SOFFA 12 / PLEASURES, English edition

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people

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VOLUME | 12

life

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SOFFA: JOY FROM THE HEART OF EUROPE Discover the best and most beautiful from the Czech Republic and Central Europe: exquisite design, inspirational stories, unknown interiors and amazing, hidden locations well worth visiting.

SOFFA

design

food

people

travel

life

ISSUE THEME: PLEASURES Issue 12 is devoted to ENJOYMENT: we’ll show you how to enjoy all the pleasures that each day has in store for you, both big and small.

Smile! Laughter is good for you.

FOLLOW US www.facebook.com/soffamag instagram.com/soffa_mag twitter.com/soffa_mag www.pinterest.com/soffamag www.soffamag.com/youtube © SOFFA, s.r.o. 2015 I All rights reserved www.soffamag.com I info@soffamag.com Cover photo: Adéla Havelková 1

CONTENTS - VOLUME | 12

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01 | SMILE GALLERY A Smile Says It All

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03 | SOFFA & PARTNERS Works by Amateur Designers

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04 | GLIMMERING JOY Jewellery vs Works of Art

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EDITORIAL

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06 | LIVING The Flat of a Canadian Artist 2

A Room with a Story

02 | THE FISH HARVEST How to Make a Pond Boil

05 | EDITORS’ CHOICE Big Little Pleasures

07 | TRENDS Festive Table Setting

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08 | SOFFA & PARTNERS For Children, For Fun

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09 | LANDSCAPES A Trip Up North

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11 | GUILTY PLEASURES Everyone Has Their Very Own

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12 | ON A VISIT Eska – The Magic of Simplicity

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Bara Karpíšková’s Crumble

14 | DIY PROJECTS Cards for Fun

10 | CHRISTMAS STORY The Frog and The Nymph

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13 | RECIPES Improved Linzer Cookies

15 | CREATIVE PEOPLE Christmas as a Way of Life 3

ORDER AND ENJOY!

PRINTED SOFFA Dedicated to Pleasures

11 €

SOFFA 12 IS PRINTED! DO YOU LIKE THE ONLINE VERSION OF SOFFA? NOW, YOU CAN HAVE THE VOLUME IN PAPER AS WELL. BUY IT IN OUR NEW SHOP BY SOFFA: SHOP.SOFFAMAG.COM Print: Pages: Size: Origin: Language: Edition:

offset-printed and perfect bound, full colour on high-quality 140 gsm paper 160 A4 Prague, Czech Republic English 1000 copies

shop.soffamag.com

S M I L E! text: Adéla Kudrnová I styling: SOFFA I photo: Adéla Havelková

We realised how little people enjoy all the everyday joys of life, big and small, but smiling and laughing is so good for you! What’s more, the main reason why we publish SOFFA for you, and why it is the way it is, is to give you – our readers – some enjoyment and pleasure. We therefore hope that in this issue, which is devoted to pleasure of all kinds, you’ll again find articles that will elicit a smile on your face.

Maybe you don’t realise it, but over the two years of SOFFA’s existence it is you, through your support, who have given us so much joy and happiness, and that is what gives us the “kick” we need whenever we’re so exhausted we feel we can’t go on. And believe us, working on a magazine is no walk in the park. ►

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One example is the story of one of our readers, Jáchym, who began to take an interest in interior design thanks to SOFFA. He made us so happy that we included his stylish, self-furnished room in this issue. Of course, you will find numerous other articles: a photo series on smiles; a report from our workshop in a children’s home; Christmas goodies; a report on people for whom Christmas is a profession; a picture gallery of jewellery; and an exposé on the “guilty pleasures” of the editorial staff.

And if that’s not enough joy, we have included a gift for you in our twelfth – the Christmas – issue of SOFFA: Moholo wrapping paper designed by Calico for SOFFA on Sirio VINO paper from Fedrigoni. Many thanks to both of them!

The whole SOFFA team wishes you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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OUR GIFT TO YOU

MOHOLO WRAPPING PAPER designed and printed by CALICO for SOFFA unique luxurious wrapping paper 90 x 65 cm hand-made silkscreen print on Fedrigoni Sirio VINO paper Thank you, Calico and Fedrigoni!

YOU CAN ORDER IT FROM: SHOP.SOFFAMAG.COM

P HOTOSYNTH ESI S / 2016 U n i qu e f l o ral sti ll- li fe c a lend a r b y SO F FA & FLOWER DE LI

12 MO N TH S O F TH E Y E A R – 1 2 F LO R A L ST I L L-L I F E PHOTO G R AP H S O N A 2-SI Z E PA P E R – 1 2 D R AW I N G S – 12 P O E MS. ALL TH ESE A P P E A R I N T H E T I M E-L A P SE C ALE N DAR , W H I C H WA S C R E AT E D OV E R A O N E-Y E A R P E R I O D. NOW ON SHOP.SOFFAMAG.COM

December Rains Bring January Snows.

Although each year we dream of a white Christmas like those depicted in the paintings by Josef Lada or described in old Christmas songs, weather lore shows that a rainy December was not uncommon in the times of our forefathers. If the last month of the year happened to be wet, it was likely that snow would quickly follow suit in the new year. And if not?

Folk wisdom says: a white Christmas brings a plentiful harvest.

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S M I L E G A L L ERY Laughter in one family

A SM ILE S AY S I T A L L text: Helena Stiessová | styling: SOFFA | photo: Adéla Havelková

HAVE YOU SMILED TODAY? WE HOPE YOU HAVE, AND IF YOU HAVEN’T, WE HOPE THIS NEW ISSUE OF SOFFA WILL PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE. SMILING IS VITALLY IMPORTANT. WE SMILE AT OUR CHILDREN SO THEY KNOW WE LOVE THEM AND THAT LIFE IS WORTH IT, JUST LIKE OUR PARENTS SMILED AT US WHEN WE WERE YOUNG. SMILING IS LANGUAGE WITHOUT WORDS. IT IS BOTH MYSTERIOUS AND EXPRESSIVE. A SMILE MEANS UNDERSTANDING, SUPPORT, HAPPINESS AND LOVE. A SMILE GIVES A PERSON COURAGE OR HOPE WHEN EVERYTHING IS GOING WRONG. The human face is made to smile. Your face blooms and comes to life.

Your cheeks plump up, the corners of your mouth widen and your eyes brighten. Laughter is even more transformational. Some grin from ear to ear; others smile ever so slightly, like that mysterious woman with the most famous smile in the world. If we smile at each other, we feel better almost immediately. A smile is a miraculous power in our control that we can use to do amazing things. And we don’t have to be stingy with it – it will never wear out, nor will it ever diminish. We smile at our loved ones, at a cat that has come to cuddle, at a book that we are reading or at our mobile phones when we receive a sweet message.

We smile sneakily when we remember being naughty in sixth grade; we smile when having a beer with friends. Think about something nice that’s waiting for you in the near future. Are you smiling already? We smile when we look into the lens of a camera, because this is how we want to be remembered, by ourselves and by others. We have managed to capture the beautiful, infectious smiles of a whole family, from their wonderful grandmother Miluška to the youngest member, Toníček. Five generations! You can create a family mini-album of smiles, too! ■

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TONÍK | 6 MONTHS OLD Little Toníček is just six months old, but can already smile like a charmer. For now he is enchanting his aunts and the shop assistant from his pram with his dimples. One day he will be sweeping the ladies off their feet.

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JAROMÍR | 6 YEARS OLD Jaromír is Toníček’s cousin. He is six: already a big boy who likes to smile a lot. When he recounted his cousin’s various antics, he began laughing so hard that the camera couldn’t focus on him.

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MAGDALÉNA | 29 YEARS OLD Magdaléna has fire in her eyes. Her smile brightens up her face.

This is just the tool to fight the darkness that oppresses us near the year’s end. Try smiling in front of the mirror. There’s something electric, don’t you think?

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LENKA | 62 YEARS OLD Laugh lines are a beautiful testament to the fact that Lenka does not neglect her smile. Her eyes crinkle up and the cheerful “fans” spread out. Such a smile warms the heart.

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MILUŠKA | 88 YEARS OLD Miluška is adorned with an ageless elegance. Her grandchildren, Toníček and Jaromír, are her greatest joy. She has the discreet smile of a true lady, but her eyes give away her playful nature.

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Lucy Light, Lucy Light, Shortest Day and Longest Night Christmas is a celebration of the winter solstice. The ever longer nights were made less daunting by the prospect that the sun would soon be making a comeback. So why is there a proverb that says that 13 December (the Feast of St Lucy) is the beginning of the end of the reign of darkness? The solstice used to fall on this day, but only according to the less accurate Julian calendar. When the switch was made to the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century, 10 days needed to be cut. The proverb, however, has remained to this day.

CREATIVE EVENINGS

SOFFA & FRIENDS WE TAKE GREAT PLEASURE IN PRESENTING TO YOU OUR NEW PROJECT – CREATIVE EVENINGS WITH SOFFA & FRIENDS! WE WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS TO BRING YOU CREATIVE WORKSHOPS AND WONDERFUL DINNERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE! A current overview of our workshops can be found on www.soffamag.com.

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T H E F I S H H A RV ES T A traditional autumn event

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HOW TO M A K E A PO N D B O I L text: Helena Stiessová | styling: SOFFA | photo: Lina Németh

SOUTH BOHEMIA HAS A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL ATTRIBUTES. ONE OF THEM IS ITS SILVER WEALTH. THE LOVELY COUNTRYSIDE AROUND THE TOWNS OF PÍSEK AND ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE IS KNOWN AS THE LAND OF PONDS. THE WATER GIVES THE LOCAL SCENERY SERENITY, AND REFLECTS THE CLOUDS FLOATING SLOWLY ACROSS THE SKY. EACH AUTUMN, HOWEVER, THE PEACEFUL SURFACE OF THE PONDS BEGINS TO BOIL. THE TIME OF THE FISH HARVEST HAS BEGUN AND SCHOOLS OF INVISIBLE FISH RISE TO THE SURFACE, FORCED OUT OF THEIR HIDING PLACES BY THE FISHING NETS. IT IS ARDUOUS WORK FOR THE FISHERMEN IN THE COLD WATER, BUT FOR SPECTATORS IT IS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE. COME CATCH SOME FISH WITH US! It is early morning. The sun is still dilly-dallying behind the horizon and the Pančál pond is embroidered with the outlines of the trees. We are in the village of Radobytce u Mirotic. Today is a big day, but the local carp still don’t know that, although they may find it strange that the pond is suddenly feeling a bit cramped. The water bailiff is the one to blame for this: he is slowly draining the pond. Preparations are being made for the harvest. The fishermen are already dressed in green rubber waders and fishing hats, and the nets are drawn. The dawn is breaking and the first haul begins.

