16 February 2025 | Cooking with the Impressionists: Parisian Picnics

Date: Sunday, 16 February 2025
Time: 3-6:30 pm
Location: Chef Wendy's home & garden, Wadestown, Wellington

In this workshop, Dr. Wendy Joyce (PhD Princeton University in 19th-c French art and literature) will lead you on a virtual, lively tour of one of her favourite topics: food and its presence in art in 19th-century Paris, from the comfort of her home and garden in Wadestown in the company of a small group. We start the workshop in Wendy's lounge where she'll give you about an hour visual presentation.

You’ll learn about Parisian picnics, the famous luncheons ‘en plein air’, and the new forms of outdoor dining popular at the end of the 19th century. Artists we'll look at include Monet, Manet, Cezanne, Morisot, Pissarro, Renoir, and more. We'll also briefly consider some post-impressionist artists who depicted outdoor eating: Bonnard, Le Sidaner and others.

You'll then head into the kitchen where you'll learn how to make delicious foods inspired by the picnics depicted in famous Impressionist paintings.

If it's a fine day, we'll enjoy lunch outdoors on the deck overlooking the harbor!

Sample menu:

Puff pastry savoury tarts (vegetarian option)

Salade canaille (a fresh garden salad using what's in season in our organic gardens)

Oeufs Berrichon (Claude Monet's recipe for deviled eggs)

Salade de champignons (Mushrooms, French dressing, herbs)

Celeri Remoulade (celery root, mustard, egg yolk, vinegar, olive oil, herbs)

Tarte au citron

Pear and almond frangipane tart

To drink: Rose wine and Savour pohutukawa kombucha

About Wendy:

Wendy started Savour Cooking School after retraining as a chef following a career as an academic. Her area of expertise is 19th-century French literature and art history with a special interest in Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. Her PhD from Princeton University focussed on depictions of artists and the female body in fiction, sculpture and painting of the period between 1850-1880. She is passionate about French history and loves to bring the era alive through lively presentations. This series of classes "Cooking with the Impressionists," marries two of her life-long passions: French art and food!