for last year's event brought you architectural jelly) Brooklyn-based culinary maestros A Razor, A Shiny Knife, and Fiona Leahy Design to sit down on the 23rd of September to a meal that explores boundaries of creativity through spectacular and unusual dining.

Entitled 'The Black Banquet', the experience is a travelling event set to take place around the world. Following the launch in London, further Black Banquets will be hosted in New York and Los Angeles this Autumn, with other international dinners to be confirmed for the New Year where each event will be tailored to the host city in style and service.

A Razor, A Shiny Knife will create a meal in which each course gives a natural example of black food, whilst Bompas & Parr will build theatrical food installations to compliment the menu and Fiona Leahy Design will transform the space into a striking set that will transport the guest into a realm of fantastic and awkward elegance.

Black Banquets have a glorious history. Perhaps the most remarkable was hosted by Grimod de la Reyniere in 1783 - invitations were so extraordinary that Louis XVI acquired one to frame. The Black Banquet meal is inspired by the supper held by Renaissance dining group 'The Company of the Trowel' in 1511. Guests entered the black meal through the hinged jaws of a huge serpent and delicious food was served concealed within repulsive creatures including serpents, bats and scorpions...

So for the London Design Festival, the event will be sculpted to fit into the dark side of London with dramatic and striking staff serving eight courses of food, each of which is entirely black, in a room prepared for an event of such weight and grandeur. Kitchens will also be open to diners so they can engage with the preparation and performance of their meal while learning from the hands on demonstrations and spectacles before the event begins.

Michael Cirino of A Razor, A Shiny Knife says: "Black in design lends elegance and grace to form, but in food it is not usually thought to be indicative of great flavour. This deception allows for us to create dynamic and beautiful food while keeping the flavour a surprise until the first bite.”

You can get your tickets from the Bompas & Parr website and although the venue is still a secret, we hear it will be in a grand central London location...