EASTER AT LA NOYERE
by Vivian Holding
Carrots were the stars of the show at the Easter decoration workshop I attended at La Noyere (see our other article on culinary and deco courses). We not only learned how to prep and cook a delicious menu, but also to create a stunning centerpiece for any Easter table, using radishes and carrots!
Carrots galore
Carrots featured prominently on Anne-Catherine’s beautifully decorated dining table, where lunch was served after our morning cookery class with Anne-Laure. The two ladies run their popular courses in the gorgeous 17th century ‘Maison de Maître’, situated in Mont-sur-Rolle, a small village set in the surrounding vineyards of La Côte (between Geneva and Lausanne).
Two huge glass vases filled with suspended carrots, topped with a dome of fresh spring flowers brought a colourful, playful and rather quirky beauty to the table decorations, alongside mason jars filled with carrots and ranunculus in eggshells.
When we recreated the same glass vase decoration after lunchtime, I was astounded by the number of flowers that were used for the flower dome that sits above the vase suspended with carrots (Anne-Catherine never skimps on both the quality and quantity of the flowers she uses on her courses). The effect was absolutely stunning.
Recreating the same effect on a budget
Recreating this sort of table decoration at home on a much tighter budget would be relatively easy, using budget priced carrots placed in empty jam jars or kilner jars if you have them. Then create a main centrepiece using a selection of spring flowers (anemones, ranunculus, tulips, grape hyacinths) in Anne-Catherine’s spot on colour combination of zingy orange, baby pink, vibrant green and a touch of deep purple.
Carefully cracked white eggs filled with a single ranunculus flower head (the eggs can be used in a recipe later) work perfectly as decoration for your dinner plates and long strands of ivy work perfectly to bring all the table decoration elements together. If you are lucky enough to be able to source these from your garden or whilst on a woodland walk then all the better pricewise.
If you would like to take part in one of La Noyere’s future workshops, check out their website to sign up. Courses are run in French, but private courses can also be arranged in English if necessary. Contact Anne-Catherine via email at www.hello@lanoyere.ch.