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You are here: Home / Travel / Italy / Plate to Page – a Tuscan tale

Plate to Page – a Tuscan tale

by Jeanne Horak on November 18, 2011 12 Comments in Italy, Photography, Plate to Page

PlateToPageTuscany © J Horak-Druiff 2011

 

We all the know the formula, right?  Big house in the middle of nowhere.  Bunch of diverse people from all over the place who sign up to live there together for a while.  Strangers sharing living quarters, cooking together, eating together.  Cameras absolutely everywhere throughout the house.  Mentors available for a chat 24/7.   Strange and sometimes inexplicable tasks and challenges set every day for the participants.

It’s Big Brother, innit??!

Well, no – actually it’s Plate to Page, the world’s favourite and original food writing and photography workshop.  And when you put it on paper, it looks like a risky proposition for all concerned… and yet from this unlikely confluence of people, activities and circumstances grows an amazing energy, a flood of creativity, and strong bonds of friendship.  We saw it the first time when we ran the inaugural Plate to Page workshop in Weimar Germany in the Spring.  The question was whether we could repeat that incredible synergy in Tuscany in the Autumn with the second Plate to Page workshop.  Do you think we succeeded?  Read on and judge for yourself!

 

P2PbagsCollage
P2PUnoBoot

 P2PinstructorsValentinaPhoto courtesy of Valentina

After months of planning, chasing sponsors, managing waiting lists, Skype meetings, and endless e-mails, the day finally dawned for me to fly to Italy to be reunited with my Plate to Page family (Meeta, Jamie and Ilva).  Seeing Ilva and Meeta running towards me on the tiny platform at Seravalle Pistoiese was quite surreal – but nonetheless fabulous!  That night after Jamie had also joined us, Ilva’s house was a flurry of activity:  presentations to be finalised, sponsor samples to be unpacked and marvelled at, goodie bags to be packed (to bursting point and beyond!) before finally bunking down for the night like a slumber party for grown-ups. When we awoke on Friday morning, the first thought I had was “cold!” – but when we flung open the shutters we were greeted by the most perfect crisp Tuscan Autumn day imagineable.  The weather gods were smiling on Plate to Page!  Soon we were packing Ilva’s retro-tastic 1986 Fiat Uno to the gills with the goodie bags and speeding off to Il Salicone, the villa that was to be our home for the weekend, set among the vines, cypresses and golden autumn colours.  We explored the villa and gardens like excited kids, discovering hidden bedrooms, frescoes, chandeliers and friendly felines!

 

P2PFallColour

P2POliveGrove

 

P2PIl Salicone sign

P2PilSalicone

P2PVillaView

Before long, our guests of honour – the participants – started arriving and we finally got to put faces to the names we had so far only “met” on e-mail: Marta and Kate from Belgium; Judith, Robin and Lynn from the USA; Alex from Italy; Elizabeth from Canada; Denise from the Netherlands; Valentina and Hayley from the UK; Heidi from Norway; and Olivia from Malta.  We gathered over coffee and tea, casting shy glances at each other like teenagers at a disco, trying to gauge who we would first connect with.  The first order of business was elevator pitches – a 5 minute slot for each participant that revealed the diverse and surprisingly emotional reasons why we blog. For lunch, we gathered in the villa’s old kitchen around a long table for out first Tuscan meal of fusilli Arrabiata, followed by tea and fruit salad in the garden.  Already, barriers were breaking down and bonds were beginning to form.

 

P2pLECTUREROOM

 

P2Pcoffeecups

P2PMeetaJamieCamera
P2PLynnHeidi

P2PDeniseValentina

 