A fish harvest has its rules. These are explained by Adam, our guide.

He works as the water bailiff for the company Blatenská Ryba, which manages 120 ponds, including Pančál. It is therefore not surprising that the autumn fish harvest lasts a fortnight and the fishermen go all out during this time. Some are on their boats helping with poles; others are ►

DO YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE MAGICAL ATMOSPHERE OF A FISH HARVEST? THE HARVEST IS A UNIQUE SOCIAL EVENT. LOOK UP SOME FISH RECIPES IN ADVANCE, AS OFTEN THE FISH ARE SOLD ON THE SPOT. YOU CAN TAKE AWAY A FRESH CATCH OR ENJOY THE FISH GRILLED RIGHT THERE AT THE POND. Shoes by Sorel, www.sorel.com, avalaible at Baťa, Václavské náměstí

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standing waist-deep in in the water. After the first haul, the level falls even further and the fishermen grab those fish that buried themselves in the mud to hide from the nets. The caught fish have to be sorted.

There are big, small, thin and fat ones, zanders, pike, perch and eels, but mostly carp – the main reason for the harvest. A trip to the store ponds now awaits this hardy fish, where it will remain for the next few weeks: Christmas is coming, and carp is a big part of Czech Christmas.

Fish was originally a fasting-day food and has had a place at the Czech dining table since the Middle Ages. That is when the ponds that we delight in today were established. The biggest boom in the fishing industry was during the reign of Emperor Charles IV. Over the centuries, carp became a Christmas speciality, even though today children often turn their noses up at it. It is an excellent fish and it’s not really fair that it plays second fiddle to its pink, dashing cousin, the wild salmon. If you haven’t tried it before, give carp a chance. ■ THE WATER BAILIFF’S YEAR The water bailiff’s profession is a full-time one. From September to November, he is rarely out of the water. Often it is necessary to manage a number of fish harvests in one day. The draining of a pond, which precedes a harvest, has to be done at the right speed depending on the size of the pond. The biggest ponds take a number of days to drain, so that the fish can get to the fish-collecting pool and not get stuck in the shallows. In December it is time to head off with the fish to the market, where they are sold from vats to customers in the crisp Christmas air. A waiter bailiff spends January and February visiting the ponds, cutting holes in the ice to make sure the fish get enough oxygen. Smaller harvests take place in March to obtain fry for the hatcheries. The water bailiff develops a management plan for the whole year. May is the time when the ponds are stocked with young fish. The fish then have to be fed the whole summer, which is also when people can take out their rods and go fishing. Sometimes it is the most worrisome time, as was the case this year. The extreme drought caused the water in the ponds to fall to unusually low levels, and the consequences of this will add more than a few furrows to the fishermen’s foreheads for years to come.

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THIS YEAR’S HAUL WAS GREATLY AFFECTED BY A HOT SUMMER AND DROUGHT THE LIKES OF WHICH THE FISHERMEN HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE. THE FISH DID NOT HAVE IT EASY IN THE TEPID WATER, BUT THANKS TO THE FISHERMEN, WE WON’T HAVE TO GO WITHOUT OUR CHRISTMAS CARP THIS YEAR.

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Green Christmas, White Easter.

Seeking a relationship between significant days and weather or harvest was also about passing on experience to the next generation and helping them better prepare for the coming seasons. Although we may be a bit sceptical of a lot of weather lore, it is a testament to how people tried to find a hidden order in what looked like chaos around them.

By the way, the reverse also applies: white Christmas, green Easter.

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SO F FA & PA R T N ER S IKEA & SOFFA creative studios

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GREAT WORKS BY AMATEUR DESIGNERS Article partner: IKEA | text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: Lenka Hlaváčová photo: Lina Németh

AT THIS YEAR’S DESIGNBLOK, A SERIES OF IKEA & SOFFA CREATIVE STUDIOS TOOK PLACE OVER FIVE EVENINGS. THROUGH THESE WE TRIED TO SHOW THAT TRULY ANYONE COULD BE A DESIGNER. DURING THE WORKSHOPS, A GREAT NUMBER OF PRODUCTS WERE CREATED UNDER OUR TUTELAGE, MANY OF WHICH COULD EASILY COMPETE WITH THE WORK OF PROFESSIONAL DESIGNERS. WE PHOTOGRAPHED THE BEST AS INSPIRATION FOR YOUR DINING TABLE. In our last SOFFA 11 mini issue and on our YouTube channel, you had the chance to see how our IKEA & SOFFA Creative Studios at Designblok looked. In a unique creative atmosphere, truly magnificent works of art came into being, and we hope that they will adorn the workshop participants’ tables for a long time and inspire even you to be courageous and create, because the resulting pieces are proof that design is not only the domain of professionals!

Thanks to our designers, the participants first learned new creative techniques and then, with the designers’ help, produced their own works of art on IKEA products. Vases and glasses were created of which any glass artist would be proud. Simple white porcelain bowls, plates and cups were transformed with paint and brushes into first-class dinner sets that will surely make the food served on them taste all the better.

Engraving was used to transform ordinary breadboards and wooden spoons into unique items that would be wasted if stored in a cupboard or drawer. Through traditional origami and less common techniques, both children and adults created everything required to decorate the dinner table, from folded napkins to cute paper trees. ■

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PREVIOUS PAGE: Wooden breadboard by Iri Novak; wooden spoon with heart

by Jitka Davidová; wooden spoon with polka dots by Iveta Ochránková; paper decorations by Tereza Lukešová ABOVE: Vase with red stripe by Barbora Hrubá; champagne glass by Markéta Petrová; crane by Tereza Lukešová RIGHT: Cup with tree decorations by Lucija Mrzljak; oval bowl with decorations on the bottom by Mariana Tutschová; oval bowl with decorations on the edge by Antonia Tkarabová; bowl with blue decorations by Pavlína Tůmová; oval bowl with skating decorations by Lucija Mrzljak IKEA PRODUCTS: IKEA 365+ oval bowls and cup, VÄRDERA bowl and plate, APTITLIG wooden breadboard, FULLÄNDA and RÖRT wooden spoons, IKEA PS 2014 grey vase, IKEA 365+ carafe, CYLINDER vase, HEDERLIG Champagne glass, FORMLIG vase

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opera PRESENTED AT THE ESTATES THEATRE

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ROSSINI

LA CENERENTOLA PREMIERES: JANUARY 21 & 22, 2016 CONDUCTOR: JAN KUČERA STAGE DIRECTION: ENIKŐ ESZENYI

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GL I M M ER I N G J OY Gallery of distinctive jewellery

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J E W E L L E RY V S WO R K S O F A R T text: Helena Novotná and Adéla Kudrnová | styling: Lenka Hlaváčová photo: Lina Németh | art works: Wiki Commons

WE DON’T NEED THEM, BUT WE DON’T WANT TO LIVE WITHOUT THEM. IN SHORT, LIFE IS MUCH BETTER WITH THEM BECAUSE IT’S ONE BIG DELIGHT. WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? JEWELLERY. THEY COMPLEMENT US. THEY ENHANCE OUR INDIVIDUALITY AND ORIGINALITY. THE PLEASURE IS PURELY AESTHETIC, BUT ONE THAT IS A FEAST FOR THE EYES AND THE SPIRIT! We were impressed by the connection between artwork and jewellery.

Just like art, jewellery is very subjective. Some like playful naïve art, some admire the polished academism of the 19th century, and still others find the timeless minimalism of Japanese painting to be the apex of art.

Even jewellery can be baroque and dramatic, rococo and charming, or sophisticated and austere like the work of a functionalist architect. Just like paintings, contemporary jewellery has a purely aesthetic function.

Its only purpose is to decorate. We look at paintings and wear jewellery for one reason: pleasure. What’s more, jewellery may adorn us, but at the same time it is the wearer’s personality that can underscore the magic of jewellery. In other words, if two people wear the same thing, it is not the same thing! ■

ROBERTO COIN JEWELLERY against the backdrop of the painting Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres: Une Odalisque – a.k.a. La Grande Odalisque (1814) The polished academism of Ingres contrasts beautifully with the opulence of jewellery by Roberto Coin. By the way, all Roberto Coin jewellery has a small ruby on the reverse side: according to an old myth, a ruby touching a woman’s skin brings luck.

Ring from the Cocktail collection, Falcon ring from the Masterpieces collection, earrings from the Shanghai collection, all Roberto Coin | www.robertocoin.com

Set of three Harnais des Présidents bracelets – all Hermès | hermesistible.hermes.com

The sophisticated timelessness of Japanese painting resonates naturally with the massive enamel Harnais des Présidents bracelets, even if what separates them is five centuries. On the Hermèsistible website you will discover other stories wherein jewellery plays the main role.

HERMÈS JEWELLERY against the backdrop of the painting Hasegawa Tohaku: Pine Trees (16th century)

Ring and brooch from the Lonesomenomore collection by Adéla Doušová | www.adeladousova.cz

The playful naïveté of Henri Rousseau’s paintings serves as the ideal backdrop for the minimalist jewellery from the Lonesomenomore collection by Adéla Doušová. The simplicity of the shapes combined with the disproportionality of the painting give the composition wit.

JEWELLERY BY ADÉLA DOUŠOVÁ against the backdrop of the painting Henri Rousseau: Boy on the Rocks (1895/1897)

Earrings, red and grey brooch from the Concrete collection, white brooch from the Ozemichur collection – all Dechberoucí | www.dechberouci.cz

The abstract work from the early 20th century seems to have gained a new dimension with the addition of simple jewellery by Dechberoucí. The right combination of colours is the secret behind this successful pairing.

JEWELLERY BY DECHBEROUCÍ against the backdrop of the painting Kazimir Malevich: Painterly Realism of a Football Player – Colour Masses in the 4th Dimension (1915)

Earrings from the Universe collection, pearl ring from the Universe collection, Amulet necklace from the Universe collection – all Soul Jewellery | souljewellery.cz/obchod/

The pieces from Soul Jewellery make the name proud, breathing soul into every outfit and – in this case – painting.

Whether you like jewellery or are a faithful champion of gold, Soul Jewellery has a lot to choose from.

JEWELLERY BY SOUL JEWELLERY against the backdrop of the painting Michael Waitz: Neue Welt (2008)

Ebony necklace, Markéta Kratochvílová | www.marketakratochvilova.net

Together, the black-and-white sketch from the early 20th century and the massive necklace from the present time create a striking harmony. The combination of technique, style and proportion is inspiring. We therefore recommend keeping to this principle even when choosing jewellery.

