TABLE TALK: THE ARTISAN’S EDITION
Ceramics, baking, the art of the table
October 21st – 24th 2024
When the seasons change, we naturally feel the need to hibernate. To warm ourselves by the fire, settle inside, and seek comfort in delicious bakes that warm the soul. In this weekend retreat, we will be using our hands with a dough-baking masterclass and learning how to craft ceramics that we can use in the kitchen and on the table. All of this will be focused around the hearth of the house – the wood-fire oven. In a more ancient tradition, this retreat will look at a more old-school approach to cooking and crafting, a short break from the madness of modern time convenience.
We will welcome Josh Shuffman, a New York transplant in Florence who has spent most of his career in some of the best bakeries in the Big Apple and now lives and breathes typical Italian delicacies. In tandem, we have our creative friends from Korkodilos studio in Athens, who will teach us the basics of ceramic making, such as how to glaze, paint, mould, morph, and fire our own kitchen trinkets.
Together, we will learn the art of bringing people together around the dining table, the intention and thoughtfulness that goes into every detail of hosting. We will take a look at how food and decor work beautifully in sync and how the unspoken elements of the table can sometimes speak the loudest and transform a simple evening into a special space. Really, it’s about the art of the table – eliciting flavours, emotions, colours – and how we can set the scene to shine a light on our traditions and the final seasonal days on our beloved Andros.
This retreat is open to everyone, regardless of your level of expertise, and will provide a comprehensive and creative approach to your artistic and baking journey.
Here’s some more practical information about the retreat:
WHERE:
Mèlisses, Andros, Greece.
WHEN:
October 21st – 24th 2024
Check-in: From 11 AM (we will be serving all participants brunch and plan on having a few afternoon activities)
Check-out: By 11 AM (if you would like, you can extend your stay before the retreat – see below in the pricing section for more information)
YOUR HOSTS:
Alexandros Ntouras – lives in Athens and is the creator of the ceramic studio Korkodilos and hospitality retreat Laspi outside the city. During his studies at the Athens School of Fine Arts, he spent many hours in the Athens Antiquities Department of the Ministry of Culture. He quietly and quickly fell in love with ceramic creations of all types and the history process from sculpting to glazing and firing. From this fascination, he went on to learn everything there is to know about the craft and art of becoming a potter; he even held many shows in some of Athens’ most reputable, stylish and interesting spaces – including the Allouche Benias gallery and the Dexamenes Design Hotel. It made sense to launch his own brand where he could bring in a curious community of artists and adventurous creatives to learn, try their hand and shop from his bold, bright and dynamic pieces.
Josh Shuffman – was born in New York City and successfully made a name for himself in the baking world (he graduated from Culinary School in Baltimore) in the city. Working day and night and quickly trading the more hectic life as a chef in a kitchen for the more stable life of a bread baker, he fine-tuned his craft at New York's most notable bakeries – Amy's Bread and Tomcat Bakery; he also dived into the pizza world at Sullivan Bakery's Co.Pizzeria. In 2016, he decided to move to Italy. He teamed up with Fabio Picchi, the Chef of the famed Cibreo Restaurant, to create Firenze's first organic supermarket and artisan bread bakery, C. Bio. Here, he created the bread program for both Cibreo Restaurant and Ditta Artigianale, Firenze's hot new chain of high-end coffee bars. Josh also teaches a History of Bread in Theory and Practise course at the Instituto Lorenzo de Medici.
Allegra Pomilio – Mèlisses’ founder and art director. Her knowledge of hospitality and gastronomy, combined with her photography and visual art skills, strikes the perfect balance on Andros. Born and raised in Abruzzo, Italy, Allegra opened Mèlisses at 24, creating a space for like-minded souls to slow down, embrace the Mediterranean lifestyle, and seek visual inspiration. Featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Condé Nast Traveller and more, her second home became more than a simple hospitality venue but rather a cherished and sought-after creative retreat for travellers, creatives, epicures and many more worldwide. Every year, with her team, she hosts curated gatherings focused on discovering the island's wonders, each time with a different perspective and with fresh eyes.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
Four days and three nights accommodation at Mèlisses;
All meals during the workshop, including all dinners, lunches, breakfasts, aperitivos/snacks, drinks and refreshments
An introduction to sourdough class, as well as baking lessons in making Greek tsoureki brioche, milopita and a traditional sharing size kolouri (Greek flaky sesame dough) hosted by Josh at Mèlisses
Ceramic masterclass – including how to mould clay, painting and glazing your own tart tray to bring home and work together in creating an eccentric and bold collaborative centrepiece – by Korkodilos
Step-by-step workshop in setting the table (for a dinner party, themed event, special celebration, for example) – from how to choose linens, flatware, glassware and more – with Allegra Pomilio
A beautiful hike in a secret location on the island;
Mèlisses full use of all its facilities;
All transfers on the island to and from the house.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:
Airfare and/or transportation to and from the island. Travel insurance (highly recommended).
