Antonella Tignanelli

We knew Antonella's work before we knew that she was the one behind Baldomero and Camping's exquisite recipes. When we met her to get to know each other in person, it turned out that we have many friends in common... Barcelona is too small for us! Although for her it is the world that is too small; she has lived in Argentina, Mexico, New York, Paris, Berlin and even Australia.

The connection with Antonella is automatic, within minutes of meeting her we start talking about the world in general and all the projects she is involved in. We are particularly interested in a project that is still in the oven, a docuseries that explores the ancestral relationship between food and folklore. He also explains with great passion a recipe book he is working on. She shows us some of the photos she took a few days ago, and we can't wait to have this recipe book! We also talk about her son, catering and astrology. Find out more about Antonella's work on her instagram.

NT - The first question is: what is your favourite dish?

VC - Rice in all its forms.

NT - Where does this connection between aesthetics and food come from?

VC - I think the relationship is marked from before. Food, and nature in general, could not be more beautiful! Grandmothers have always, unconsciously, prepared things of unparalleled beauty. The work is very meticulous, in villages, in the countryside, for many generations... What I try to do is to give that work an intention, and bring it closer to where we are today.

NT - What three words would you use to define your work?

VC - Manual, intuitive, social.

NT - What are your daily inspirations?

VC - The world around us, the inexplicable beauty of flowers, the complex and perfect flavours of fruit. I get excited by very simple things and every day I get more and more bored by things that are complex or difficult to understand. With a very good product at the right moment you have everything you need, you don't need to add much, it can be your muse.

NT - What part of the process do you enjoy the most?

VC - The moment of thinking about what to do, why, what for, where, how and when, is probably my favourite process. Research.

There is something very nice about implementing all the ideas and putting them into practice as well, there is something about putting things into action that is very rewarding. But I could spend my life thinking of projects that would make me happy even if they don't materialise. And I do.

NT - Which artist would you like to collaborate with?

VC - Agnes Varda.

NT - Who are your references?

VC - Grandmothers.

NT - If you could bring an artist back to life, who would you choose?

VC - Dalí, and I would have dinner with him.

NT - What do you like most about living in Barcelona?

VC - I like living here that there is a very strong community feeling among creatives, chefs.... People help each other and support each other. It's also a place where you can have time and space to develop your language in peace and quiet, without feeling that rush of the outside world that you have in so many other cities.