But there was not much time for contemplation:  After all this is Plate to Page – All Work and no Shop!  Soon we were back in the classroom (albeit a classroom with chandeliers!) to discuss good and bad food photography before splitting into smaller groups of six for some pretty intense writing and photography exercises.  Never let it be said that we break our participants in gently on the first day! The writing party decamped to the garden where we did our writing in the dappled late afternoon sun under the trees, watching the activity from the windows above us where the photographers were draping cloths to make diffusers and balancing boards precariously on windowsills. “What – you want me to rewrite my piece in the voice of a child?  In ten minutes?!” was a pretty common theme… but soon all you could hear was the scratching of pens on paper and the tapping of fingers on keyboards – and the snapping of camera shutters!  After the whole process had been repeated with the groups swapped round, we headed for the kitchen where the famously bursting-at-the-seams  Plate to Page goodie bags were handed round, filled this time with goodies such as a home baking book from Taste of Home; a fantastic pack of four spices (black salt, tasmanian pepper, chipotle chile and saffron salt) from Smaromi; a deliciously pink block of Himalayan salt from Gourmelli (other bags also contained chocolates, mustards or vegetarian caviar from them); various kitchen tools from the Oxo Good Grips range; Jams fromSunchowder’s Emporia; a gorgeous knife from ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS; a jar of sweet piquanté peppers from Peppadew; quick risotto kits from Riso Gallo; matcha powder from Matcha Factory; an adorable travel-size bottle of Tabasco; flavoured extracts (either vanilla or orange) from Nielsen-Massey.  And although they weren’t in the goodie bags, there were numerous bottles of prosecco generously provided by Bisol consumed throughout the weekend to keep proceedings flowing smoothly. Dinner consisted of platters groaning with Italian antipasti, followed by steaming bowls of chicken cacciatore (THANKS ILVA!!) and a cheese board to fiish.  And then, astonishingly, the troops were ready to head back to the classroom for a post-dinner presentation on photogrpahy (possibly the gentle lubrication of some bottles of Bisol Jeio prosecco eased the journey 😉

 

P2PWritingworkshop

 

P2PTuscanyWritingCollage

 

P2PTyping

 

P2PMeetaGoodiebag

 

P2PPeppadewSmaromi

 

P2PFriDinner

 

P2PBisol1

P2Plaptops

 

Saturday dawned misty and gorgeous but soon enough the sun  broke through the clouds – it seems the sun always shines on TV Plate to Page ;).  The day got off to a brisk start with another set of writing exercises encouraging participants to find their creativity and to think carefully about the language they use.  Having covered the verbal part of the morning, it was the turn of the photographers to take charge and we all decamped to our gorgeous photography “studio” – tons of natural light and frescoes (baby, frescoes!).  Ilva and Meeta both worked on creating a mood and helped participants not only with their camera settings but also provided food for thought in terms of fresh angles and compositions. Intriguing vegetarian caviar from Gourmelli, fresh-flavoured jams from Sunchowder’s Emporia and addictive sweet piquanté peppers from Peppadew made the perfect photographic models – and all our snapping away prompted the coining of the term “pepperazzi”!  You could almost smell the brimstone as brains and creativity were stretched; and see the lightbulbs above heads as “eureka moments” were experienced.

 

P2Pphotostudio

P2PMeetaPhotographyWorkshop

P2PValentinaKate

 

P2PIlva

 

P2pElizabethRobinjpg

 

P2PPeppadew2

P2POliviaShoots

 

P2PLynnCamera

P2PStillLife

But mankind (and bloggerkind) cannot live by creativity alone.  Lunchtime provided us with the perfect opportunity to stroll down the road, through Il Salicone‘s vineyards bedecked in amber leaves, to their winery.  Once we were seated contentedly in the sun at two tables in the garden, Nicoletta and her team proceeded to serve us with a feast: platters of cured meats; cheese with local honey; crostini with chicken livers; frittata …. We were so busy snapping away to get the perfect shot of drizzling honey and glistening olive oil that we scarcely noticed the arrival of a loaf of bread the size of a your average pillow and a cheerful orange tureen of ribollita (Tuscan peasant soup) – but we certainly wasted no time photographing them once we had noted their presence!  For dessert, we had beautiful crostata, consumed while we sat as contented and happy as well-fed cats in the surprisingly hot Tuscan Autumn sun, discussing appropriate topics such as our preferred Deadly Sin out of the available seven (a definite leaning towards gluttony!).  But the best was yet to come – hard cantucci biscuits to be dipped into the robust, fruity glasses of Il Salicone’s own Sangiovese wine, to be softened and stained the colour of blood, before being popped into mouths for a sweet, tangy, alcoholic hit.  Tuscan heaven.  All too soon we were stirred from our contented, somnolent state to follow Nicoletta into the cool depths of the winery to hear how their wine is made before heading back to the villa.  The participants had a couple of hours on their own to work on a project, so I snuck off to make the acquaintance of a friendly piccolo gatto Toscano, and to try and capture the beautiful Tuscan surroundings on camera.

