Culinary studio • Community space
Atelier Code Noir
An interactive learning experience delving into the history of Caribbean cuisine
Atelier Code Noir is a culinary studio and community space ….
The studio is 140m2 space based in the iconic Central Markt Hall Amsterdam, built in the 1930s. Converted into a fully functioning industrial-styled kitchen with scandinavian hints, it has dedicated areas that allow for lifestyle shooting or just comfortable ambiance while working with models or laptop setups. Having a large stock of food and product related props makes it easy to improvise and let creativity flow. The space upstairs is empty and can be adapted to host many creative practices including the possibility of using it as an exhibition space or artist studio.
Dinners
— An immersive dining experience —
The narrative of the cuisine is intrinsically woven into all the details of the evening. The whole event is carefully curated to explain the history of the cuisine, with careful consideration and intention poured into the food itself, crockery, cutlery, drink pairings, music, performances, tablescapes, lighting – an all-encompassing interactive experience.
Workshops
— Connecting cultures and people —
Led by chef Lelani Lewis, the audience is guided through the gastronomical history of the Caribbean, discovering how international trade created the cross-pollination of flavours that exist on our plates today.
Talks
— Food for Thought —
Lelani Lewis is available to do engaging talks on the following subjects: colonialism in food, food and identity, global trade and the consequences on the food industry. She has delivered talks for Royal Conservatory in The Hague (Koninklijk Conservatorium), Bloei & Groei, Mediamatic and more.
— STORY —
Code Noir derives its name from the 17th Century manuscript defining the conditions of enslaved people in the French Colonies of the New World. It is an immersive food experience that shows its guests how the worldwide exchange of goods has influenced current-day dishes – for the better or worse.
The main focus of Code Noir is to illustrate how the impact of the slave trade, exploitation, migration, globalisation and its profound human injustice shaped contemporary culinary culture as we know it. These phenomena created new social constructs within the Caribbean, creating the conditions for cultural innovation. Because of the heavy resource limitations that communities in the Caribbean endured, the powerful story of these people is evident in the food that they celebrate.
Code Noir reflects on this in workshops, public dinners and lectures, where we highlight ingredients significant to specific periods within Caribbean history, using them to craft every course. Creating a narrative of the event that colourfully represents the different periods in this region through food, performance and interaction.