JEWELLERY BY MARKÉTA KRATOCHVÍLOVÁ against the backdrop of the drawing Amedeo Modigliani: Caryatide de face, mains derrière la tête (1901)

Wing turquoise gold-plated necklace, Vlaštovka pearl bracelet, Vlaštovka necklace, Peříčko silver necklace, Peříčko gold necklace – all Kat. Jewelry | www.katdot.com

The lovely originality of the jewellery by Kateřina Sochorová, who lovingly designs and makes jewellery under the Kat. Jewelry brand, excels against the backdrop of the pointillist painting by George-Pierre Seurat.

JEWELLERY BY KAT. JEWELRY against the backdrop of the painting Georges-Pierre Seurat: Evening, Honfleur (1886)

Kama ring from the Rudra collection; Wai earrings from the Senso collection; Wai Rudraksha earrings from the Senso collection; Kirtí earrings from the Rudra collection – all Mooyyy | www.mooyyy.cz

Jewellery from the new Czech brand Mooyyy exudes femininity and gentleness – probably because the designers behind this brand are three women: Lucie Koldová, Anna Steinerová and Mirka Talavašková.

JEWELLERY BY MOOYYY against the backdrop of the sketch Samuel Palmer: The Crescent Moon

Lagune II. brooch and pendants from the Crassulaceae collection – all Hanuš Lamr | www.hanuslamr.com

Feminine beauty is eternal, and the portrait of a woman from 1645 in combination with contemporary jewellery by Hanuš Lamr is a testament to this. Nature, the elements, plants and animals – all so typical of the necklaces, trinkets and brooches by Hanuš Lamr – were the inspiration here.

JEWELLERY BY HANUŠ LAMR against the backdrop of the painting AFTER Rembrandt: Young Woman with a Red Necklace (1645)

Adéla Fejtková Blueberries Brokis Daniel Gonzalez Daniel Piršč Dechem Eliška Kuchtová Eva Eisler František Vízner Gravelli Jan Plecháč & Henry Wielgus Janja Prokić Kavalier Kovonax Květinové lahůdkářství Lasvit Lucie Koldová maestrokatastrof Mária Čulenová Markéta Kratochvílová Martina Hudečková Martina Žílová Maxim Velčovský Mi Won Mcghee Milan Pekař mmcité Monika Kořínková Nastassia Aleinikava Olgoj Chorchoj Preciosa Rony Plesl Rozbíjím se Sebastian Kitzberger Tadeáš Podracký Tomáš Bém Věra Nováková Veronika & Viktorie Zorya

Cihelna Concept Store, Cihelna 2b, Prague, CZ

cihelnaprague.com

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E DI TO R S ’ C H O I C E Joy for everyone

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CHR ISTM AS P RES EN T S F RO M S O F FA text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling and photo: SOFFA and companies’ archives

DO YOU LIKE SOFFA? WHY NOT GET SOME CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR YOUR FRIENDS FROM THE SOFFA E-SHOP AT SHOP.SOFFAMAG. COM? WE’RE CERTAIN THAT THE CALENDAR, POSTERS AND OTHER ACCESSORIES WILL BRING JOY TO EVERYONE!

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ROSES 1 JEANNE D'ARC (1818) ALBA | 2 VARIEGATA DI BOLOGNA (BEFORE 1909) BOURBON | 3 FANTIN-LATOUR (UNKNOWN) CENTIFOLIA | 4 ROSE DE MEAUX (BEFORE 1695) CENTIFOLIA 5 MADAME PIERRE OGER (1878) BOURBON | 6 COMMANDANT BEAUREPAIRE (1864) BOURBON | 7 BELLE SANS FLATTERIE (1820) GALLICA | 8 MADAME HARDY (1831) DAMASK 9 WHITE JACQUES CARTIER (UNKNOWN) PORTLAND | 10 PRINCESS OF WALES (UNITED KINGDOM, 1871) HYBRID PERPETUAL | 11 NUITS DE YOUNG (1845) MOSS 12 MADAME PLANTIER (1835) HYBRID NOISETTE | 13 MADAME LEGRAS DE ST. GERMAIN (BEFORE 1848) ALBA | 14 FRAGARIA VESCA | 15 LA VILLE DE BRUXELLES (1837) DAMASK 16 CHARLES DE MILLS (BEFORE 1790) GALLICA | 17 PINK LÉDA (UNKNOWN) DAMASK | 18 GLOIRE DE FRANCE (1828) GALLICA | 19 WEISSE GRUSS AN AACHEN (1942) FLORIBUNDA 20 ROSA ALBA MAXIMA (BEFORE 1550) ALBA | 21 FÉLICITÉ PARMENTIER (BEFORE 1836) ALBA | 22 COUPE D'HÉBÉ (1833) BOURBON | 23 TREASURE TROVE (1977) RAMBLER 24 MARY MANNERS (1970) HYBRID RUGOSA | 25 BLUSH DAMASK (1759) DAMASK | 26 QUEEN OF DENMARK (1816) ALBA | 27 LÉDA (BEFORE 1827) DAMASK 28 SOMBREUIL (1940) CLIMBER | 29 FRAU EVA SCHUBERT (1937) HYBRID WICHURANA | 30 ISPAHAN ( BEFORE 1827) DAMASK ✳ name (year) group

SOFFA

design

food

people

travel

life

photo | Lina Németh

concept & styling | Květinové lahůdkářství photo | Adéla Havelková

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LIVE YOUR WAY!

SOFFA | photo: Lina Németh

FEATHER POSTER | € 10.50; ROSES POSTER | € 10.50; MARMELAADA HANDMADE RASPBERRY JAM | € 9; JUMBO COOKWARE | from € 125; BAMBOO CUTTING BOARD | from € 27; LIVE YOUR WAY POSTER | € 10.50 all www.shop.soffamag.com 52

2016 / CALENDAR

PHOTOSYNTHESIS FLOWER DELI & SOFFA

SOFFA

design

food

people

travel

life

photography | Lina Németh

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SOFFA

design

food

people

travel

life

photo | Lina Németh

01 Hamamelis x intermedia (hybrid witch hazel)

02 Thymus cherlerioides ‚Duftkissen‘ (thyme)

03 Gaultheria procumbens (Eastern teaberry)

05 Helleborus foetidus (stinking hellebore)

04 Artemisia stelleriana ‚Boughton Silver‘ (beach wormwood)

06 Lavandula stoechas (French lavender)

08 Narcissus cyclamineus ‚February Silver’ (cyclamen-flowered daffodil)

07 Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) 10 Magnolia x loebneri (magnolia)

05 Helleborus foetidus (stinking hellebore) 12 Myrtus communis (myrtle)

13 Viburnum fragrans (Farrer’s viburnum)

18 Thymus x citriodorus (lemon thyme)

13 Prunus spinosa (blackthorn)

09 Primula denticulata ‚Alba‘ (drumstick primrose)

11 Salvia apiana (white sage)

14 Muscari armeniacum (grape hyacinth)

17 Viola odorata (wood violet) 16 Salvia officinalis ‚Purpurascens‘ (sage)

20 Muscari azureum (azure grape hyacinth)

19 Geranium macrorrhizum (bigroot geranium)

21 Evernia prunastrii (oakmoss)

22 Lavandula officinalis (English lavender)

SOFFA | styling: SOFFA | Model: Adéla Kudrnová | photo: Adéla Havelková

SOFFA | realisation: Květinové Lahůdkářství | photo: Bára Perglová

illustration | Jan Vajda / Antimultivitamin

PHOTOSYNTHESIS 2016 CALENDAR | € 37; EGG POSTER | € 10.50; SOFFA TOTE BAG | € 10; ALPS POSTER | € 10.50; SOCKS KEMPINK FOR SOFFA | from € 14; MOHOLO WRAPPING PAPER | € 3.50; GIRL IN KITCHEN POSTER | € 10.50; HURVIN & PINGLA POSTER | € 10.50; BOTANICAL POSTER | € 10.50 all www.shop.soffamag.com 53

BIG L IT T L E PL EA S UR ES text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | photo: companies‘ archives

WE PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND CAME UP WITH A FEW TIPS FOR THINGS THAT WE THINK WILL BRING JOY TO ANYONE REGARDLESS OF AGE, GENDER OR PROFESSION. BE INSPIRED BY OUR CHOICE AND MAKE SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU HAPPY!

ULTIMATE MAN RAZOR Kiehl’s | www.kiehls.com $ 85

CIPRIA LEATHER BAG Elajediova | shop.elajediova.com CZK 5459

HANDMADE SOAP Sir! Soap | Gold editon www.helenaheinz.com Price upon request 54

VASE FROM NAŠE KVĚTENA COLLECTION design Klára Šumová and Michal Bačák www.krehky.cz | Price upon request

CABIN PORN: INSPIRATION FOR YOUR QUIET PLACE SOMEWHERE BOOK www.amazon.com | $ 25

THE BRONZE AGE OF DC COMICS BOOK www.taschen.com | € 39.99

AEN METAXA To order on www.remy-cointreau.cz CZK 24 000

MNEME SUNGLASSES Lume | www.lume-eyewear.com Price upon request

AJALA 73% CHOCOLATES www.mikrofarma.cz CZK 95/ piece

BARTIDA ORIGINAL PEAR 40% LIQUEUR bartida.multibrands.cz | CZK 399

HAVLÍK’S NATURAL MIRACLE BALM www.havlikovaapoteka.cz CZK 599/ 50 ml

HANDMADE PHOTOFOLIOS Nataliia Salii | fotodesky.salii.cz from CZK 525 55

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LIVING Two people – two cities – two homes

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THE F L AT O F A C A N A DI A N A R T I S T text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling and photo: Josée Pedneault

WHEN WE WERE SEARCHING FOR AN INTERIOR FOR THE CHRISTMAS ISSUE OF SOFFA WE WANTED SOMETHING DISTINCTIVE, SNOWY AND UNUSUAL. THEN WE REMEMBERED OUR FRIEND JOSÉE, WHO LIVES IN MONTREAL. AS AN ARTIST, HER FEELING FOR ART, COLOUR AND DETAIL SHINES THROUGH, AS DOES HER LOVE FOR VINTAGE ARTEFACTS. COME WITH US FOR A VISIT! Josée Pedneault is a visual artist working mostly with photography but also with video, painting and drawing. When we asked her to take photos and show us her lovely and originally furnished flat, she was right in the process of preparing her latest exhibition, Nævus. However, she did find some time, and one November afternoon (when it just happened to be snowing) she took a photo of her Montreal home where she lives with her 25-year-old parrot, Kiki, whom Josée has had her whole life.