 

P2PGroupWalking

P2PSaliconeVineyard1

P2PWineryLunch1

P2PFrittata

P2PWIne

P2PFoodPapparazzi
P2POliviaElizabeth

P2PDessert

P2PNicoletta

 

P2PPomegranate

P2PRedVine

 

P2Pflowers

 

P2poldvilla

P2PCat1

Late afternoon was spent listening to and giving feedback on the participants excellent work in teams on a written piece complemented by appropriate photographs (some outstanding work here, which we hope to showcase on the Plate to Page blog shortly!), before heading to the kitchen to prepare dinner.  We all retrieved our smart new Zwilling aprons from our goodie bags and got to work preparing the artichokes and mushrooms for the two pots of risotto – our sponsors Riso Gallo had kindly provided the carnaroli rice.  Dinner was once again a convival affair with rather a lot of excellent Bisol Crede prosecco and tales being told of how each of the participants had come to hear about the workshop – a surprisingly diverse range of circumstances!  And even after the instructors retired to bed, exhausted, participants were still to be found huddled around laptops and tables, laughing, chatting and sharing stories.

 

P2PSatWriting

 

P2PRobin

HayleyDeniseWriting

 

P2PCuttingArtichokes

 

P2PKnifegirls

 

P2PRisotto

 

P2PJudithSlicing
P2PDeniseJudith

P2PMartaElizabeth

Sunday was yet another perfect sunny Autumn day (does it EVER rain in Tuscany in the Autumn?  Ilva??) and fortfied by breakfast and heart-stoppingly strong coffee, we once more gathered at the table for some of the most challengeing exercises (according to the participants): writing to a tight word count.  Ever tried to convey a recipe in a tweet?  You should – it’s refreshing 😉  Following that, the photography team took over again for presentations on workflow, post-processing, and the challenges of magazine photography.  Having explained the final assignment to everybody, we headed downstairs where the lovely Paola and her team had already started covering the table in lunch – excellent charcuterie and crostini featuring the colourful vegetarian caviar from Caviart (sponsored by Gourmelli). This was followed by pizza, groaning under its toppings of buffalo mozzarella, capers and olives.  Participants spent the afternoon paired off and working on their assignment, finding quiet, sunny corners of the garden to photograph and write in a perfect setting.  With a little time to myself before I needed to go and check on each pair’s progress, I took a quick walk in the gorgeous vineyard and found myself befriended by another ball of feline fluff.  Wonder if Easyjet would have let me bring him home as hand luggage?

 

P2PIvaPhotopresentation

P2PBisolCrostini

 

P2PSalami

P2PNutsVines

 

P2PVineyatsLandscape

P2PTrees

 

P2PCat2

P2PLeafDandelion

 

For the last time, we gathered in the lecture room and as each pair shared their final assignment:  a magazine article with photo illustrations.  What struck me as I listened to everyone’s work was how committed each one was to the assignment; how brave they were to share their work with people that were complete strangers to them two days previously; and how much progress had been made in just two days.  The weekend’s work certainly ended on a high note.  Conversation around the dinner table that night was more relaxed and the Bisol Cartizze (an absolutely superb example of prosecco, full of complex apple and pear flavours) flowed freely.  A first course of fried polenta topped with baccala in a tomato sauce and Peppadews; and pasta fritta filled with ham and cheese (absolutely, 100% addictive!). This was followed by ribs, spiced and cooked Tuscan style.  And the grand finale was a selection of little jam tarts filled with our sponsor Sunchowder’s outstanding jams.  The raspberry and habanero proved quite astonishing:  the sweet hit of raspberry jam, followed by the serious afterburn of habanero chillies.  It was a bit like finding out that a nun is wearing red lacy suspenders under her habit 😉 Even later in the evening, laptops were brought out and playlists scoured for potential singalong numbers (although there is no truth to the rumour that I know all the words to every ABBA song ever made ;)).

 

P2PBisol2

P2PSunchowdertarts

 

The next morning after breakfast there was a flurry of hugs and goodbyes and “see you on Twitter” as people caught taxis and packed cars to leave.  We had come from far-flung corners of the globe, a collection of four instructors and twelve particpants who had never met.  Bags had been packed, presentations had been prepared and camera batteries had been charged.  We had greeted each other cautiously and then thrown ourselves headlong into the weekend. Heads were scratched, pencils were chewed and assignments were completed; props were moved, light was reflected and camera settings were pondered. Meals were prepared and eaten around a long table, alive with the sound of conversation and laughter.  Wine was drunk, songs were sung and friendships were forged.  And then just like that it was all over and we all went our separate ways, with only the photos and our tweets to prove we had ever been there; but all of us richer for the things we had learnt and the friendhips we had made.

