Si tu ne viens pas à La Gascogne, La Gascogne ira à toi! / “If you don’t come to Gascony, Gascony will come to you!” Paraphrased from one of my all time favorite swashbuckling  movies- Le Bossu, it does indeed serve as our cry to arms to bring a bit of Gascon country magic to two city venues- Paris and London for a weekend edition of our favorite Natural Light Natural Food photography workshop. Cook, Shoot &  Eat Gascony!

Cook:  Kate Hill brings a suitcase loaded with the best of Gascony: quatre epice and rose garlic de Lautrec as shot above, saucisson and othercharcuterie from the Chapolards,  foie gras and duck confit from Mme. Jehanne, wheels of cheese from the Pyrenees, les Pruneaux d’Agen, Armagnac, and Tarbais beans. Kate helps you recreate some of France’s most famous regional food from cassoulet to clafoutis, foie gras to terrines.

Shoot: Tim Clinch, famed lifestyle and food professional photographer, teaches you to hone your digital skills using only natural light and reflectors. Tim’s work liek these shots here and sprinkled liberally all over this site also graces the covers of magazines from Country Living to Forbes to House & Garden. Featured on international, magazine, food & design blogs and websites,  Tim’s knowledge of Gascony extends from the plate onto the page where he instructs workshops participants in the delicate art of Natural Light Shooting as well as working with Lightroom to process your new photographs into fabulous finished shots.

Eat: following the workshops we create the bistro vibe of a small French café as we gather around the tables to sample and share our Gascon dishes. The fete continues as we toast the fine products and cooking that create a new sampler of a Gascon portfolio for all to share. two wonderful lunches, one festive dinner!

Costs: Each 2 day workshop includes: 15 hours instruction w/ 2 teachers, 2 lunches & one dinner, all food costs, edible materials and props. Each participant must bring their own digital camera (optional computer). Two days in a top secret venue featuring fabulous food and creative energy costs in Paris: 300€ per day per person; in London: 300£ per day per person. For a closer look at our workshops:  http://www.naturallightnaturalfood.com/index.htm

Dates:  London: May 21 & 22, June 11 & 12. Paris: July 2 & 3. 2011

All photographs by Tim Clinch , food by Kate Hill at the Kitchen-at-Camont.