Bread

Only a few ingredients.
And such diversity, worldwide.

The First Ingredient

We are thrilled to announce that our photo/art book ‘The First Ingredient’ has finally been printed! This labor of love, nearly eight years in the making, is a testament to the dedication and passion of everyone involved in this unique photo project celebrating bakers worldwide.

The response to this book has been overwhelming, with inquiries pouring in from across the globe. However, we must clarify that this initial release is a limited, private edition specifically created to commemorate the centennial anniversary and Royal status of Amarant Bakers, the esteemed bakery of Johan Pater, who initiated this remarkable photo art project.

This first exclusive edition will be gifted to a select group of associates and all participating bakeries who have provided their addresses. It's our way of expressing gratitude for their invaluable contributions to this endeavor.

For those eagerly awaiting their chance to own a copy, we have exciting news: a commercial version is in the works! We're diligently preparing some fantastic plans for the future, as this project is far from over. In fact, it has only whetted our appetite for more!

To stay informed about the upcoming purchasable edition and our future endeavors, we encourage you to continue following this account. You'll be the first to know when the book becomes available for order and about any other exciting developments on the horizon.

We're immensely proud of what we've accomplished with ‘The First Ingredient’ and can't wait to share more of this journey with you.

Photography and text
Mirjam Letsch & Hans de Clercq

Idea
Johan en Marleen Pater

Realisation
Rosalie de Boer

Design
Albronda + Rietstap

Artwork
Zwier Cornelissen

Hardcover in slipcase
1.000 copies, numbered

Palestine | 2023

As Dutch photographers and writers, Mirjam Letsch & Hans de Clercq are collaborating on an International Artisan Bakers photo project, an initiative of Johan Pater, third generation baker himself. An assignment that takes us all over the world, visiting bakers and capturing their stories with a colorful insight into their lives and craft. This page gives a short overview of the countries and bakers we visited thus far. We are always searching for inspiring visual stories about flour, bread, bakeries and ‘granny’s with old recipes’. It’s truly amazing how only a few ingredients are used in so many different ways all over the world. Please contact us if you have a suggestion! We cannot disclose too much about the end-product(s), but it will be stunning for sure! We have an Instagram page as well. Click a photo for a first impression in five photos per country!