 

P2PTasteOfHome

 

P2pkiss

P2PInstructorsMartas

Photo courtesy of Marta

And, once again… would you really trust these four to teach you anything??  ;o)

Last week we revealed the venue for Plate to Page UK taking place in Spring 2012 in a simply stunning seventeenth century Manor House in the lush landscape of Somerset. Since then we’ve been busy behind the scenes plotting and planning and I just wanted to give my readers a heads up: keep an eye on us on Twitter, Facebook or subscribe to the From Plate to Page website because on Monday 21 November we’ll be opening registrations to From Plate to Page Somerset and believe me, you do not want to miss this!

For other perspectives on the Plate to Page Tuscany weekend, have a look at what the other presenters and the participants have said:

Denise –  P2P Tuscany  
Judith – Plate to Page magic in Toscana
Elizabeth – Plate to Page:  eating and drinking in La Bella Toscana
Robin – Plate to Page Tuscany 
Robin – Nicoletta’s Ribollita 
Olivia – Plate 2 Page:  the skills, the people, the fun
Hayley – Plate to Page Tuscany & a jam tart recipe
Meeta – From Plate to Page:  Under the Tuscan Sun  
Ilva –  Plate to Page Tuscany image by image  
Jamie – From Plate to Page Tuscany
Alex – A wonderful weekend in Tuscany
Lynn – Cucina Povera – and Old World workshop
Kate – Plate to Page: A Weekend to remember
Valentina – Plate to Page: Under the Tuscan Sun

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  1. Eggs on the Roof says

    November 18, 2011 at 10:20 am

    Almost, almost as good as being there. What a sensational weekend it sounds….and the nun image is a belter!

    Reply
  2. Colleen says

    November 18, 2011 at 2:22 pm

    WOW! So much time and work has gone into this blog post about your wonderful Tuscany weekend Jeanne. I salute you! An amazing read and the photographs are beautiful. Feel as though I were there with you…..almost! I dream of visiting Tuscany. Last time there in 1974 as a very young woman…didn’t appreciate it as I would now. So I thank you for sharing so beautifully that entire weekend. And I too had a good giggle at the visuals I was getting at the nun hehe….well done! This is ONE of the reasons why I love working with you so much. Just one of them! There are so many others. Warm hugs from Cape Town xxx

    Reply
  3. Robin O. says

    November 18, 2011 at 3:31 pm

    An epic tale with drama, sneaking good humour and stunning visuals. You are masterful Jeanne!

    Reply
  4. Meeta says

    November 18, 2011 at 4:18 pm

    This was an awesome read and if I do say so myself – it seems like everyone was so at peace and perfectly happy in all these pictures. Shows that although we work them like hell they have found their zen LOL!
    Love some of these pics Jeanne and re-living it with you was awesome. Now let’s move on over to UK – Somerset here we come!

    Reply
  5. ninatimm says

    November 18, 2011 at 4:40 pm

    Wow, you are one talented photographer, writer and story teller. I dream of attending a Plate2Page workshop.
    Lovely, just lovely!

    Reply
  6. Móna Wise says

    November 19, 2011 at 9:48 am

    Jeanne – the photos are cracking. My favourite one is the pomegranate on the tree split open. And the cat lazing about….. Sounds like the mood was lovely at the villa and I am sure it was all down to the four of you creating that perfect ambiance for your participants. Congratulations on another very successful P2P!

    Reply
  7. Kit says

    November 19, 2011 at 10:44 am

    Oh it looks fantastic! And how you had time to take all those wonderful photos as well as teach I’ve no idea!
    So glad the weather obliged so stunningly – I’ve known very wet Octobers in Tuscany, when I used to work for a walking holiday company – picnics in a tumbledown barn and all, so I think Plate to Page just has the magic touch!

    Reply
  8. Lynn says

    November 19, 2011 at 5:00 pm

    Thoroughly enjoyed all your pics Jeanne. Fun read that captures everything famously. The workshop was inspirational and unforgettable. I do hope we can all – or at least many – convene again!

    Reply
  9. Gourmet Chick says

    November 21, 2011 at 6:12 am

    What a magical place to hold a workshop. Looks like you all had a brilliant time.

    Reply
  10. Firefly says

    November 21, 2011 at 6:49 am

    I just never seized to be amazed with both your photography as well as writing skills. Then we aren’t even talking about your food and cooking. I wish I had more time to work on these skills, but alas perhaps in the future. I love this post.

    Reply
  11. Delia Jordaan says

    November 21, 2011 at 8:02 am

    Like many who comment here, I would also like to congratulate you on excelent writing and photography. I think you are slowly awaking a food writer in many people (like myself) with all the inspiration you unknowingly provide through your posts. Thank you for that.

