It is an object that is both a cookbook and an art book. The Franco-Lebanese chef Joumana Jacob, at the head of Joumana Houseand the visual artist Virginie Clavereau imagined a poetic work, at the crossroads of their respective universes. Long-time friends, the two women brought together their creations to illustrate the mythical story of Persephone, goddess of vegetation, agriculture, cereals, and symbol of Spring. Aptly named “Perséphone, a story to enjoy”, this little book is published by Ofr.
Inspired by this ancient myth and the many symbols that accompany it, Joumana Jacob presents a true culinary story and distills, for example, here a recipe for labné, milk being a symbol of abundance, young childhood and purity, like of Persephone at the beginning of the story. But also that of a carpaccio of persimmons, sometimes called “fruit of Charon”, while Charon is, in Greek mythology, the ferryman who takes the dead to the underworld and therefore echoes the desire of Hades to ravish Persephone from the world of the living. At the same time, powerfully charged works by Virginie Clavereau are presented – prints and ceramics – in which everyone can read an interpretation of the myth. A very inspiring artistic dialogue.
Joumana Jacob, founder of Maison Joumana
