Events
As an extension of the museum experience, Theory will present events and classes that will nourish your mind as well as your body.
Private Rentals
| Located in the heart of the Central Eastside industrial district, Theory is the perfect location for your next dinner or evening reception. Featuring gorgeous waterfront views, Theory reflects our industrial roots with sleek furnishings, reclaimed wood accents and an open, airy floor plan. Whether you’re planning an intimate dinner for 25 or a lavish reception for 200, Theory offers a fresh take on banquet events.
Theory can accommodate up to 180 guests for a plated meal or buffet, and 225 guests for a reception-style event. Private evening rentals start at 5pm and include existing tables, chairs, and complimentary parking. AV services are also available for additional fees. |
To inquire about private rental availability, please contact:
Megan Strong OMSI Event Sales Manager 503.797.4671 Julia Houha |
Science, Meet Food
| Theory, a new eatery at OMSI, reinvents the dining experience and invites guests inside the kitchen. Executive Chef Ryan Morgan and his team present honest ingredients, food sources and cooking techniques while each seasonal dish is prepared and served to curious observers of all ages. Through exhibits and events, Theory encourages visitors to explore the science of food. Echoing OMSI’s emphasis on health and wellness, Theory champions sustainable practices and wholesome eating.
Bon Appétit Management Company, which operates Theory, has been an industry leader in local sourcing— buying at least 20 percent of its ingredients directly from local farmers, ranchers, fishermen and artisan producers — since 1999. In the last 10 years, the company — whose philosophy is “food service for a sustainable future” — has also initiated policies to offer sustainable seafood, rBGH-free dairy, meat and poultry raised without routine antibiotics, cage-free shell eggs, climate-friendlier options and humanely raised meat. |
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Preserve flavor, maximize nutrition
Great menus start with fresh, locally grown and produced ingredients. But why is eating locally-sourced food important?
Buying fruits and vegetables after they are naturally ripened by the sun allows you to enjoy produce at its peak. When produce is harvested early to endure long distance shipping, most likely it will lack the full complement of nutrients and flavor by the time it arrives on your plate.
Flavor and nutritional value is lost at every step: through refrigeration, transportation and storage in a warehouse. Transportation can require irradiation (a burst of radiation to kill germs) and can involve adding preservatives, such as wax, to protect the produce. Fresh, locally harvested foods have their full flavors intact, which they release to us when we eat them.
At Theory, we source from local farms and producers whenever possible. Current list includes:
Prep
Spices, once as precious as gold, are what make our cooking so uniquely appealing. In addition to creating a rich complexity of flavor, did you know spices also have powerful health and wellness benefits?
Flavor has always been central to our enjoyment of food. While how our senses perceive flavor still puzzles scientists, we do know that flavor is a mixture of taste and smell.
