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Clara Peeters, Antwerp, 1611
New date for this workshop:
Friday 28 july 2017 – 14h – in the Historical Kitchen of Port Eliot House, St-Germans, Cornwall UK.
Learn about these intricately decorated tarts and their meaning, see how they were made using the original tools.
Growing up in Flanders, Belgium, it feels as if still life paintings have always been a big part of my life. My entire childhood I’ve sat at the dinner table at my parents house, gazing at a dark still life painting with a pumpkin which hung on the wall on the other side of the room. Nothing makes sense in the image, why has the pumpkin such a prominent place on this formal dining table, and why is it on a formal table with china cups in the first place. A pumpkin like this would be more at home in a kitchen scene, on a bare wooden table, ready to be cut, its pips taken out, and the flesh diced for soup or stew.
Mysteries like these in food paintings have always intrigued me. One of my first books was a shabby old artbook with renaissance still life paintings by the Dutch and Flemish masters. All the food in the paintings had such carefully thought out symbolism. Bread indicates humility and catholic faith, a peach means truth and oysters mean lust. A glass of wine with little liquid in it symbolises the fragile nature of life but also wealth. In combination certain fruits and foods can tell a story. A paining with peaches and a butterfly mean hope and faith. Oysters or oyster shells in the vicinity of a woman in a painting means that the woman is promiscuous. If a bun of bread is near, it means she has lost her humility and has given in to the desires of the flesh. Heavy stuff no? An abundance of fish symbolises the catholic faith, but a cat near the fish means doubt, the painting could mean a warning not to take everything for granted when it comes to faith (big lessons to learn here).
But what those still lives also teach us is what people ate in the past and what utensils they used. Clara Peeters (image top page) shows the extraordinary skill of the chef who created that stunning centrepiece of a tart which is finished with a delicately carved pastry lid. This painting shows the best example of a renaissance tart. The tarts I have become infatuated by.
For my workshops I aim to tell you about the traditions and symbolism of these tarts and how to make them. You will learn an old pastry recipe and how to carve the lid using an authentic 18th century tool.
This summer I will be teaming up with Port Eliot festival and I will be teaching a class about these renaissance tarts in the historic kitchen of Port Eliot house. It’s a unique opportunity to cook historical food in a matching kitchen. I’m very excited about this and hope to see some of you there 28 july!
Want me to come and speak/teach at your event or cookery school?
I am available to teach this class wherever you like, get in touch to talk about classes that suit your interest. My most popular classes or talks are Renaissance tarts, historical puddings, and the history of British food.
Artus Claessens, Antwerp around 1644
Adriaen Coorte, Middelburg, between 1683-1707
You might also like this recipe for a quince tart here >
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Join us at All Hallows Farmhouse in the historic village of Wimborne St.Giles on Friday 25th November 2016 for a celebration of early winter. I will be demonstrating cooking from Pride and Pudding using the AGA in the beautiful farmhouse kitchen and beside the open fire. There will be tastings and plenty of creative conversation. Followed by a seasonal farmhouse lunch, slow cooked in the AGA of course. Then later in the day there will be a wreath making workshop with Lisa Osman, the owner of All Hallows and then the opportunity to relax and enjoy a high tea of English puddings.
The cookery school is only a 2 hour train ride from London, just long enough to enjoy some reading and short enough to have a full day at All Hallows after. We can arrange a car to pick you up from the station, or you can drive yourself.
This house is truly beautiful and Lisa is an excellent host, I can not wait to share this day with you!
Price 150 £ includes all lessons, a delicious lunch and drinks. For more information, get in contact as soon as possible as places are very limited.
Images All Hallows Farmhouse
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