Josée likes shopping at flea markets and combines old furniture and accessories with a history, thanks to which her home has an irreproducible charm. See for yourself!

HOW DID YOU COME TO ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY? I am a professional artist more than a professional photographer.

Originally, I was painting and drawing. Around the age of 20/21, I started photography. I made an important commitment at 24, when I started an MFA in photography at Concordia University. I am not a real photographer in the sense that I have never approached my subjects from a photographer’s perspective, in the conventions of the field. If a project requires objects, or painting, or video, I have no problem mixing up photos with other material. ►

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HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING IN MONTREAL? I am from a northern region called Saguenay Lac-St-Jean.

I have lived in Montreal for more than 12 years. Montreal is a great place for artists; the rent is one of the most affordable in large North American cities. We can afford to work less (at a job) and spend more time on our own practices.

There is a good system of support both through grants and through artist-run centres. Very cold winters, but hot summers: It’s like two different cities in one! ►

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CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOME? I originally moved here with a former boyfriend. It was difficult to stay here after the relationship ended, because everything that we had lived within this space. But I eventually got over it and I am glad I stayed.

This apartment is located in a very lively neighbourhood called Plateau Mont-Royal. It is a section of the Plateau where there was a strong Portuguese immigration in the 1950s. So we still find a lot of businesses and restaurants run by the Portuguese. The house was built in 1885: it’s old (for North America!). Originally, this was a working-class neighbourhood so the rooms are not very spacious, but it’s very comfortable.

It’s very central and close to everything, yet very quiet. I can do almost everything on foot or by bike. I have been living here for almost 10 years. I am lucky enough to pay low rent (this neighbourhood has become very expensive in the last 10 years) and my studio is just five minutes’ walk from here, so it’s the perfect combination! I believe this is Montreal’s best location, as it is close to downtown and all the adjacent neighbourhoods.

WHAT WAS YOUR MAIN FOCUS WHEN FURNISHING YOUR HOME? Apart from my bed, none of my furniture is new! I only have antique furniture bought off craigslist or even found in the streets. I like it when furniture has had some kind of life, bears the marks of time, and has a certain personality for belonging to a particular era. I have no attraction to new furniture and see no reason to overpay when there is so much available on the second-hand market. I particularly like antique Quebec furniture and furniture from the 1960s and 1970s. I also find older furniture is of better quality and, when chosen well, old pieces have a timelessness to them. I go for classic items with a simple design. The accessories are mostly things that I bring back from my travels or bought in antique shops. I have a lot of artwork from exchanges with friends or work that I personally purchased. I like objects that trigger a memory. ►

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WHAT INSPIRES YOU AND WHAT KIND OF THINGS DO YOU LIKE? What inspires me the most is nature in all of its forms and complexities, and the understanding that we, as humans, are also part of it. Cultures, and different ways of apprehending and thinking of the world, are an endless source of fascination. Travel, displacement, quests, mysteries, the unknown. I love motifs, in clothing, in fabric, wallpaper. Maybe I find a certain form of comfort in the repetition. â–ş

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DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE CONCERNING HOME FURNISHING? Buy used furniture. Invest in quality items that you’ll keep for a long time. Don’t be afraid to mix styles and pieces from different eras.

THERE ARE MANY COLOURS AND FLOWERS IN YOUR FLAT. WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THEM? I have a strong connection to nature, so not only do I have lots of flowers and colours, but I also have lots of animal representations and lots of plants. Plants are definitely necessary for me. I like to be surrounded with live things and organic shapes. As for colours, I don’t know, it just comes naturally. Maybe due to being a photographer, I have an inclination towards a certain colour palette: whites, blues, greys and turquoise.

YOU HAVE AN EXHIBITION RIGHT NOW. COULD YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR CURRENT PROJECTS? The exhibition is called Nævus, which is Latin for birthmark. When I was 17, a mark appeared on my back that looks like an island. The project consists in searching the world for the island that corresponds to the mark, and going there. The show is in Toronto, at Contact Gallery; here is the description: scotiabankcontactphoto.com HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS? I always celebrate Christmas with my family. We gather, eat a lot of food, spend time together, and go outside for some winter activities.

We celebrate the night of the 24th rather than the 25th and traditionally open gifts at midnight. My mom takes out the special dishes with the gold pattern, we make a nice dinner (usually a traditional regional dish), and my mom makes at least five different kinds of dessert. By far my favourite cake is my mom’s Yule Log. This is a rolled cake with raspberry jam inside and chocolate icing, decorated as a log. Sometimes I ask my mom to make it for me in the middle of the hot summer! ■ For more information, go to: www.joseepedneault.com

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New Year's Day, the Coming Year on Display Most families abandoned old customs and traditions a long time ago, but even the less superstitious prefer to eat a meal with lentils on New Year’s Day, as these legumes are thought to bring wealth – well, dry lentils do look a bit like coins. But this custom can be viewed from a different angle: legumes are the simple and cheap food of the thrifty. Keep away from poultry, though, or your fortune might fly away.

WIN 3 × CULTURAL DIARY FROM PAPELOTE! The new year is almost here, and a cultural diary from Papelote is essential. Write to us at info@soffamag.com (subject: Papelote), telling us what cultural event in 2016 you are looking forward to the most and why, and win one of three diaries.

More on: www.papelote.cz The complete contest rules can be found on www.soffamag.com

E MB R AC E THE OF THE C OL D WI NTE R AS T H E DAYS AR E S H O R T E R AN D TH E S N OW W I LL C OV E R T H E G R O U N D S O O N, S O R E L’S MAK I N G A STATE M E NT W I T H B O LD LO O KS F O R FALL & W I NTE R . C O N ST R U CTE D F R O M P R E M I U M MAT E R IALS AN D R I C H D E S I G N D ETAI L O U R FALL/W I NT E R ‘ 15 C O LLE CTI O N C O M B I N E S P R OT E CT I O N W ITH AN E LE G ANT C U R B AP P EAL. THAT S U R E TO T U R N A F EW H EAD S .

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A RO O M W I T H A S TO RY text: Sára Němečková | styling: Lenka Hlaváčová photo: Adéla Havelková

WHEN WE RECEIVED AN E-MAIL NOT LONG AGO WITH A PHOTOGRAPH OF A SMALL ROOM IN THE CENTRE OF PLZEŇ, IT BECAME CLEAR TO US THAT OUR SEARCH FOR AN INTERIOR TO BE SHOWCASED IN OUR PLEASURES ISSUE WAS OVER. JÁCHYM, WHO SENT US THE MESSAGE, SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN ENJOYING SOFFA FOR A LONG TIME. AND NOW, HE WAS RETURNING THE FAVOUR WITH A PICTURE OF HIS BEAUTIFUL ROOM, WHICH HE DESIGNED AND FURNISHED HIMSELF WITH INSPIRATION FROM SOFFA. IN THE END, HE ALLOWED US TO VISIT HIM. YOU CAN SEE THE ENTHUSIASM JÁCHYM LAVISHED IN EVERY CENTIMETRE OF THE ROOM. Jáchym lives in a small student flat just outside the centre of Plzeň.

Thanks to our magazine, he started to become interested in interior design and decided to transform the once unsightly space into something amazing. He spent the summer designing and sketching every detail and combing the flea markets. Jáchym’s efforts paid off: his room is now very inviting indeed. The unusual floorplan facilitated division of the room into three zones: work, relaxation and sleep. Visitors will immediately notice the marked colours and the presence of natural elements. “I grew up in a village, so I wanted to get at least a little bit of nature into the city. That is why brown and natural motifs became the dominant element in the developing interior,” says Jáchym, when asked what the biggest inspiration for the room was. ► RIGHT: Two drawings, tailor-made by Jáchym, adorn the relaxation corner. One is of a skeleton based on a school model, the other is a figure from a painting by Egon Schiele.

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Jáchym’s goal was to create a space that he could call his own and that would reflect his personality. The entire room is thus full of objects that are close to him in some way: a collage that he made from his own posters adorns the wall by the bed, and even his own drawings from the school magazine brighten up almost every nook in the room. His drawings enliven almost every corner. It is immediately clear from the numerous musical instruments in the room that he loves music – African drums embellish the guest seating area and a painted guitar hangs on the wall. Jáchym used the same colour that he used on the guitar for other details as well, thereby creating a marked but harmonic contrast to the earthy colours that otherwise predominate.

Reconstruction of the room was preceded by thorough preparations and countless sketches. Jáchym then visited many flea markets, friends’ houses and dusty attics, gradually finding pieces which he modified to fit the interior of his dreams. The centrepiece of the room is a wooden stump that also functions as a coffee table. His grandmother’s stepladder now serves as a set of shelves.

The entire room is full of lovely details and corners. Jáchym has succeeded in elegantly matching the once incompatible pieces to create a place where one feels comfortable and relaxed. This is sure to be appreciated by his many friends, who visit frequently to hang out and enjoy the popular barbeques on the balcony. ■

PREVIOUS PAGES AND RIGHT: As Jáchym is completing his graphic design studies at the local university, the reconstruction of his room was also his final dissertation – he documented the entire transformation process thoroughly, stored all sketches and design ideas carefully, and plans to publish everything in a book. Designing his own interior and furniture was such an important experience for him that he is planning to focus his further studies in this direction.

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T R EN DS Time for pampering and well-being

NO B L E G O L D text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | photo: companies‘ archives

WHEN IS A BETTER TIME TO BUY SOMETHING GOLD THAN AROUND CHRISTMAS? GOLD NOT ONLY SYMBOLISES MAJESTY, WEALTH AND POWER, BUT HAS LONG BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUN AND LIFE. GOLD IS GUARANTEED TO MAKE ANY ITEM IMMORTAL!

FIRA CANDLE HOLDER Klong | www.royaldesign.com $ 97

GEOMETRIC NECKLACE COS | www.cosstores.com € 45

KARUI TRAYS design GamFratesi | Skultuna www.finnishdesignshop.com | € 170 and € 95

TOOL THE MATHEMATICIAN DECORATION Tom Dixon | www.tomdixon.net | € 120

BRASS HOOK www.fermliving.com € 35

BEAT TABLE BRASS LAMP Tom Dixon | www.tomdixon.net € 744

GÖMMA ORGANIZERS Klong | www.asplundstore.se SEK 475 79

F E ST IVE TA B L E S ET T I N G text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA | photo: companies‘ archives

EVEN TABLE SETTINGS ARE SUBJECT TO TRENDS. WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT, HOWEVER, IS THAT A GOOD MOOD AT THE TABLE PREVAILS. YOU CAN SET YOUR NEW YEAR’S EVE, CHRISTMAS OR OTHER FESTIVE TABLE TO BRING OUT THE COLOURS OF THE MEAL SERVED. DON’T FORGET THE FLOWERS AND THE CANDLES!