    Reply
  12. Mairi @ Toast says

    November 27, 2011 at 6:26 am

    That looks like the most amazing weekend! Wish you could do Plate to Page in NZ!!

    Reply
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This is Crossness Pumping Station @crossnesset , a Grade I listed heritage site and one of London's last remaining magnificent Victorian sewage (!) pumping stations in Abbey Wood near Rainham. 

Did you know that...

💩 You can visit the building on monthly open days - the next one is Sun 20 Feb. Book at www.crossness.org.uk

💩  It was only in 1856, after 3 major cholera outbreaks in 30 years and the Big Stink when the stench of London's sewage finally reached Parliament, that construction of an intercepting sewer system for the city was approved.  The system (parts of which are still in use today) was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, Chief Engineer of London's Board of Metropolitan Works at the time.

💩  At Crossness, all London's sewage from south of the river was was raised by 9-12 metres to large reservoirs so that gravity would cause it to flow further east and into the Thames estuary. (Yes, until the 1880s, raw sewage was simply pumped into the Thames!)

💩 The incoming liquid was raised by the four enormous steam driven pumps, built to Joseph Bazalgette's design. The pumps were named Victoria, Prince Consort, Albert Edward, and Alexandra. They are thought to be the largest remaining rotative beam engines in the world, with 52-ton flywheels and 47-ton beams. 

💩 The pumping station was decommissioned and abandoned in the 1950s but declared a listed building in 1970.  Although all 4 beam engines remain in place, they were so damaged that today (thanks to the efforts of the Crossness Engines Trust) only Prince Consort has been restored to working condition and can be seen in action on open days.

💩 The exuberant and colourful wrought ironwork inside is the amazing work of architect Charles Henry Driver. My favourite detail is the fact that the pillars in the central atrium are topped with stylised figs and senna pods... two of nature's greatest natural laxatives 🤣
*NEW RECIPE* Roasted Brussels sprouts with feta ch *NEW RECIPE* Roasted Brussels sprouts with feta cheese, pomegranate and pine nuts

Ever noticed how you are affected by colours? 🌈

Maybe some colours make you agitated and some make you relaxed. Or maybe you find yourself inexplicably attracted to a particular colour (oh, hi teal and aqua!💙). On the basis that all colours have a wavelength, and that those outside the visible spectrum can affect us, it makes sense that the colours we see can affect our mood or even our physiology. Did you know for instance that exposure to red light can increase your blood pressure and heart rate? Are there any colours that you find yourself particularly attracted to or affected by?

The pretty colours of these roasted Brussels sprouts with feta cheese, pomegranate and pine nuts will be the first things that attract you to this dish - but it is the delicious combination of flavours and textures that will keep you coming back for more!

The recipe (and more about how colour affects us mentally and physically) is now live on my blog - click the live link in my profile and remember to like and bookmark this post to see more Cooksister in your Instagram feed ❤️
Perspective: a particular attitude towards or way Perspective: a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something.

Perspective is the one thing that the Covid-19 pandemic has given us plenty of. It has certainly made us re-evaluate what is truly important, and also what we did and didn't enjoy about our lives  before the pandemic and its associated lockdowns. It made me appreciate how much happiness my house, my job, my friends, my own company and my running bring to my life (and how fortunate I am to have all these things). But it also brought home how much I enjoy and miss travel, the theatre, and the luxury of reataurant visits at the drop of a hat. I don't think words can describe my joy at sipping the first coffee purchased from a coffee shop in summer 2020 as lockdown eased. It's the little things...

One of the things I have enjoyed and will not miss as the world creeps back to normality is the absence of crowds in what is usually a crowded city. On the occasions that I have been in central London since the start of the pandemic, streets have been blissfully empty and it has felt as if I were discovering my city anew. This glorious perspective (hah!) of St Paul's Cathedral normally requires a long wait while a queue of tourists and "influencers" ahead of you pose for photos - but on this glorious day last Spring it was almost deserted. I will miss that...

Is there anything you will miss as Covid-19 restrictions start to be lifted?
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Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

Latest Recipes

Salmon with blood oranges dill and capers
Brussels sprouts with feta and pomegranate
Roast lamb with pomegranate glaze
Blood orange & pistachio galettes
Cauliflower topped steak with melted cheese
Plate of potted smoked salmon with slaw and a glass of champagne
bowls of pistachio pomegranate bircher muesli
Brussels sprouts with chorizo & hazelnuts

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