Have you ever wished to be transported across oceans and cultures from the comfort of a warmly lit theatre on Edinburgh’s George Street? If so, What’s in the Kitchen is the show for you.
Performed mostly in Portuguese, What’s in the Kitchen comes with a large helping of heart and soul, topped off with honesty and authenticity, and served with a side of purely joyful performance.
Actor Eduardo Estrela leads a captivated audience through five acts, combining storytelling with the wonder of food. The connection between food and soul, memories, culture, and community was beautifully explored through immersive storytelling, compelling acting, and incredible cooking.
We were welcomed to the Assembly Rooms, Bijou venue, with a kind smile, warm lighting, and a paper bag tied with a colourful ribbon. Inside this bag was the beautiful food that would accompany each audience member on their journey through Brazilian cuisine. We knew, just from stepping into the room, that we were in for a treat.
Who doesn’t love good storytelling combined with good food?
Chef Alejandro Huerto was behind each exciting little package in the gift bags. During each act, Estrela prompted the audience to open the next numbered package by ringing a charming bell. Excited rustling rose as the audience tucked into their nostalgic starter. An imaginative taste tingler, designed to stimulate the newly discovered 5th taste ‘umami’, followed. The 3rd box came with meat and veggie options, and I must say that I will be thinking (and salivating) over the contents for a very long time.
The dessert option brought everything together for me, personally. Brigadero, a traditional Brazilian chocolate cake, was wrapped up as the final treat. The taste transported me back years, when I worked alongside a wonderful Brazilian couple who would frequently make Brigadero for the cafe staff. All of a sudden, the script linking food and emotion came into sharp relief. Something so simple, yet so powerful. The team had breathed magic into the prepared food, filling it with memories, emotions, and cultural significance. The experience was one that I could revisit time and time again.
“Everything is art and ritual. It’s nourishment for the soul.”
As Estrela took on a colourful array of characters, from a glittering TV host to a warm Grandma anticipating a visit from family, his passion for the power of food shone brightly, lighting up the venue with honest, powerful stories that exemplified the choice of food given to the audience. By connecting each mystery menu item to a story, a unique, fascinating, and immersive experience is artfully woven with care and careful consideration for aesthetics.
Initially, I was mildly concerned by the proposed language barrier, as the majority of the show is spoken in Portuguese. However, by maintaining the home language of the food, the actor, and the stories lent an originality and authenticity which created an even deeper layer of depth to the performance. Subtitles were projected onto a small board above the performance, so following the story remained effortless. I felt that no understanding was lost – rather, it was gained.
With 30 years of acting experience behind him, Eduardo Estrela breathed life into the script. Characters that bore no physical resemblance to him came alive in his voice, mannerisms, and passion. It would be easy to liken him to Remy, a passionate chef character from Disney’s Ratatouille, simply from the joy that radiated from the stage.
What’s in the Kitchen is a wonderfully fresh and unique show, unlike any others I have come across at the Edinburgh Fringe thus far. If you’re in the mood for something a little bit different, you have a good appetite, and enjoy high-quality storytelling, then I cannot recommend this show enough.
What’s in the Kitchen: The Where, When, and How
What’s in the Kitchen runs in the Assembly Rooms, Bijou, from 31 July – 23 August, at 14:10. You can reserve your tickets here.
Enjoyed this review? You can read more of Brig’s growing collection of Edinburgh Fringe reviews here.
Featured Image Credit: Camila Bueno
Journalism student at the University of Stirling & BRAW Magazine editor 24/25 and 25/26 🙂
You can see my portfolio here: https://www.clippings.me/alicepollard
