A Red Silk Salon
The Red Silk Dress
An evening of story, wine, food and conversation
Howard’s Folly
Estremoz, Alentejo
Saturday 26th September
7:00 pm
A Red Silk evening in Estremoz
In creative collaboration with
Howard’s Folly
Join author Natalie Turner for an intimate Red Silk Salon inspired by The Red Silk Dress, where story opens into conversation around creativity, courage, desire, reinvention and the moments that quietly change the direction of a life.
There are some conversations that belong to particular places.
For this Red Silk Salon, we travel to Estremoz and Howard’s Folly, bringing together story, wine, food and music in the heart of the Alentejo.
Natalie will read from The Red Silk Dress and open a conversation around some of the deeper threads running through the novel, accompanied by selected works from Ingela Johansson’s RED Collection, originally inspired by transformative moments in the story.
The works will become part of the conversation, inviting guests to respond to what they see, feel and recognise in each piece.
Not as a formal author talk, but as a salon: intimate, participative and alive.
As the conversation gives way to supper, Howard’s Folly takes up the story through its wines and food, before music carries the evening into the night.
An evening to be savoured slowly, with time to stay, connect and let the conversation unfold.
Howard’s Folly, Estremoz
Wine & Supper
Guests will be welcomed with a glass of Sonhador Rosé 2025, accompanied by cheese and charcuterie boards with bread, olives and preserves. Following the Salon, Howard’s Folly will serve a relaxed buffet supper, accompanied by Sonhador Branco 2025 and Sonhador Tinto 2021.
From the table
Starters
Cheese and ham boards
Small ‘bifanas’ in olive bread
Cheese balls
Chicken ‘coxinha’
Banana chips with guacamole
Cheese, tomato and basil skewers
Mains
Potato gnocchi with coconut milk, sun-dried tomatoes and spinach
Veal stewed in red wine with mashed potato
Fresh seasonal salads
Deserts
Pineapple and coconut tart with mango, passionfruit and Setúbal Moscatel
Chocolate terrine with poached pear
Fresh fruit
Lemonade and water will also be available.
A taste of Howard’s Folly, where wine, food and conversation meet around the table.
€55 per person
Your ticket includes:
A welcome glass of Sonhador Rosé 2025 and grazing boards
The Red Silk Salon with Natalie Turner
Buffet supper and dessert
Howard’s Folly wines with dinner
Music after supper
After 9:30 pm, the Howard’s Folly bar will remain open for guests wishing to purchase additional drinks.
Wines will also be available to buy and take home.
Optional – Pre-order a signed physical copy of The Red Silk Dress for €18 and collect it on the night.
This includes a complimentary ebook for those who wish to enter the world of the novel in advance of the evening.
Signed copies will also be available to purchase on the night for €20.
Dress code: Smart casual.
Reservations: By registration only.
Places are limited to 30 guests and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tickets are non-refundable. If something changes and you are unable to attend, please let us know.
Where possible, we will try to reallocate your place to someone on the waiting list.
Make a Weekend of It
Around two hours from Lisbon, Estremoz lends itself beautifully to an overnight stay or a slow weekend in the Alentejo.
Guests wishing to stay locally may wish to explore:
Pátio dos Solares
Pousada Castelo de Estremoz
Howard’s Folly accommodation
Accommodation is booked independently and is not included in the event ticket.
We look forward to welcoming you.
Rua General Norton de Matos
7100-107 Estremoz
Portugal
Red Silk Salons bring people together around story, conversation, place and the pleasure of sharing a table.
Howard’s Folly brings together winemaking, creativity and a genuine sense of place, making it a natural home for this edition of the Red Silk Salon.