A plate is a frame, and what happens inside it is composition. This supper seminar treats plating as a visual art, with its own traditions, habits and clichés, and asks participants to try it with their own hands before sitting down to eat.
The evening begins with a short illustrated introduction. We look at still-life painting, from Dutch tables to Giorgio Morandi’s bottles, and at the way chefs have borrowed from it: the use of negative space, the single bright accent, the tension between order and accident. We also look at the less flattering side of the story, the tweezers and smears that have become a style of their own.
The workshop
Working in pairs at a long counter, participants plate three dishes from prepared components, guided by the kitchen team. The same ingredients are arranged three different ways: one generous, one sparse, one deliberately asymmetrical. Then everyone walks around and looks. It is remarkable how much the arrangement changes the anticipated taste.
- All ingredients, tools and aprons are provided
- No cooking experience is needed
- Dietary requirements can be accommodated with a week’s notice
Supper
The evening continues with a five-course supper at a shared table, built around winter vegetables, Nordic fish and a dessert that participants help to finish. Wine pairings are available at an additional cost; alcohol-free pairings are also offered.
Places are limited to twenty-four, so that everyone has room at the counter. Please arrive on time, as the workshop begins promptly. The studio is on the ground floor and fully accessible.