STONEWARE BUTTER DISH www.toa.st € 50

RUSTIC PLATES House Doctor www.scandinaviandesigncenter.com from $ 15

MAGNOLIE H42 ROSE Sia Home Fashion www.la-conception.cz CZK 188

OVAL STONEWARE BOWL www.suasana.cz CZK 379 80

PURITY COPPER CUTLERY www.norda.eu Price upon request

SOUL OF HIMLA AND MAYA LINEN TABLECLOTH Himla | www.coclea.cz | Price upon request

Linen and pastel tones on the furniture and accessories and earth tones on the stoneware pervade Broste Copenhagen’s Autumn/Winter catalogue. photo: www.brostecopenhagen.com

On New Year's Day for More Light We Pray The sequence of three pieces of wisdom pertains to the time of the winter solstice: on New Year’s Day for more light we pray, on Three Kings’ Day the sun’s on its way, and on Candlemas day put the candles away. Longer days also meant that the meagre months were coming to an end and that spring would be arriving soon. Winter was a very worrisome time of the year for our ancestors, and making the supplies of food to last it out was one of the most important tasks of the year. With the onset of the cold months animals were slaughtered, too. Take pigs, for example: the family no longer had to feed them and had enough food for themselves for some time.

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SO F FA & PA R T N ER S Workshop with ZOOT

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F O R C H I L DR EN, F O R F UN article partner: ZOOT text: Bára Perglová and Adéla Kudrnová styling: SOFFA | photo: Adéla Havelková

WE OFTEN FORGET THAT CHRISTMAS SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT PRESENTS AND SPECTACULAR DECORATIONS, BUT ABOUT THE WARM FEELING OF DOING GOOD DEEDS AND GIVING HAPPINESS. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE GOT TOGETHER WITH ZOOT TO SPEND ONE AFTERNOON AT THE CHILDREN’S HOME IN PYŠELY NEAR PRAGUE AND BRING A LITTLE CHEER TO THE TALENTED KIDS LIVING THERE BY HOLDING A CREATIVE WORKSHOP. LOOK WHAT THEY PAINTED ON THE T-SHIRTS THAT WE BROUGHT THEM! Our visit to the children’s home was one of those cases where things took off in an entirely different direction than planned. The original idea was to have the children paint animals on t‑shirts supplied by ZOOT. cz using our templates. From the outset, however, the children made it clear that they were longing to do things their way, so we decided to give them complete freedom to do what they wanted. Each child who took part in the workshop was an original with a strong personality, a different view of life and a different background story. The younger children painted cute motifs; the older kids preferred texts and mottos that they knew mainly from the Internet.

The initial rowdiness soon subsided and a peaceful, focussed atmosphere prevailed. We enjoyed watching the unique creations spring from the children’s hands and seeing how proud they were to then put the t-shirts on. We were surprised by many things: for example, by the number of children who were football fans. However, by the end of the day we were in quite an emotional state. Some of the children told us very moving stories about their lives and we could not help but admire them for having overcome some very difficult obstacles. We realised how important it is to cheer them on, as they still have a very difficult road before them. We should learn to do nice things for those less fortunate, and not just around Christmas time. ■

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T-SHIR T W I T H OW N M OT I F article partner: ZOOT | text: Bára Perglová concept and styling: Lenka Hlaváčová | photo: Adéla Havelková

DO YOU LIKE THE IDEA OF CREATING A T-SHIRT WITH YOUR OWN ORIGINAL MOTIF? YOU CAN ALSO ORGANISE A SIMILAR WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN AT CHRISTMAS OR ANY OTHER TIME. WHAT’S MORE, WHEN YOU SEE HOW MUCH THE CHILDREN ARE ENJOYING THEMSELVES, YOU WILL GET DOWN TO WORK AS WELL! DIFFICULTY: easy TIME: 30 - 60 minutes + drying time WHAT YOU NEED: t-shirt felt textile paint textile glue scissors

Designing your own t-shirt is very easy. The main thing you need is an idea. Choose contrasting colours, and try using felt.

INSTRUCTIONS: First sketch the design on paper. If you want to try something a bit more complicated, we recommend cutting it out and tracing it onto the t-shirt.

Then you can begin painting. Don’t dilute the paint – the thicker it is the deeper the colour will be. For a bolder effect, allow the first layer to dry a bit and then paint over it.

Last of all, you can add some felt if you want.

Before the paint dries, cut out the felt parts and glue them onto the textile. ■

DON’T FORGET, YOU CAN FIND A VIDEO OF THE WORKSHOP ON WWW.SOFFAMAG.COM/YOUTUBE. We would like to thank ZOOT.cz for providing the t-shirts.

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Sushi lover Péťa began playing with Japanese motifs from the very beginning. Nikola mentioned her favourite Czech rapper, Ektor. Even Anička stuck to music and added a few felt notes to the guitar she drew. During the photo shoot, she even sang a Roma song, with her brother accompanying her on guitar. Most kids had a positive relationship to football, but Jakub, for example, would rather coach than play. Maruška

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prefers kicking the ball around with boys and thinks Sparta is a pretty wicked team.

Kačka drew her motto “Don’t worry, don’t cry, smoke weed and fly” on her t-shirt.

Would you like to learn more about the children’s home in Pyšely or do something nice for the children? Visit www.ddpysely.cz for more information.

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Sweatshirt Wild Child 449 CZK

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L A N DS C A PES Mystical Lapland

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A TRIP UP NORTH text: Helena Stiessová | photo: Lina Németh

THERE ARE PLACES WHERE YOU CAN TAKE SUCH A DEEP BREATH THAT YOU GET GOOSE BUMPS AND YOUR CHEEKS TURN ROSY. AND THEY NEED NOT BE FAR AWAY AT ALL. THERE IS PEACE AND QUIET, AND THE INFINITE HORIZON MERGES WITH THE SKY. IT’S SOMETHING WE WOULD NEED EACH AND EVERY DAY. SO WHY NOT HEAD OFF RIGHT NOW? OUR WONDERFUL PHOTOGRAPHER, LINA, WILL TAKE US THERE. THESE AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHS, FULL OF CHARISMA, WERE TAKEN NORTH OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE IN NORWEGIAN AND FINNISH LAPLAND OVER A FORTNIGHT. Lina set off on a hitchhiking trip with her friends. The expedition to the quiet poetry of nature began in Rovaniemi, a town that lies just five kilometres south of the arctic circle. The traffic is sparse, but a car once an hour is enough, as every driver willingly stops. Helping one’s fellow humans is a matter of course here. It’s the end of April, but the air is crisp and snow still covers the ground because temperatures still hover around freezing point. The true adventure begins in the Norwegian town of Tromsø: the five friends convince the captain of a boat to take them north, a voyage taken and described by Karel Čapek, who was enchanted by the land. Red cottages and tiny islands scattered in the emerald green waters decorate the fjords in turn. The destination is within sight: North Cape, or Nordkapp. But the trip is not about reaching this point, which is sometimes erroneously labelled the northernmost point of the European continent. It is about everything else: herds of reindeer, glacier walls, polar foxes in the snow, a drawing in black ink on a white canvas. Everything is in tune, everything tastes better, and small miracles happen. Maybe it’s the landscape. And maybe, sometimes, life is simply the way you imagine it. ■

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WHERE DOES THE EARTH END AND THE SKY BEGIN? ONLY SMALL, BLACK ISLANDS, WHERE THE SOIL PEEKS OUT TIMIDLY FROM UNDER THE SNOW, GIVE THIS AWAY. ALTHOUGH THE CALENDAR SAYS IT’S THE END OF APRIL, THE SEASONS DON’T COUNT FOR MUCH NORTH OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.

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BIRCHES MAY LOOK DELICATE, BUT IN REALITY THEY ARE VERY HARDY TREES THAT TOLERATE THE COLD VERY WELL. THIS IS DUE TO THEIR HIGH CONCENTRATION OF BIRCH SUGAR OR XYLITOL, WHICH ACTS LIKE ANTIFREEZE. THESE BLACK-AND-WHITE TREES ARE AT HOME IN THE NORTH.

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THE BOAT TRIP OFFERS HUMBLING AND BREATHTAKING SCENERY. THE WATER REFLECTS THE TOWERING, SNOW-MOTTLED CLIFFS, REMINISCENT OF A POWERFUL PREHISTORICAL ANIMAL. IN THE DISTANCE A ROCKY ISLAND OBSERVES YOU, SEEMINGLY THE LAST FIXED POINT ON THE JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN.

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LIME-GREEN SEAWEED AND BROWN TUFTS OF LAST YEAR’S GRASS. WHITE PATHS AND ANTHRACITE CLIFFS SPRINKLED WITH WHITE FRAGMENTS OF ANCIENT BOULDERS. THE NORTHERN NATURE IS AN ODE TO COLOUR, STRUCTURE AND SHAPE.

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ICE IS ABLE TO CONJURE UP THE MOST BEAUTIFUL IMAGES. THE LAPPISH LANDSCAPE IS BOTH DELICATE AND ROUGH, INCOMPREHENSIBLE AND, AT THE SAME TIME, ASTONISHINGLY SIMPLE. IT WILL CAPTURE YOUR HEART AND ENCHANT YOU. THIS IS A PLACE THAT WILL KEEP CALLING YOU BACK.

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P HOTOS Y NTH ESI S / 2016 U n i qu e f l o ra l sti ll- li fe c a lend a r b y SO F FA & FLOWER DE LI

12 m o nt hs of t he y e a r – 1 2 fl o r a l s til l - l ife p h o to g r a p h s on A 2 - s i ze pa pe r – 1 2 d r a w in g s – 1 2 p o em s . A l l th es e a ppe a r i n t he t i m e- l a p s e c a l en d a r, w h ic h w a s c re at e d over a o n e- yea r p er io d .

NOW ON SHOP.SOFFAMAG.COM

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CH R I S TM A S S TO RY For young and old

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THE F RO G A N D T H E N YM PH text: Jon Skay | illustration: Milada Kudrnová

The morning comes, bringing with it the first rays of sunshine. The day is awakening and I’m just falling asleep. Today will be a beautiful day. Truly beautiful. Full of sunshine, and also my last. Today I will see her for the last time, even though she will still be able to watch me for a couple of months every sunny day. She will caress me again and again with her gaze, but I will not be able to return that gaze. I won’t see her again, but I fall asleep knowing that we will spend the coming months together.

