Swell Plates Events Inspired by OMA
Through a dynamic blend of artist insight, exhibition exploration, and immersive culinary creativity, experience OMA like never before as part of Visit Oceanside's Swell Plates Series. This year's culinary art experiences are inspired by Francisco Eme's exhibition Future Rituals & La eco-resistencia, on view now at OMA.
UPCOMING
Swell Plates Dinner Event at Merenda Wine Bar with Dr. Lauren Crossland-Marr
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 | 6–7PM PST | 1931 South Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054 | $45 per person
Join environmental anthropologist and Merenda co-owner Dr. Lauren Crossland-Marr for an evening inspired by the Francisco Eme: Future Rituals & La eco-resistencia exhibition. Drawing from Eme’s work and her own research, she introduces environmental anthropology, a field that explores how humans understand and live within ecological systems.
Rather than treating environmental issues as technical problems, this talk looks at food, farming, and sustainability as cultural and historical. Through stories from farms and food systems, Dr. Crossland-Marr invites us to slow down and reflect on how everyday choices around eating and consumption are shaped by power, values, and inequality.
This 45-minute talk will be followed by a 15-minute Q&A. Each ticket includes a Jambon Beurre Sandwich and a glass of wine.
OMA Exhibition-Inspired Swell Plates Dishes
Savor a deeper connection to Francisco Eme's exhibition at OMA with dishes inspired by his work! Dine at 24Suns and Merenda Wine Bar and request these delectable bites. Available all Swell Plates Season long, January 14 - February 11, 2026. While supplies last.
At 24Suns
When Pigs Swim
This Swell Plates dish by 24Suns pairs smoked pork rib with local wahoo shaped into a T-bone form. A fermented fennel “souherb” made from foraged coastal herbs ties the elements together, creating a reflection on the themes of balance, ecology, and Oceanside’s natural landscape that are highlighted in Francisco's exhibition. Click here to visit 24Suns.
SPECIAL NOTE: A portion of the proceeds from every When Pigs Swim dish ordered at 24Suns during Swell Plates season will be donated to OMA!
At Merenda Wine Bar
Jambon-Beurre & Grüner Veltliner
Merenda Wine Bar serves a classic jambon-beurre paired with a responsibly made Grüner Veltliner. Inspired by the themes of everyday rituals highlighted in Francisco's exhibition, the pairing celebrates simple ingredients and Oceanside’s creative community traditions. Click here to visit Merenda Wine Bar.
PAST EVENTS
Swell Plates Tasting Event with 24Suns Chef Nicholas Webber and Artist Francisco Eme
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 | 6:00PM–7:30PM PST | 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside, CA 92054 | $45 members, $55 nonmembers
Join us for an Exclusive Artist Talk and Swell Plate Tasting at OMA where visual and culinary arts combine for a uniquely special experience!
To begin, renowned artist Francisco Eme will personally guide you through his exhibition Francisco Eme: Future Rituals & La eco-resistencia, blending ancestral knowledge, science, and contemporary media to invite a slower, reverent reconnection with animals, urban ecology, and the spiritual forces of nature within and beyond the city. You will hear the impactful stories behind his stunning works and see the pieces on display in a new light.
Then it’s on to the tasting, where you will meet 24Suns Co-Founder and Chef Nicholas Webber to enjoy a sample of the Swell Plates dish inspired by Francisco’s exhibition that will deepen your connection to the themes uncovered in his work. The tasting pairs smoked pork rib with local wahoo shaped into a T-bone form. A fermented fennel “souherb” made from foraged coastal herbs ties the elements together, creating a reflection on balance, ecology, and Oceanside’s natural landscape.
Swell Plates 5-Course 24Suns Dinner Event with Artist Francisco Eme and Chef Nicholas Webber
Sunday, February 1, 2026 | 5:30PM–7:30PM PST | 3375 Mission Ave J, Oceanside, CA 92058 | $120 per person
Join us for an intimate, extended evening at 24Suns, where art, conversation, and cuisine unfold together over the course of a thoughtfully paced experience.
Exhibiting artist Francisco Eme will share the stories, ideas, and inspirations behind Francisco Eme: Future Rituals & La eco-resistencia, offering insight into a practice that bridges ancestral knowledge, science, and contemporary media, inviting guests into a slower, more contemplative way of engaging with his work as they enjoy an elegant five-course dinner by 24Suns Co-Founder and Chef Nicholas Webber.
You will be guided through the creative intentions behind each course, including the Swell Plates dish inspired by Francisco's exhibition at OMA, which pairs smoked pork rib with locally sourced wahoo shaped into a T-bone form, unified by a fermented fennel “souherb” crafted from foraged coastal herbs. Together, the artist’s reflections and the chef’s storytelling create a layered, immersive experience, one that connects art, ecology, and Oceanside’s landscape through dialogue, flavor, and shared presence.
Header Artist Credit (from left to right): Francisco Eme, Sound Sculptures Insect Sounds, 2023. Francisco Eme, Resistance of the Echo, 2023.
