Chef Yann Nury Reimagines the Backyard Soirée

When summer arrives, there’s no better time to entertain outdoors. But to achieve just the right level of casualness for the season while keeping things chic can be a tricky balance. Enter Yann Nury, the French-born chef behind some of the world’s most exclusive and luxurious events from Shanghai to Paris, New York to Los Angeles. The culinary maestro has reimagined the backyard soirée by introducing a completely restored 1959 Volkswagen single-cab pick-up van, albeit with a self-sustained kitchen added in the rear, to his catering arsenal.

“We aim to find the right balance between hospitality and service, but always a sense of ease and never too much formality, and that is emphasized by the bus,” explains Nury, who is a Galerie Creative Mind. “Not only is this VW a self-contained kitchen, it can also become the center of the event and point of a conversation for all the guests.”

From that kitchen, Nury can serve a variety of delicious menus, but he thinks the best pairings speak to his original inspiration of Baja, California, with a touch of Mexico. That includes dishes such as squash blossom tamal with citrus cream and caviar, octopus tostada with salsa macha, white asparagus huarache with almond oil, and celery root trompo rotisserie with shiso served with flower-inlaid tortillas.

All of this is executed from the Josper oven, Josper Robata, and wood fire comal, which hydraulic-operated side and rear soft tops open to reveal. “It is a continuation of the passion we have for cars and design and how to blend them with our culinary world,” says the chef, whose personal La Residence invitation-only event space in SoHo has become one of the bucket list experiences for gastronomes in New York.

Those culinary touchstones and flavor profiles are reflected in the dinnerware as well. Nury worked with Talavera Santa Catarina, one of the original Talavera companies in Puebla to create a unique set of plates, which reflect a slight modernization of the classic style. Nury pairs them with Dansk teak silverware and silver beverage cups, all stored in a custom trunk that rolls out when needed.

“We try to speak to cuisine that people know, served from something that represents the most iconic car design,” says Nury. “But there is always a desire to elevate, surprise and refine always the search of the ultimate version of something.” As always, Nury has far exceeded what anyone could have imagined.