A few months ago I was just a head. Well, actually, a tail was attached, but it wasn’t important and it soon disappeared anyway. I was born in our pond and I had dozens of brothers. I’ve heard that water births are quite modern! Our parents didn’t really care about us, so we had to take care of ourselves from a very early age. It was quite a dangerous time. The world was full of predators and each careless act cost one’s life. After a few weeks my legs began to grow and my body to elongate. Great! I was finally a real man. But what now? I set off into the world to find my mate. To be exact, I just moved to the edge of the pond. Everything around me was big and there was terribly little water. None of my brothers wanted to go with me, but the outside was drawing me almost magically. I wanted to explore the whole world. And so it happened: I took one big leap into the whirlwind of my surroundings. HOP! And I was on the bank!

Amazing. No water. Grass. Needles. Leaves. Everything was new – and so many smells! All of a sudden I could see clearly, not like under water. Life was everywhere!

Bugs (yum!), birds (oh no!), ants (yum!), mice (hmm) and so much more. Beautiful.

I jumped around for joy across meadows, swam in streams and ponds. And then one evening it happened. I found Her. There was a full moon, and I was croaking one of my favourite songs at this pool in the woods. The sun was setting and its rays were bouncing off the surface of the water.

And then She appeared. She danced on the surface of the water. It looked like she was moving to the rhythm of my song. She was so beautiful. I stopped singing and asked: “Who are you?”. “I’m a Sun Nymph, little guy. And who are you?” I almost lost my voice, but I came around quickly, puffed myself up and answered: “I’m no little guy. I’m a frog and my friends call me Skipper.” “Great. So see you around,” she said with a laugh, turned around and disappeared with the setting sun. ►

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I thought about her the whole night, then all of the next day and then again the whole night, and on and on. I just couldn’t get her out of my head. She was enchanting. Her hair tied up in a bun, a dress the colour of the golden morning sun and a face like a Sakura blossom. I jumped around the pool every day and sang in the hope that she would appear to listen to my beautiful song. I wanted to see her again. On the third day of waiting my wish came true, and she emerged from the fog and trod lightly on the first sunbeams. She spun about, danced around the pool and sat down beside me. “Where were you?” The words fell out of my mouth clumsily. “With the sun,” she laughed quietly. “I was dancing way up there. I couldn’t get down because of the silly clouds,” she added with a frown. “It’s still warm, but soon it will be autumn. The days will be getting short and I don’t like that. And winter? Don’t even mention it to me.

Just try dancing on the snow and ice. And barefoot at that,” she complained. “I haven’t been through winter yet,” I said carefully, hoping she wouldn’t think I was inexperienced. “How long does it last, and what does it look like?” I tried to ask nonchalantly.

She laughed quietly and caressed me. “Well, everything turns white, and you’ll find a nice dark place between the roots of a tree so you don’t freeze and wait it out there.”

It sounded horrendous, but I went on asking: “And where will you be?” “Dancing on frozen pools and watching myself reflected a thousand times on the freezing icicles hanging from the branches,” she replied cheerfully. “And won’t you be cold?” I worried. “I won’t. I’ll be dancing with the sun, and that will keep me warm,” she responded – and suddenly she was gone.

I sat in silence and thought. Why will only she be dancing in the winter, while I have to hide in a gloomy cave? I want to be with her. I want to see her every step and observe her every smile. A sudden gust of wind tore me from my thoughts. It blew a bit more and yellow leaves started to fall from the trees.

We still managed to spend many beautiful days together. I sang songs to her. She danced. And the sun created luminous halls full of colours and shadows. Sometimes she danced so fast that it lifted the fallen leaves and created wild whirlwinds. Sometimes she danced so slowly and quietly that she seemed to be floating. But never did she forget to give me a smile, swing her hair for me or jump over me gracefully when performing one of her pirouettes.

When I was a tadpole, my mother told me a story about a frog that kissed an ugly princess and she turned back into a beautiful frog and they lived happily ever after. I told my Nymph that story. She laughed and gave me ►

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a kiss right away, but nothing happened, nothing at all. She caressed me and danced off into the woods. She was laughing, but I was experiencing the worst moment of my life.

The falling leaves made way for winter. A properly cruel one. It got under my skin and I shook with cold. The sun didn’t come out very often any more, only for a little while before disappearing again. The dark, however, came earlier and earlier. In the morning the pool was frozen and I could barely move. The only air that got in was through holes in the ice made by those big humans, for whatever reason. The only thing that kept me at the pool was the desire to see the warm sun, and with it my Sun Nymph. I wouldn’t give up on her!

The last day that we talked together the sun appeared, giving the whole white landscape a brilliant shine. Drops began to fall off the icicles hanging from the branches of the surrounding trees, and my Sun Nymph danced among them. “Where will you hide now? The frost won’t let you in anywhere,” she sighed, fear in her eyes. I wasn’t afraid.

She danced, and the sun made the icicles cry. And then it occurred to me.

My Sun Nymph finished dancing, smiled and disappeared with the last rays of the sun. Using my last bit of strength, I managed to hop over to the weeping willow at the edge of the pool. The huge icicles were calling to me with their unmistakeable voices. I chose the biggest one, grabbed onto it and started to climb up. Halfway up my strength left me, but I managed. I embraced the icicle tightly. The night rain ran slowly down us both – over me and my new icy friend. I felt the icy drops cool my back and slowly turn into a crystal-clear sheath. I held on firmly and felt myself slowly becoming an inseparable part of the ice kingdom. I could see our whole pool before me. From my crystal castle I would be able to see my Nymph when the sun brought her back. Thank you, Lady Winter!

The morning comes, bringing with it the first rays of sunshine. The day is awakening and I’m just falling asleep. Today will be a beautiful day. Truly beautiful. Full of sunshine, and also my last. Today I will see her for the last time, even though she will still be able to watch me for a couple of months every sunny day. She will caress me again and again with her gaze, but I will not be able to return that gaze. I won’t see her again, but I fall asleep knowing that we will spend the coming months together. And she will be dancing just for me! ■

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GU I LT Y PL EA S UR ES Revealing Who We Are

E V E RYO NE H A S T H EI R V ERY OW N text: Martin Sova | styling: Lenka Hlaváčová | photo: Adéla Havelková

ORDINARY THINGS WITH WHICH WE HAVE AN EXCEPTIONALLY EMOTIONAL BOND. ACTIVITIES AND RITUALS THAT WE WOULD PREFER NOT TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT BUT THAT BRING US UNUSUAL SATISFACTION. PLEASURES THAT WE WOULD OTHERWISE JUDGE WITH A FROWN, BUT CAN’T – IN FACT THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE. CZECH HAS NO NAME FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SO WE HAVE TO BE HAPPY WITH THE ENGLISH TERM “GUILTY PLEASURE”: SOMETHING MAKES YOU HAPPY, BUT YOU’RE EMBARRASSED TO SHARE IT WITH OTHERS! Everybody wants to be respected and recognised for their talents. At the same time, however, we know full well that a true and three-dimensional personality is also composed of imperfections. Guilty pleasures are somewhere in between. They do not necessarily mean a predilection for something negative. In fact, the pleasure is tied particularly to a feeling of shame or guilt, albeit one that we create in our own minds.

We are not talking about forbidden fruit in the classic sense of the term, but rather pleasure that we don’t find sufficiently appropriate. We shouldn’t be doing that! But it feels so right!

We hide our guilty pleasures from others, perhaps with the exception of our significant others and family. And we are more than willing to criticise others for similar behaviour. Guilty pleasures are often linked to our most basic instincts: they are a smidgen of immaturity that we can indulge in even though puberty is long behind us. We pay taxes and try to act like normal adults, but they get us every time, at least for a while, and flood us with a feeling of indescribable bliss. What are the guilty pleasures of the SOFFA editorial staff? We are a bit embarrassed, but we will share them with you. ■

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PETROL, PAINT THINNER AND VARNISH REMOVER

SMELLING IT “I LOVE THE SPECIFIC SMELL OF PETROL, PAINT THINNER, VARNISH REMOVER AND FELT PENS. I SOMETIMES FIND MYSELF BRINGING THE CAP OF A MARKER TO MY NOSE. BUT DON’T WORRY, I HAVE THIS IMPULSE UNDER CONTROL.”

SCREWS, BOLTS, NAILS

HARDWARE STORES “I LOVE SHOPS IN SMALL TOWNS WHERE THEY SELL HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND EVERYTHING FOR HANDYMEN. THE MOMENT I FIND MYSELF IN A HOBBY MARKET BY THE NAILS SHELF, I WANT TO BUY THEM ALL.”

NAIL POLISH

NEVER-ENDING COLLECTION “I CAN SAY WITHOUT EXAGGERATING THAT I HAVE A PILE OF RED NAIL POLISH. IN THE END THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME, BUT I CAN’T HELP MYSELF – I HAVE TO BUY MORE, MORE, MORE!”

LOOSE PANTIES

MAKING MYSELF COMFORTABLE “WHEN I CAN, PARTICULARLY WHEN I’M HOME ALONE, I LIKE TO WEAR OLD, LOOSE PANTIES. THE FEWER ELASTIC BANDS THE BETTER. I DON’T CARE HOW THEY LOOK. IT’S ABOUT HOW I FEEL.”

SHINY AND COLOURFUL ODDS AND ENDS

ACCUMULATING KITSCH “I ADMIT IT – I LOVE KITSCH. WHEN I GO TO PARTIES OR SOCIALISE, I PREFER TO WEAR STYLISH, MINIMALIST CLOTHES, BUT MY HOME IS LITTERED WITH SPARKLING TRINKETS, FURS AND FEATHERS.”

MICE AND BUNNIES

ANIMAL LOVER “I CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE WITH ALL CREATURES THAT ARE TINY, FURRY AND BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT. AT HOBBY MARKETS AND PET SHOPS I’M THERE WITH THE KIDS, MESMERISED BY THE MICE AND BUNNIES.”

CHRISTMAS SWING SONGS

PLAYING ON REPEAT “I HATE KITSCH BUT EACH YEAR I COUNT THE DAYS TO THE FIRST ADVENT WEEKEND, SO I CAN IMMERSE MYSELF IN OLD CHRISTMAS CAROLS IN SWING AND JAZZ ARRANGEMENTS AND REVEL IN THE MUSIC.”

FRIED CHEESE AND CHIPS

EATING UNHEALTHILY “I PREFER SHOPPING IN SHOPS WITH FOOD FROM ECO-FARMS, AS IT DOES TASTE BETTER, BUT WHEN I’M AT THE PUB, I ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE FRIED CHEESE OR GREASY POTATO CHIPS – THE WHOLE BAG! – WITH MY BEER.”

