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Wojtek van Portek

@vanportek

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The Art of Living 🐬
Author of Wojtek’s Bistro 📖
Style Director @houseandgardenuk

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And just like that my very first cookbook is finally here 🍽️
A labour of love that combines my passion for food, lifestyle, and authenticity.
This book is a reflection of my heritage and the beauty I see in everyday life. 🌸
The release falls on the anniversary of my grandmother’s passing— this feels like a quiet alignment of memory, grief, and gratitude as this book is a tribute to this incredible woman.
It is, without question, the most personal work I’ve ever created.
I’m indebted to @alisonstarling for believing in me and giving me the reins on this project.
Pre-order now via the *link in my bio*, and let’s savour the flavours of Poland together 🍽️🇵🇱
Published:
UK 10 September
US 13 October
Canada 13 October
📕
#lifestyle #cookbook #author @octopus_books_ taken in Wojtek’s Bistro by @vanportek

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6 months ago

And just like that, my very first cover for House & Garden is here.🐬

Shot at the extraordinary @turveyhouse in the middle of a July heatwave, with miles of fabric, trimmings, mattresses, cushions and a healthy amount of beautiful chaos — all in the name of our October Decoration Issue.

I’d never worked with @mark_anthony_fox before, but there was an immediate kinship in the way we saw the story: humour, abundance, slightly mad compositions and, above all, the sheer joy of making a picture. Exactly my kind of language.

@amygreenstudio took the madness quite literally, brilliantly turning these ideas into the custom cushions and mattresses you see here, with my super-troopers @dpandeycn , @millliemoss @tulsithomas and @gwenbrownmakesthings by our side.

And not least, @interiorseditor, who trusted the concept from the very beginning and gave me the freedom to run with it — quite literally, on occasion.

Two days, one heatwave and approximately 100 cushions later — we had a cover. 🛌 taken in Turvey House by @vanportek

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a month ago

Frieze masters. Dressed to be framed.

🖼️ @weissgallery
📸 @aleem_87 taken in Frieze Masters by @vanportek

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2 days ago

One’s birthday has no time for minimalism. 🎈

📸 @jamesrobjant 🫶🏻 by @vanportek

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7 days ago

And just like that, Wojtek’s Bistro is out in the world📕🍽️

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the love, encouragement and support that carried me through the making of this book — my little essence of cooking in style, the Polish way. Food, flowers, tables, stories, a bit of resourcefulness and, naturally, a great deal of butter.

And what a way to send it off: @wearebardbooks sold every last copy on the night. SOLD OUT!
More are coming — apparently I now need to get used to saying things like that.

Heartfelt thanks to JFP @joshspero for making my debut author talk feel so wonderfully easy, intelligent and fun — and for asking all the right questions while I attempted to behave like someone who does this sort of thing all the time.

To everyone who came, bought a book, listened, laughed, raised a glass and has supported Wojtek’s Bistro along the way: dziękuję.♥️

The Bistro is officially open. 🍽️ taken in Wojtek’s Bistro by @vanportek

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a month ago

Look Mum, I’m in the September issue of @houseandgardenuk 🥲

Thrilled, delighted and beyond grateful to see six whole pages of *Wojtek’s Bistro* in the magazine — a little taste of the book before it makes its way into the world.

Inside: weather-appropriate recipes, brilliantly selected by @elliesteafel, a few of my thoughts on setting a table, serving in style and, most importantly, making an occasion out of the everyday.

And a very special thank you to @interiorseditor for so generously giving *Wojtek’s Bistro* these pages, and for his continued belief in my taste and point of view. It means more than I can say.

The September issue of @houseandgardenuk is out now, on newsstands and online — link in bio.

Life in colour! Captured against my blue wall by @joshspero💙
Food styling and photography by yours truly 🌹 taken in Wojtek’s Bistro by @vanportek

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2 months ago

One of my favourite still-life studies — a layered composition initially inspired by the clam (still waiting for that emoji).
I love the contradiction of hard yet fragile creamware china against soft, resilient sponge, with a bunch of bananas bridging the two worlds.
Because why not! 🍌
Also, oddly enough, the aubergine almost becomes the clam’s tongue/siphon in the composition. #stilllife #styledbyme

Creative Direction & Styling by yours truly
Photography extraordinaire @oliviafforbes taken in Wojtek’s Bistro by @vanportek

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2 months ago

Wojtek’s Bistro Summer Special! 🍽️🌺

A table full of colour, flowers and dishes made for long summer days—cooling, nourishing and generous in equal measure. Many of these recipes (and plenty more) will feature in my debut lifestyle cookbook Wojtek’s Bistro this September.
I couldn’t be more excited… or more nervous.🫣

Here’s to a season full of colour, flavour and generous tables💙

#wojteksbistro #theartofentertaining #summeronaplate taken in Wojtek’s Bistro by @vanportek

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3 months ago

I first met Wojtek about 10 years ago when he was moonlighting @maeandharveycafe . Seldom have I met a genuinely lovely individual and so when we saw he was launching his own cookbook we couldn’t not host an event to celebrate the launch. And then he promised to make cocktails. I mean… 🤷🏻‍♀️🥳

Join us @wearebardbooks to hear from the master of unexpected supper clubs, the most elegant of stylists, the wizard at inventing recipes that combines his Polish heritage with London’s global cuisines, the expert at making things look extra beautiful. And a genuinely lovely guy.

In convo with @joshspero

Wednesday 9th @7pm. Don’t be late or we may drink your cocktail. by @vanportek

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a month ago

Tangier— four days of sensory overload, in every possible way. taken in Tangier, Morocco by @vanportek

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2 months ago

It’s summer. It’s hot. We all scream for ice cream🍦
Styling melting ice cream on one of the hottest days of May was equal parts chaos and delight. The challenge wasn’t stopping the ice cream from melting, but to make @elliesteafel’s wonderfully easy recipes look every bit as irresistible as they taste👅

Immortalised through the brilliant eye (and taste) of @deadhungry, with support from @brandonoukacha.
Find all Ellie’s four recipes in the August issue of @houseandgardenuk—and huge thanks, as ever, to @interiorseditor for letting me run with another slightly mad idea.🍨🍦 taken in The Adelphi Building by @vanportek

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3 months ago

Just 4 weeks until this beauty is out in the world, and I couldn’t be more excited — or prouder (it’s finally kicked in!) — to call myself an author.💙
What a joy! What a ride! And what a legacy to be proud of.

I cannot wait to share it all with you on 10 September — and with my friends in the USA & Canada on 13 October.

Wojtek’s Bistro, here we go! 📕💙

#cookbook #author #herewego taken in Wojtek’s Bistro by @vanportek

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2 months ago