Back in April when I was putting together the
Pelouse en Fête picnic I went researching how I could incorporate a little of the Kinfolk magazine spirit into the event.
Kinfolk, a magazine published just four times a year out of Portland, Oregon, in the US, is probably one of the most beautiful and charming magazines on the planet. Their mantra 'a guide for small gatherings' encourages its readers and followers to embrace the simple and everyday with intention and eschew the complex and unnecessary. Something I resonate with deeply.
What I didn't realise was that Kinfolk had changed their involvement in world-wide dinners and instead put in place themed
workshops, facilitated by representatives all over the world, to encourage readers to engage more in their food and re-harness long-lost skills. There was no way my picnic could be involved for April, but the advertised theme for June - charcuterie, butchery, cheese - fit so well with the amazing produce that comes from this country that an event of this kind could not
not happen in Paris. I had to inquire into holding an event.
As it turned out, Kinfolk had already received interest from someone in Paris. My heart sank. I was so upset that I was too late and that I wouldn't be able to contribute to an event here. I reached out to the girl Kinfolk put me in contact with, to say hello, to offer a hand. Miraculously, but really, when you think about it, not so unsurprisingly, the person on the other end of the email said yes, please.
So I met the lovely
Lise. And together we brought the June Gathering to a small wine bar in the 17th last Saturday. And people from all over Paris came;
some we contacted to invite as we knew
they'd love it; some that had just happened upon the event's details and thought it would be a nice way to spend the afternoon; some
whose work we'd admired and adored from afar, and
some we'd made online friends with that we were dying to meet in person.
The little wine bar,
Le Garde Robe des Batignolles, only selects the best meat, cheese and natural wines that they are able to source and we had the privilege of sampling such a variety and learning about their makers and production. The event could not have happened without Axelle, who works at Le Garde Robe; her passion for the produce of her land is inspiring and she brings such joy to the simplicity of preparing food, eating and sharing.
The meal ended with traditional French cherry pies,
clafoutis, made by Lise, a qualified pastry chef and passionate cook, and the culinary expert of the two of us. It was the loveliest evening spent in a very long time and I'm so grateful to everyone that came to make the Gathering as special as it was.
--
A handful of the photos above (the good ones!) belong to
Nico Alary. We came across Nico's work in the last two Kinfolk issues and when we realised he was based in Paris we had to say hello and let him know we were hosting an event. He told us straight away that he and his girlfriend would join us. So, not only were we blessed with their excellent company, but with also his talent as a photographer. Nico has posted more pics of the event on his
Flickr and is currently in the process of opening up a café with his girlfriend
Sarah, which they are amazingly chronicling the process
here.
xx