PURCHASE A FULL YEAR’S SUBSCRIPTION TO SOFFA MAGAZINE AND WIN WHOOP.DE.DOO VENUS BALLS! Give yourself double the pleasure. Get your 2016 subscription to SOFFA at www.shop.soffamag.com and win a unique Whoop.de.doo product designed by Anna Marešová. When placing your order, answer the following question in the “note” field: What is your greatest pleasure?

The most interesting answer will win the Venus balls!

The complete contest rules can be found on www.soffamag.com.

More on: www.whoopdedoo.me

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ON A VISIT A new bistro where they cook with love

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E SK A – THE M AG I C O F S I M PL I C I T Y text: Olga Karpecká | styling: SOFFA | photo: Adéla Havelková

WHEN REMINISCING ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS AT OUR GRANDPARENTS’, WE CAN SMELL THE WOODS, PINE NEEDLES AND HERBS. THERE IS THE SMELL OF COFFEE ON THE BREAKFAST TABLE AND FRESH BREAD WITH JAM. OH, THE JOY! THE MAGICAL WORLD OF OUR CHILDHOOD IS BACK THANKS TO THE ESKA BISTRO AND RESTAURANT, NEWLY OPENED IN THE PRAGUE BOROUGH OF KARLÍN. THE MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS OF EACH MEAL ARE LOVE AND JOY. Eska restaurant and bistro is the newest addition to the Ambiente chain. And just like its older siblings, it is built on quality ingredients and enthusiasm for great food. In the world of tastes and smells, Eska is all about going back to basics. The recipes are based on the simplest ingredients, which are used without waste – from the roots to the petals. Chef Martin Štangl often sets out to the forests of the Sázava River Valley and collects wild herbs to flavour the meals he prepares. And at midnight, when we are just heading off to bed (if not already asleep), the bakers are up preparing the first loaves of bread. The butter that will be slathered on the fresh slices was made at Eska in butter churns the night before. “I really like the openness. It’s amazing. Could stand here the whole day and watch,” says Eska communications manager Šárka Hamanová, while standing on the staircase and watching the bustle in the open kitchen where a cook is cleaning red rose hips. ■ RIGHT: The first thing that welcomes us at Eska is a long table made of solid wood. It is also a workspace and a sales counter. Slices of bread are being prepared right before the customers’ eyes, with various spreads, jams and fruit butters as toppings. The corner under a big window with a view onto the Vítkov hillside is the domain of the baristas.

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In the Czech lands, strangers were traditionally welcomed with bread and salt, and this combination is part of many Christmas Eve dinners.

Good bread is a mainstay, and so it is at Eska. Kneading machines, a digital scale and a big bread oven fuelled by oak pellets are the only modern conveniences that enter into the traditional bread-making procedure. The journey from eco flour and water to a crunchy loaf of bread takes two days. The leaven is taken care of for a day and a night.

Caraway seed and salt is then mixed into the dough and left to rise in a kneading-trough. The dough is then divided into loaves and left for another hour or two in a scuttle to rise. Only then are the loaves placed in the oven. Forty minutes later, they come out fragrant and with a nice crunchy crust. “I love everything about bread. Kneading, baking… the whole process. But what can’t be beat is the crust. That’s the best,” says local baker Mirek, who has been baking bread for more than thirty years. In addition to perfect bread, which can last for a number of days (if it not eaten up in a single afternoon like we did), you can also buy vegetables and home-made jams. ■ For more information and the menu go to: www.eska.ambi.cz

PREVIOUS PAGES AND RIGHT: The friendly staff brought us bread with some spreads to taste. They were so good that we almost forgot to take photos. | Industrial elements prevail in the interior. Conversely, the decorations refer to nature. The young spruce trees floating above the restaurant come from a nursery after being thinned, and are treated so the needles don’t fall off. | Sweets are the responsibility of pastry chef Vojtěška. “The Bundt cake is a family recipe, the strudel a bit of an experiment. I usually use yoghurt dough, but as we make our own buttermilk I tried that instead. | Excellent Doubleshot coffee, which we rated as “coffee with a capital C”, is prepared by the team of baristas headed by Ondřej Štökl. | At Eska, not only are the ingredients local, but so is the design. The uniforms were designed by Kristína Netíková and the interior by architect Tereza Froňková. The dishes and decorations were created by Yveta Kroupová and Louky květ studio. The furniture is the work of Michal Froněk and Tereza Froňková.

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R EC I PES Goodies for anytime, not just Christmas

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H O M E M AD E EG G L I Q UEU R ( EG G N O G ) partner: Tesco Finest | recipe Adéla Srbová | text: Sára Němečková styling: Adéla Srbová & SOFFA | photo: Adéla Havelková

ARE YOU CONTEMPLATING WHAT DRINK TO OFFER YOUR GUESTS DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS? OUR HOMEMADE EGG LIQUEUR, MELLOWED WITH SALTY CARAMEL FROM TESCO FINEST, WILL GIVE YOU THE OPTION TO WARM THEM UP WITH SOMETHING OTHER THAN MULLED WINE! PREPARATION TIME: 60 minutes ENOUGH FOR: 2 bottles INGREDIENTS: 700 ml 12% cream 250 ml 30% whipping cream 250 ml rum 130 g caster sugar 70 g Tesco Finest salted caramel 5 egg yolks 3 whole cinnamon sticks 1 vanilla pod 1 teaspoon mac

Combine both types of cream and the spices in a small pot. Slice the vanilla pod lengthwise before putting it into the pot.

Slowly heat the mixture and remove it from the stove the moment it begins to boil. Now add the caramel and slowly mix it in. Remove the cinnamon and the remaining vanilla pod and leave the mixture to cool to room temperature.

In the meantime, beat the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl until the mixture is smooth.

You can tell that you’ve reached the right consistency easily: when you lift the whisk out of the bowl, the mixture running off the whisk will create “ribbons” on the surface.

Slowly add the cooled cream mixture and finally add the rum.

Pour the liqueur into sealable glass bottles and put them into the fridge. The liqueur tastes best if left to rest for at least three days. ■

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IM P ROVE D L I N ZER CO O K I ES partner: Tesco Finest | recipe Adéla Srbová | text: Sára Němečková styling: Adéla Srbová & SOFFA | photo: Adéla Havelková

WHAT WOULD CHRISTMAS BE WITHOUT LINZER COOKIES? WE TEAMED UP WITH TESCO FINEST TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO GIVE AN OLD CLASSIC A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA. WHAT ABOUT ADDING SOME SPICE? WE USED A LITTLE CINNAMON, AND THE RESULT WAS REALLY SURPRISING! PREPARATION TIME: 40 minutes + 3 hours to rest the dough ENOUGH FOR: 3 baking sheets INGREDIENTS: 320 g fine flour 200 g butter 120 g icing sugar 2 egg yolks 1½ teaspoons cinnamon Rind from one bio lemon Tesco Finest cherry jam

INSTRUCTIONS: First mix all the ingredients except the jam until a smooth dough is formed. Let it rest for three hours in the fridge.

Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and use cookie cutters to cut out whatever shapes you desire. Then place the cookies on a baking sheet. Bake them for about 7 minutes at 180°C. Adjust the baking time depending on the size of the cookies.

In the meantime, prepare the jam for sticking the cookies together. We used cherry jam from Tesco Finest. Spread the jam on the cooled cookie halves, stick them together and you’re done! ■ We would like to thank Tesco Finest for providing the ingredients for this recipe. For more inspiration go to tescorecepty.cz

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The Three Kings Either Bridges Build or Tear Them Down December’s uncertain weather should stabilise around 6 January, at least according to folk wisdom traded down through the centuries. In the best-case scenario, frost came after the rain and the ice lasted until the spring thaw: there are countless photographs showing people skating on the Vltava River, something we can no longer do because of the dams and reservoirs built upstream. But if December was cold January could see a thaw, which would result in destructive ice floes.

BÁR A K AR P Í Š KOVÁ’ S C RUM B L E recipe: Bára Karpíšková / Bjukitchen | styling: styling: Adéla Kudrnová photo: Adéla Havelková

ALTHOUGH BÁRA KARPÍŠKOVÁ IS VERY YOUNG, IF YOU SPEND TIME TALKING TO HER YOU WILL FIND THAT SHE HAS VERY CLEAR AND STAUNCH OPINIONS THAT SPEAK OF EXPERIENCE. FOR EXAMPLE, BÁRA BELIEVES THAT THE BASIS FOR A HARMONIOUS FAMILY LIFE IS EATING TOGETHER. WE SAT DOWN AT ONE TABLE WITH HER TO TASTE THE FANTASTIC CRUMBLE THAT SHE PREPARED FOR US! There is truth in the saying that motivation is the driving force of success. It also applies to Bára Karpíšková, who decided to show her mother, grandmother and husband Tomáš that she could become a first-class cook. After returning from the USA, where her life was all work, work, work, she could take some time off and focus on cooking.

She practised, fine-tuning individual meals and ingredients. And slowly she came up with the idea of writing her own cookbook.

This year her dream came true. Her Bjukitchen Cookbook, full of creative recipes that everyone can easily pull off, saw the light of day and we have the honour of sharing one wonderful recipe with you.

And it would be so unlike Bára if she weren’t already planning what to do next. Not only would she like to publish a cookbook in English, she would like to show off her recipes regularly as part of our SOFFA & FRIENDS workshops and evenings. ► LEFT: Before we could tuck in to our crumble, Bára’s faithful companion, Brambora – who is ever present when Bára is cooking and baking – came over to at least take a sniff of the lovely dessert.

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PREPARATION TIME: 5 minutes + 60 minutes’ baking time ENOUGH FOR: 4 – 6 portions INGREDIENTS: FOR THE BASE: 3 cups diced apples 2 cups fresh cranberries ½ cup brown sugar FOR THE CRUMBLE: 1 cup pecans ½ cup brown sugar 1/3 cup fine flour 1½ cups oats 250 g melted butter

INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat the oven to 160 °C. Peel and dice the apples. Then mix the apples, cranberries and brown sugar together and place the mixture into a baking dish. Bára recommends choosing a nice baking dish, so you can serve the dessert directly from it.

Now prepare the crumble. Place the chopped pecans, brown sugar, flour, oats and melted butter in a bowl. Mix the ingredients thoroughly by hand.

Then sprinkle the crumble evenly over the fruit to cover the whole baking dish. Put the dish into the oven and bake for about 60 minutes. ■ TIP: Serve the crumble while it is still warm. It tastes great with good coffee and traditional Czech egg liqueur, which is a Christmas essential.

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BÁRA SERVED THE CRUMBLE WITH VANILLA ICE-CREAM, WHICH MELTED BEAUTIFULLY OVER THE WARM FRUIT. A WONDERFUL AND QUICK RECIPE THAT IS PERFECT ANYTIME, NOT JUST AT CHRISTMASTIME!

