residency: July–August 2011

Juliette Delventhal (USA)

Juliettte Delventhal

is the first chef-in-residence at Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art. She holds a degree in cultural anthropology; since 2004 she has been practicing as a professional cook, learning and sharing her skills in Europe and the USA. From 2007 to 2008 she was the head chef of Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito, California. She lives and works in San Francisco.

“In the spirit of the Slow Food Movement, that believes that each place has a rich, local food culture that is harmonious with the environment, it is my wish to explore the food culture of Poland, and in particular Warsaw and to allow it to influence my own cuisine. My residency will be an exploration of the local food scene in Warsaw. Finding farmer's markets, tasting the local produce, connecting with farmers and foragers, and meeting and learning from cooks in their kitchens. From these encounters, I will draw inspiration to prepare a series of meals that focus on communal cooking and consciousness of the principles of local, seasonal cuisine with awarness of the farners that grow our food and the earth that sustains us. I’d like to fullfill my dream of a big long table under the trees and building and using simple outdoor kitchen. The summer will culminate in one, truly local meal, in which I will strive to prepare a meal using only locally (within 100km of Warsaw) grown, raised, or foraged foods. From homemade bread using wild yeasts, to local eggs, to wild mushrooms and honey from local hives. As it always is, my kitchen will be open to, and dependent on anyone wanting to tie on an apron and put their hands to work. They will be rewarded by with the fruits of their labor! It is my hope that my cuisine will be profoundly affected my this experience. I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel to many places. Each place, with it's local flavors, has made it's mark on my way of cooking. I look forward to cooking and breaking bread in Warsaw and with the CCA community. All of these connections will be the backbone of the project. Without them, the table will be empty!”

 

  • Residency curator
    • Marianna Dobkowska
This residency was possible thanks to support of the City of Warsaw.