Meni Valle
Born to Greek parents, Meni grew up surrounded by tradition and a love of food. Meni’s love of travel, a rich Greek heritage and great skill in the kitchen has seen the Melbourne-based cook become one of Australia’s most-respected authorities on Mediterranean cuisine.
Meni has 6 cookbooks to date, including the award-winning IKARIA which was awarded the Eugeine Brazier prize for the transmission of women’s culinary heritage, a French prize created for cooking books written by women.
She lives with her family in Melbourne.
Tessa Kiros
½ Finnish, ½ Greek Cypriot – born in London and grew up in South Africa – Tessa’s love of travel, different cultures, anthropology, cooking and writing have inspired her work.
Tessa has 11 books published to date, including the award winning ‘Falling Cloudberries’. Her latest book ‘Now & Then’ is a collection of recipes from her travels – a collage of past and present journeys and inspirations. Tessa continues to collect recipes and stories, and lives between Tuscany and Greece with her family.
Lean Timms
Lean Timms is an Australian travel and lifestyle photographer working across editorial, commercial and publishing fields.
Forever exploring and full of curiosity for this world, Lean’s greatest love is to discover and document inspiring places and stories. Lean’s approach to photography is driven by natural light, in situ spontaneity, storytelling, sharing and capturing a genuine sense of place.
Lean is currently based on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country, Canberra Australia.
Stephanie Stamatis
Stephanie Stamatis is an Australian based Art Director exploring the intersection of food and still life photography.
Drawing inspiration from nostalgia, Stephanie lends her signature aesthetic and love of object and food to editorial and commercial clients - unfurling the medium to a reverence of the daily, poetic and surreal.
Retreat inclusions:
Return transfers to and from Ikaria airport
Accommodation
Welcome drinks and meze on arrival
Daily breakfast
Lunches and dinners
Transfers to excursions on the island
Cooking and photography workshops
Presenters available during the entire retreat
Ikarian knowledge about longevity and the blue zones
Additional highlights:
Taking part in the local panayiri (festival) - get ready for some dancing!
Winery tour and tastings
Retreat exclusions:
International flights to and from Ikaria, Greece
Travel insurance
Itinerary
Day 1 – Sunday 19th May, 2024
Arrival 2pm (transfer from airport to accommodation)
Welcome drinks and meze
Settle into rooms
Photography Workshop with Lean
Lean Timms will lead a food and travel photography class focused on transportive storytelling, guiding and empowering you with the tools to build your very personal framework so you can tell your own stories through your own unique lens.
Aperitif and shared long table welcome dinner in Armenistis
Day 2 – Monday 20th May
Swim or walk (optional)
Breakfast
Workshop with Stephanie
Stephanie Stamatis will share 10 years of food styling experience in which she has crafted her own personal and iconic style. Learn to craft a set of images from beginning to end, hone your story telling through photography and create magic moments with food.We will visit the quaint village of Christos Raches, where we will have a souvlaki lunch, time for a frappe, visit the womens co-op and a wander.
After lunch we will visit the local beekeeper, taste and learn about the health benefits of Ikarian honey as well as the delicious herbal teas that hold some of the secrets to longevity.
In the afternoon, we will visit Afianes winery and learn about the natural winemaking with local indigenous grape varieties. Here we will sample some wines accompanied by a meze platter.
Dinner in Nas
Day 3 – Tuesday 21st May
Swim or walk (optional)
Breakfast
Cooking workshop with Meni
Meni Valle will lead a cooking workshop together with Diane Kochilas (Greek American cookbook author and celebrity chef). Learn about the Greek Mediterranean diet, and the recipes and stories that inspired Meni to document traditional recipes and write cookbooks.Visit the picturesque port of Evdilos where we will stop for a coffee. We will walk through the gorgeous laneways, discovering hidden gems and capturing special moments and places on camera.
Return for a rest in the afternoon before a night at the panayiri in Avlaki.
Day 4 – Wednesday 22nd May
Swim or walk (optional)
Breakfast
Cooking workshop with Tessa
Tessa Kiros will cook some of her favourite dishes and share the process of writing a cookbook from the initial idea, to researching, to the final product. We will be styling and photographing with Stephanie and Lean, the beautiful food Tessa cooks as well as enjoying tastings. There will be time over the five days to chat and share ideas with Tessa as we enjoy our time in Ikaria.Casual alfresco lunch - we will enjoy the food Tessa has cooked with a glass of wine.
Come together with Lean and Stephanie and create a set of images putting all into practice, shooting and styling with one-on-one advice.
Farewell dinner in Agios Dimitris
Day 5 – Thursday 23rd May
Breakfast
Question time. Ask whatever comes to mind; food and the blue zones; photography; social media; styling; business; researching recipes; writing a cookbook and where to start.
Casual picnic style lunch
Farewells and goodbyes
Shuttle to airport 2pm
Cost
$3995 AUD for 5 days and 4 nights, twin share ($995 deposit required upon booking, remaining payment due on or before April 4, 2024)
Single supplement + $200 AUD
Includes all meals, drinks with meals, bus transfers, activities, excursions and accommodation.
A signed booking form is required, together with payment of a $995 deposit, to confirm your booking. The booking form together with terms and conditions can be found here and returned via email to meni@menivalle.com.au.