A multinational, three-generational creative bubble in the Bay of Plenty have made their lockdown experiences into a culinary web series on Maori TV on Demand.
In March when the country moved into level 4, a Rotorua couple, Mike and Cinzia Jonathan, welcomed their Italian photographer friend, Matteo Fabi to lockdown with them.
Cinzia, Hinekura and Mike Jonathan with Cinzia's mother Adriani Vidyati Photo: Matteo Fabi
Completing the bubble is the couple's toddler Hinekura and Cinzia's mother, who is visiting from Indonesia. It's been a creative time, perhaps what you might expect when a film-maker, and two photographers with culinary prowess spend a lot of time together.
Cinzia and Hinekura Jonathan. Photo: Matteo Fabi
“These four beautiful human beings, along with three cats and a dog, would eventually become my family during the quarantine. We are all quite proactive people, and we effortlessly developed a routine in which every one of us would carry out certain tasks in order to contribute organically to the life of the bubble,” says Matteo.
Mike Jonathan, Cinzia Jonathan and Hinekura Jonathan. Photo: Matteo Fabi
Whilst in lockdown Matteo started to cook typical meals from his hometown Bari, in the south of Italy.
This sparked an idea in Mike's mind to put together an online cooking show in which two photographers, who never claimed to be professional chefs, would share their personal recipes from both Italian and Asian cuisine.
Hinekura Jonathan Photo: Matteo Fabi
“This experience proved to me that family is wherever you feel genuinely welcome, and home is wherever a roof stands not merely on four walls, but on wholesome relationships among living creatures, fuelled by a true feeling of compassion, Matteo says.
Matteo Fabi and Hinekura Jonathan Photo: Matteo Fabi
Cinzia Jonathan, Matteo Fabi and Hinekura Jonathan. Photo: Matteo Fabi
Adriani Vidyati Photo: Matteo Fabi
Matteo’s partner Rosa Photo: Matteo Fabi
Our bubble kitchen web series is the result.
