When the madcap idea of creating a fine dining experience high atop a Ferris wheel was discussed, the team was "immediately committed to the logistically savvy spectacle that would be The Periodic Table," they say.

 It was decided that the Calgary event would be repeated for three consecutive days from September 11 – 13, with 280 diners per day totaling 840 guests, nine seatings a day, with entertainment and art installation interludes.

Kids at play during Beakerhead.

The 40-foot Ferris wheel was the main element of The Periodic Table; it was a pop-up dining room and also a visual spectacle.

"We coordinated the complex transport and installation of the Ferris wheel at the same time the City of Calgary had declared a state of emergency due to an untimely and unseasonal blizzard," management says.

"Our event team had to completely rethink the load-in due to the weather to ensure that all safety provisions were met and we kept to the event time line. The Ferris wheel was successfully installed and was soon to become The Periodic Table’s spinning dining room."

After the logistical complications of moving the wheel, the team next had to feed people on it. The menu had to be innovative, scientific in composition, upscale, and packaged in a way that the meal could be brought onto the wheel and eaten while guests viewed the city skyline from a bucket seat, 40 feet up in the air.

Chef Nicole Gomes of "Top Chef Canada" created a molecular gastronomy menu, complete with cocktail pairings served on the wheel.

The culinary team developed the menu around the idea of breaking food down into its molecular components, and worked with Boom Goes the Drum to determine a method of service that was as logistically uncomplicated as possible, while being fun for the guests.

The next step: to get the chef a kitchen on-site. The event team began by sourcing a 25-foot kitchen from British Columbia, the province next door.

"Initially, we had plans in place to drive the kitchen through B.C. to Alberta, but part-way through planning, we were presented with a local option from a catering company. While cost-wise this was preferable, the challenge was that the available trailer required a lot of cleanup and infrastructure building to accommodate our needs," Boom management says.

"We opted for the local option, as the time frame of delivery for the preferred kitchen was tight and would not allow for any disruptions in travel. In hindsight, we made the right decision as the unprecedented snowstorm in the days leading up to The Periodic Table would have made transport of the out-of-province kitchen trailer impossible."

The staff plan was a meticulous schedule of volunteers and staff who greeted guests and guided them from registration to the beer lounge, queued them for dinner service, and finally presented them with their final course.

To add an out-of-this-world theatrical flair, the event team had an Astronaut and Android act as the “hosts” of the event.

The characters first greeted guests at registration, ensured they were welcomed, and oversaw the delivery of their complimentary beverage and first course appetizer, while in the “Good Chemistry Lounge.”

From there, the characters would graciously announce that the next course for dinner was now available on the Ferris wheel, queuing and loading guests onto the Ferris wheel, and even tucking them in with complimentary blankets if they were cold.

The overall staff plan ensured a seamless guest experience, just as one would expect at a fine dining restaurant, but in the quirky, out-of-the-box style of Beakerhead.

And the wheel spins!

The Good Chemistry Lounge was set up between two existing outbuildings in the field.

The team chose this location to ensure additional protection from the elements and provide hard walls for security and setup, with the kitchen trailer as the third hard wall, creating a horseshoe.

With the wind blocked by the three walls, and eight installed propane patio heaters, the team was able to keep guests cozy in the unseasonably cold 5 degree Celsius weather.

In the lounge, strings of café lights crisscrossed over brightly colored oil barrels with glass tabletops, giving a warm glow and making guests feel as though they were on the inviting patio of a good friend.

A stage sat between the Ferris wheel and lounge so that both guests and onlookers could enjoy the musical entertainment for the evening.

"We are proud to say that  we hosted  all guests who had purchased a ticket to the sold-out spectacle," the event team says. 

"Beakerhead was forced  to cancel a number  of their outdoor events, but The Periodic Table overcame the odds and persevered  in the face of adversity. Beakerhead's emphasis on arts, science and engineering, and the idea that anything is possible, is what created our resolve to face each challenge with an innovative and smart solution."

"We were able to create a never-before-seen Calgary outdoor food event, in the aftermath of severe weather and major logistical challenges."