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WIN A BJUKITCHEN COOKBOOK! Write to us at info@soffamag.com (subject: Bjukitchen), telling us the best food you have ever eaten, and win a Bjukitchen cookbook by Bára Karpišková.

The complete contest rules can be found on www.soffamag.com More on: www.bjukitchen.cz

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DI Y PRO J EC T Cards with messages

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CARDS F O R F U N text: Helena Novotná | styling: Lenka Hlaváčová photo: Adéla Havelková

SOMETIMES A PERSON THINKS A LONG TIME ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY. THEY LOOK FOR AN EXPENSIVE GIFT OR CONTEMPLATE GRAND GESTURES. HOW ABOUT TRYING TO WRITE YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER SOME MESSAGES...

DIFFICULTY: easy TIME: 45 minutes WHAT YOU NEED: white cardboard colour paper (black, light blue, grey) self-adhesive wallpaper (marble pattern) scissors glue ruler pencil pen

All that’s needed is a little fantasy, one or two words, and to leave the message in the right place. You can leave it in the kitchen at breakfast, tape it to the bathroom mirror or slip it into a book that they are reading. And if they’re not an early bird, you can leave the message on the alarm clock. The whole waking-up process will be all the more pleasant for your sleepyhead. Don’t be afraid to let your imagination run wild. You know your loved ones the best, have shared experiences and know very well what makes them happy!

INSTRUCTIONS: Use the ruler to divide the cardboard into 8 x 5 cm rectangles and cut them out to create cards. ►

RIGHT: Use the card to remind your loved one of a shared experience – something personal that only you and they know. Did you bring some stones back from your vacation?

You can place the card by them with the message: Remember skipping stones?

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Remember when we skipped stones?

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Now make templates to make it easier to create patterns for the cards.

Cut one card diagonally. Make a mark midpoint on the longest side of the resulting triangle and use your ruler to draw a line to the point opposite and cut along the line. You should now have two triangles. Cut the longer one exactly in half. The templates are now ready.

Choose three templates and trace them on the colour paper. The white surface of the card will serve as the fourth piece. Cut out the pieces and glue them onto the card.

The last piece will be made from the wallpaper. You will glue this piece over the top of the pieces that have already been glued on the card. Cut up another card to create the templates for this piece. Divide the card up using the ruler in any way you like. Then trace the templates on the wallpaper, cut out the pieces and glue one on the card.

When creating other cards, try different colour combinations. Then just add your witty message! ■

REMEMBER WHEN WE SKIPPED STONES? (ON A BOX OF STONES) DON’T FROWN :-) (ON THE MIRROR) COFFEE AT FIVE O’CLOCK? (ON A CLOCK) MAY YOU HAVE LOTS OF ENERGY TODAY! (BY A PREPARED BREAKFAST) GET UP AND EXERCISE! (ON AN ALARM CLOCK) GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE! (ON AN ALARM CLOCK) PAGE 112, LINE 6 (INTO A BOOK) SEE YOU AT SEVEN! AND DON’T FORGET THE TISSUES! :-) (ON SOME CINEMA TICKETS)

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CR EAT I V E PEO PL E How Christmas is made

CHR ISTM AS A S A WAY O F L I F E text: Adéla Kudrnová | styling: SOFFA photo: Lina Németh and Adéla Havelková

PEOPLE OFTEN SAY THAT WITHOUT A TREE, A CARP OR A NATIVITY SCENE, IT JUST WOULDN’T BE A TRUE CZECH CHRISTMAS. BUT HOW DOES THE CARP END UP ON THE TABLE ON CHRISTMAS EVE? WHO GROWS THE TREE WHOSE FRAGRANCE CREATES THE FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE IN THE HOUSE? WHO MAKES THE EFFORT TO CARVE OUT THE WOODEN FIGURINES TO GO IN THE NATIVITY SCENE? WE DECIDED TO SEEK THEM OUT FOR YOU. WE INTERVIEWED FIVE PEOPLE WHO LIVE CHRISTMAS 365 DAYS A YEAR, BECAUSE THEIR WORK IS TO PREPARE CHRISTMAS FOR US. AND THEY’RE GOOD AT IT. We were interested in finding out what kind of people make a living from Christmas. Thanks to them, we mere mortals can experience the unforgettable festive atmosphere of this holiday at least once a year. The following things are an essential part of Czech Christmas: Christmas trees, carp, gingerbread, straw decorations and nativity scenes. We set off across the Czech Republic to look for the people who make them for you. Forester František Čapek, who also teaches at the Secondary Forestry School in Písek, explained how much work it takes to grow a Christmas tree. During the haul at Pančál lake near Písek, the Blatenská Ryba fishermen told us everything about the road a carp takes from the pond to your dining table on Christmas Eve. Gingerbread maker Dagmar Jarešová from Týn nad Vltavou showed us the strangest forms in her gingerbread-scented workshop. Hana Maříková taught us the basics of weaving straw Christmas decorations, and we were immediately enchanted. The biggest experience, however, was meeting Ján Chvalník, a nativity scene carver from Příbram, who was just carving life-size figures for the Příbram nativity scene when we visited him. And you’re still not in the Christmas spirit? Impossible! ■

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FRANTIŠEK ČAPEK | CHRISTMAS TREES František Čapek is a forester and teaches at the Secondary Forestry School in Písek.

He talked to us about the forest with a passion that would move absolutely anyone.

We learned that a forester does not grow trees with the sole aim of selling them as Christmas trees, as there are plantations devoted only to that purpose. Christmas trees from a regular forest are the result of thinning and cleaning, when foresters eliminate trees that are not suitable for further growth in the forest. Christmas trees are usually eight years old. First the seeds are sown in a forest nursery, where they are nurtured for three years. Then the seedlings are planted in a forest plantation (usually five to ten thousand trees per hectare, depending on the species of tree). Here the tree grows for another three to four years, and it can happen that as part of the thinning process, it is chosen to be a Christmas tree. Most trees are removed up to the age of twenty (from the original ten thousand trees, the number falls to three thousand). Some of the trees are left to decay, and the others are used as Christmas trees.

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FISHERMAN FROM BLATENSKÁ RYBA | CARP Do you have carp for Christmas dinner every year, in keeping with Czech tradition?

Maybe you don’t even know how it gets onto your plate. During the November haul from the Pančál lake near Písek, we talked about the carp’s pilgrimage with fisherman Adam Červík of the company Blatenská Ryba. Hauls mainly take place from September to November, but caring for the fish is a year-round endeavour. Smaller hauls take place in the spring, when fish are caught for breeding in hatcheries and new fry are used to stock ponds. The fish must then be properly fed the whole summer, so that they are ready to be harvested in the autumn and transported to the store pond. Already at the time of the haul, the fish are sorted by weight and the majority are taken to the store ponds where they spend time gaining weight to ready them for their traditional sale from tubs before Christmas. According to Adam this year was a bad one because of the drought, but it won’t affect the strange Czech tradition of keeping a live carp in the bathtub for a few days before it becomes part of the holiday feast!

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DAGMAR JAREŠOVÁ | CHRISTMAS GINGERBREAD The smell of honey gingerbread is one of the most typical symbols of Christmas.

Dagmar Jarešová and her husband get to enjoy this unmistakable fragrance the whole year, because they bake gingerbread not only for Christmas, but for other occasions as well (Easter, fairs, Valentine’s Day, and so on). This is how they have been making a living since 1989. They bake the gingerbread according to a recipe handed down to Dagmar from Mr Jereš’s grandmother. When you enter the workshop that is attached to the Jareš home, you feel as though you have entered a fairy tale: angels, snowmen, kittens, fish and other figurines dressed in icing sugar surround you. But you may be surprised to learn that gingerbread tractors are their biggest hit! Designing the shapes and patterns is Dagmar’s domain, but she likes traditional hearts the best. Why? Because they can be cut out without any leftovers!

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HANA MAŘÍKOVÁ | STRAW DECORATIONS Hana Maříková always loved folklore art, customs and traditions, so when she started devoting her time to making decorations from straw and chaff professionally after being made redundant from her original job, her dream you could say came true.

Hana knows all the holiday-related crafts – she decorates eggs, and uses bast fibre and even reeds. Most of all, though, she likes straw and making the classic straw decorations with which our forefathers used to decorate their Christmas trees. Straw decorations originated from harvest wreaths. They can be woven from wheat, rye and oat straw. Long, good quality straw is important but not so easy to find these days. The straw is soaked in water to make it more flexible, and the weaving can begin! Hana weaves freehand so well that she demonstrated this technique at the EXPO in China.

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JÁN CHVALNÍK | CARVED NATIVITY SCENES We set out to Příbram to visit Ján Chvalník, a nativity scene carver. And it is no coincidence that he lives near this town. It is said that in the early 20th century every family in this area – even the poorest ones – had a manger, as nativity scenes are called here.

A manger was a family’s Christmas altar and the pride of every nativity scene carver.

Nativity scene carving has a strong tradition here, and the Příbram Nativity Carvers’ Association, of which Ján is president, is trying to keep it alive. During our visit, Ján was working on two figures and a lamb for his life-size wooden nativity scene, which he lends to the city of Příbram each year for display on the main square during Advent.

In addition to this nativity scene made of poplar and linden wood, Ján is the author of two other carved nativity scenes. For the most part, however, he restores old mangers, which can be found hidden away in many a Czech attic.

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EDITORIAL STAFF

CONTRIBUTORS

Adéla Kudrnová I editor in chief adela@soffamag.com Lenka Hlaváčová I art director & designer lenka@soffamag.com Lina Németh I photographer lina@soffamag.com Adéla Havelková I photographer & graphic designer adela.h@soffamag.com Antonín Cífka I production manager antonin@soffamag.com Terézia Bělčáková I marketing & PR terezia@soffamag.com Tereza Gladišová I distribution stockist@soffamag.com Sára Němečková I asistentka produkce sara@soffamag.com Helena Novotná I social media editor helena@soffamag.com

Martin Sova | editor Helena Stiessová | editor Olga Karpecká | editor Jon Skay | editor Bára Perglová | editor Milada Kudrnová | illustrator Josée Pedneault | photographer Adéla Srbová | food stylist Jana Bušková | video

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Albert Friess I English translation Sarah Robertson-Glasgow I English revision and proofreading THE WINNERS FROM THE OCTOBER ISSUE: SNEM: Martina Písková EDITION LIDU: Belen Loza, Barbora Macíková, Cristina Giacchetti, Jana Michalová, Petr Patočka

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