A Week of Improvisation and Nourishment

Returning to the Flock Festival at Treehouse NDSM for the 2026 Nestling Edition felt like coming home to a vibrant, creative family. Organized by Flock Theatre, the festival is an annual international celebration of unscripted theatre, spontaneous storytelling, and pure artistic play.

Throughout the entire week, I had the joy of cooking and keeping the performers, organizers, and crew nourished behind the scenes. Everything built up toward Friday, June 26th, when I took the Pavilion stage to host The Grand Dinner, a communal gathering designed to turn food into live, unscripted theatre.

The Warmup: Entering the Absurd with The Tacklebox Game

Before sitting down at the table, guests had the chance to step into a surreal world created by Jeroen du Chatinier. Starting at 17:00, The Tacklebox Game transformed a seemingly relaxed two person fishing trip on a lake into a wonderfully bizarre, immersive theatrical experience.

Because players acted as both performers and audience, everyone arrived at the dinner table already warmed up, embracing uncertainty, absurdity, and playful curiosity. It was the ideal mindset for what I had planned in the kitchen.

A Menu in Three Acts

At 19:00, the Pavilion filled with conversation, heartfelt speeches, belly aching laughter, and curated wine pairings selected by Gael at the Flock bar. Building on the energy of last year closing dinner, I conceived this menu as an unscripted performance in three distinct acts, playfully echoing the themes of the evening and the fishing trip game.

Act I: The Dynamic of Roles - A Study in Contrast and Perceptions

Before taking the first bite, I invited guests to close their eyes and tune into the frequencies of texture. This sensory opening played with temperature and structure to challenge expectations: a crisp, refreshing, and colorful ensemble shared the spotlight with a warm, savory, and comforting centerpiece. Rather than dictating the hierarchy of the plate, I left the question open for every palate to decide who was the main character and who played the supporting role.

Act II: Fishing for Golden Shapes - A Playful Ecosystem on a Vivid Surface

Inspired directly by the playful fishing trip of the afternoon, the second act invited everyone to grab their forks and dive into an interactive, handmade ecosystem. A vibrant, cool, and aromatic green mirror of water carried a fleet of golden, sun baked spheres and roasted jewels. Every catch in this light, summery, and completely gluten free landscape revealed a balance of warmth, freshness, and a sharp, citrusy sting.

Act III: The Concept - An Exercise in High Minimalism

For the grand finale, I wanted to play directly with the audience assumptions and expectations of a traditional dessert. The plate arrived as the ultimate expression of culinary restraint: a sharp brushstroke of crimson paired with a single, geometric token of darkness. Together with the theatrical prank woven into the presentation, it challenged everyone around the table to find fullness, humor, and surprise inside the empty space.

Between the surreal lake adventures, the shared laughter, and a dessert designed to subvert expectations, this evening proved once again how theatre and plant based cooking share the same stage. Thanks Laura and Gael, and the all Flock teams, See you next year!

Thanks a lot Carine for your help and for the pictures!