Skye Corewijn

Skye is a friend of our chef Sebastian. We first met at her studio many months ago, before opening Planque. At the time of our visit, we were choosing paint colours and had just settled on cobalt blue for our window frames and ultramarine powder for La Cachette (the mini arch that is our private dining room). So, when I saw all her wonderful works displayed on the table I was immediately drawn to the few blue swirls on some of her plates. They reminded me of the subconscious dance that comes out of our hands when we are chatting on the phone. As a fellow doodler and swirler, I loved how playful and fluid these felt.

Skye shares a studio in Leyton with two other fellow potters, it’s a calm space and I would have loved to stay for the whole day. Making things, small-scale and by hand is something we believe in here at Planque, and we are lucky to live in a city with such a rich craft community. Here you can find Skye and her work.

This month we will be holding a plate swirling workshop with Skye (which is also just a great excuse to sit down to a meal, break bread and do something with our hands). Guests will get to make their own cobalt patterns on Skye’s plates. And if you would like to own one of Skye's creations for Planque, for the entire month we will have a few of her plates and bowls available at the Store too. Enjoy Skye’s Case Study below.

1. You’re handed a wine list, what do you do?

It depends on the company; if I have a knowledgeable companion I’ll pass them the list, say no to the £1million bottle they want, and compromise on something else delicious.

If I’m the decision maker I’ll start by checking in on how adventurous everyone is and how many bottles we plan on drinking, and what the total budget is. Then go for a producer or a cuvée I recognise or just ask for the floor staff to advise us on something fun.

2. How do you know the wine you're drinking is good?

When it’s finished I wish i had a second bottle ready to be opened

3. What is something fascinating you’ve been told over lunch?

Nearly all the eels in the world are born in the same place

4. In whose company do you most enjoy drinking wine?

Two categories:

My partner - he knows a lot about wine and often what we drink has a good story or memory tied to it. Or it’s just delicious.

My friends - unwinding together after a long day, or celebrating each other, or just shooting the breeze. A bottle of wine can absorb you all in that moment and in each other.

5. Can you describe your ideal combination of wine, music, and setting?

Bottles of Barraco Grillo or Pigato Selvadolce Crescendo open, friends with wine glasses full or nearly empty, whatever music I’m obsessed with at the time playing (right now little simz, anything from her last two albums) and we’re all sitting or standing or dancing around at my house I’m Stepney Green.

6. What sort of food would you add to the equation?

Braai (BBQ)

Steamed date pudding for dessert (have made it twice in the last month) with some very good vanilla ice cream

7. What is the most memorable bottle of wine you’ve drank?

My partner and I ordered a bottle of Radikon many years ago - it was a very expensive bottle and we were already holidaying way beyond our means - but we said fuck it - when the bottle arrived we discovered that the one we chose wasn’t a 75cl one but a 50cl 🥲

8. Where did you drink it?

In de Wulf

9. Is there a characteristic you look for in a wine and in a friend?

Joy

10. What is your approach to drinking?

Delicious, fun, no snobbery, a story, the comfort of an old favourite, the excitement of something new

11. Do you apply this approach in other aspects of life?

Yeah, I’d say so!

12. What shall we open next?

I've got two bottles at home waiting to be opened right now - Harmoge Prima Terra 2018 and Tre Dame from Ca de Noci 2019 d'aprile. Never had either of them before so here’s to something new!