NATHALIE AND THOMAS TRAFFORD, MOTHER AND SON, RECEIVE THE VISIT OF THE ARTIST FATIMA DE BURNAY AND THE WRITER RAY LORIGA AT THE ESTATE. A PLEASANT SUMMER MEAL AMONG FRIENDS IN THE EXTREME COUNTRYSIDE
BY ALEJANDRO LE LÁÑOS. PHOTOS: PABLO SARABIA. DIRECTIONS: SYLVIA MAN
Nathalie Trafford, in the kitchen, wearing a Pomandére shirt, Blauer pants, Birkenstock sandals and Hermés bracelets. A corner of the main dining room, decorated by Fátima de Burnay. Entrance sign to the farm.
In El Azahar (fincaelazahar.com) there are always guests, a coming and going of friends and guests who discover in this small rural accommodation, in the middle of the imposing Serrezuela mountain range and a few kilometers from the town of Trujillo (Extremadura), the place perfect to disconnect and indulge in slow life. Here, time seems to stop. The revolutions drop and the sound of birds, the splashing in the pool or the slight movement of the leaves on the trees become the best travel companions. "We came here with the idea of finding a place, in the middle of nature, in which to launch an artist residency," says film producer Nathalie Trafford, soul and architect of this unique proposal. They found the answer in the Extremadura countryside. El Azahar was the first property they visited and, almost as if they had fallen in love, they decided to stay there. «There was no need for anything else, we immediately realized that this was the place. Our experience with this farm was love at first sight,” she says, still excited. This house with only five rooms, spacious, bright and full of details, has ended up becoming a life project for this family who abandoned the noise and frenetic pace of the city to enter the countryside. «During the pandemic, which we were lucky enough to experience here, we realized that this was our place. It was an experience that we lived with great intensity and it changed our perspective and priorities," he comments. His son, Thomas Trafford, has joined this careful family adventure, who, after studying Art History and Philosophy and living in cities like Berlin or Washington, decided to make a stop and devote himself fully to his agricultural aspect. «My idea was to dedicate myself to the world of culture, but since I was a child I had a very recurring dream. I imagined myself on a small piece of land, cultivating my own garden, like a kind of hermit. And here I am," he explains with a laugh.
The dream came true and this twenty-year-old, full of concerns about the future of the planet, develops an exciting project for the farm based on regenerative agriculture. «I have been researching solutions to help mitigate climate change for quite some time, designing and launching the garden. My idea is to improve the land and return to what was before, work with the diversity of plants and add, little by little, animals," he says. With the arrival of good weather, life at El Azahar happens outside, in an immense garden full of different species of trees and hundreds of types of flowers through which the chickens run freely. However, when one enters the house, one feels collected. The interior design, signed by the artist and good friend of the family Fátima de Burnay, preserves the original architectural elements, such as the hydraulic floors and the stone walls. The furniture, ornamental elements and countless details complete a serene and sophisticated decoration. «The house already had a lot of personality and we wanted to recover the essence of the typical Extremadura winery. We have found many of the pieces searching in stores in Madrid, such as Olofane, in antique markets in the area or on trips outside of Spain, and speaking with Portuguese artisans," details De Burnay. The gastronomy, here, is relaxed and unpretentious. «Everything we eat comes from our garden and local producers. We prepare the same things for the guests that we would cook at home for our guests,” says Nathalie, while preparing some of the recipes that they will have during the lunch with friends that she has organized. Thomas, the youngest of the family, is already working on the idea that El Azahar can sustain itself. For the moment, what they don't have inside they look for outside. Of course, a few kilometers away: «We get the meats from a very nearby regenerative farm, the cheeses are from small organic producers nearby and the sausage is from Extremadura. We are very faithful to the km 0 current and respect for the local product," emphasizes Thomas himself, who is already beginning to shape a wine plan for the future in his vineyards. For today's fun summer lunch in the shade of the fig tree, they place antique tableware, local crafts, relaxed linen tablecloths, glasses and cups of different sizes, and flowers picked from the countryside. "The table here is dressed with a lot of relaxation and the summer menus are very simple," says Nathalie as she arranges some of the dishes. The meal begins with a refreshing soup with yogurt and herbs from the garden, some appetizing artichokes and a chard tart with pine nuts and feta cheese. «As a main course we will have some meatballs inspired by a Greek recipe, with beef, onion, pine nuts and mint. They are eaten cold and accompanied with a beet and chervil salad,” he says. As a final touch there will be an original Lebanese-inspired dessert, with almond milk, rice flour, orange blossom and strawberries. "In France we call it blanc-manger and it is super fresh and light, ideal for the summer season." El Azahar could become a setting for a novel. One from Ray Loriga, for example. The Madrid writer finds refuge and inspiration for his stories here: "It's perfect for thinking," he maintains. Then, as he takes a seat at the table, he adds: «To think, write and, later, correct. This is where, lately, I do everything. The farm has made a place for itself among his favorite places to work and, in fact, here he began and finished his latest book, Any summer is an end (Alfaguara) and is also here shaping his next novel. At the beginning of next year, El Azahar will receive the visit of painters, writers, filmmakers and philosophers, who will develop their projects in this artist residence in the middle of the silent Extremaduran countryside. The story continues.
For today's fun summer lunch in the shade of the fig tree, they set out antique crockery, local handicrafts, relaxed linen table linen, glasses and cups of different sizes and flowers picked from the countryside. ‘The table here is dressed very relaxed and the summer menus are very simple,’ says Nathalie as she arranges some of the dishes. The meal begins with a refreshing soup with yoghurt and herbs from the garden, some tasty artichokes and a chard tart with pine nuts and feta cheese. ‘For the main course we have meatballs inspired by a Greek recipe, with veal, onion, pine nuts and mint. They are eaten cold and accompanied by a beetroot and chervil salad,’ he says. As a finishing touch, there will be an original Lebanese-inspired dessert, with almond milk, rice flour, orange blossom and strawberries. ‘In France we call it blanc-manger and it is super-fresh and light, ideal for the summer season. Azahar could become a setting for a novel. One by Ray Loriga, for example. The writer from Madrid finds refuge and inspiration for his stories here: ‘It's perfect for thinking’, he says. Then, as he takes a seat at the table, he adds: ‘To think, to write and, later, to correct. This is where I've been doing everything lately. The finca has become one of his favourite places to work and, in fact, this is where he began and finished his latest book, Cualquier verano es un final (Alfaguara) and where he is also shaping his next novel. Early next year, El Azahar will be visited by painters, writers, filmmakers and philosophers, who will develop their projects in this artists' residence in the middle of the silent Extremaduran countryside. The story continues.
"The food at El Azahar is relaxed and unpretentious, everything we eat comes from our garden or from local producers. We give our guests the same food we would cook at home".