ACCOMMODATION:
Mèlisses is a home away from home for the curious mind on the wild isle of Andros. Here, we aim to honour and embrace the local land. Located near the beautiful bay of Paleopoli where, underwater, you can still see ruins of the old city; it was once the main port of Andros. Your wake-up is with wide views of the extraordinary uninhabited island of Ghiaros, considered legendary and protected for its marine wildlife.
Isolated and remote, Mèlisses strongly embraces and celebrates the mindset and flair of the Mediterranean: slow living, taking in the seasons and bringing together a community of like-minded souls. This allows for a peaceful pace in each of our four accommodations. Inside, smart interior design is crafted with a mixture of Hellenic antique furniture and a hint of Italian extravagance, a careful blending of founder Allegra’s heritage in Abruzzo and her new home in Greece. Our outdoor spaces are designed for conviviality and breathtaking sea views, best experienced with one of our breakfast feasts – our favourite, local tsoureki bread, french toast and figs from the tree. Not to forget our secret hidden swim spot, the perfect place to dive into bright blue waters and cool down on hot stones and the Aegean breeze.
This is Mèlisses.
HOW TO REACH US:
For this specific retreat, we encourage our participants to book the following ferry boat from Rafina port to Andros on the 21st of October.
Superferry boat 7.50 am Rafina / Andros (1h 55 duration). It will be available to reserve here, from May onwards.
Please consult our Mèlisses guidelines and FAQs here for all details and extra information. We will be sure to share further information about your stay prior to your arrival including our curated guide to Athens. Do also take note you will not need to rent a car for your trip, we will take care of the transportation for you.
PRICING & ROOMS:
We have six unique rooms available for our guests. Whether you travel solo or wish to share accommodation with friends or partners. Please review the rooms ahead of time, as you will be required to select your desired room when reserving a spot in the workshop.
Prices below are per person and include accommodation, workshop, meals and activities. Reservations are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Equally, if you would like to extend your stay beyond the retreat, you can add a night prior to the 21st of October
The Sea Urchin suite (private room, ensuite bathroom) BOOKED
Solo: €2,400
Shared with partner or friend: €1,950 per person
You can extend your stay (for the night of the 20th) for an additional €250 per night. The cost is to be considered per person.
The Red Mullet suite (private room, ensuite bathroom) BOOKED
Solo: €2,400
Shared with partner or friend: €1,950 per person
You can extend your stay (for the night of the 20th) for an additional €250 per night. The cost is to be considered per person.
The Coral Cottage BOOKED
Master Bedroom (private room, shared common areas)
Solo: €2,200
Shared with partner or friend: €1,850 per personYou can extend your stay (for the night of the 20th) for an additional €350 per night. The cost is to be considered per person.
Bunk bed** (private room, shared common areas)
Solo: €1,800
Shared with friend or other participant: €1,450 per personYou can extend your stay (for the night of the 20th) for an additional €250 per night. The cost is to be considered per person.
**Please note: Bunk Beds can be reserved individually (Top and Bottom). If you choose to book a single bunk bed, you will be responsible for paying the Solo price if no one else books the other bed. If you have any questions about this, please contact us at info@melissesandros.com
The Oyster rooms (two independent rooms with one shared bathroom)
Room One:
Solo: €2,000
Shared with partner or friend: €1,650 per personRoom Two:
Solo: €2,000
Shared with partner or friend: €1,650 per person
You can extend your stay (for the night of the 20th) for an additional €250 per night. The cost is to be considered per person.
*If you would like to extend your trip beyond the retreat, we can help organise your few extra days with us. We can arrange transfers, visits to the Neoclassical capital of Chora, organic farms, beautiful beaches and some of our favourite taverns. We do need to specify that this is an extra fee as part of your extended stay and not part of the retreat. We only include breakfast as categorised by our B&B offering.
CANCELLATION POLICY AND PAYMENT:
To participate, full payment will be required upon registration, paid through a bank wire transfer.
Please know that there will be NO REFUNDS due to the nature of this retreat. If you must cancel, we can accept someone to take your place. You must have your travel insurance to participate. Please contact us for any additional information.
*The retreat will be cancelled if we do not reach the minimum number of participants. If this is the case, you will be given at least two months' notice before the scheduled start day of the workshop, and your retreat deposit will be refunded 100%. Refunds will be through international bank wire transfers only, and we won’t be able to refund any travel arrangements made.
The itinerary is a guide, and we reserve the right to make changes in case of bad weather or unforeseen circumstances for which we may need to alter the order of our outings or replace them with something equally wonderful.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
You must agree to our Terms and Conditions to attend this retreat.
