For some reason, I just started daydreaming (while eating lunch) that I was home again in Singapore... Eating chicken rice with soup. Sigh!
Halva, a photo by c3lsius_bb on Flickr.
Take me away far far away to the land of Gods and Goddesses.
Since almost all food bloggers always post their best photos online, I've decided to do some deconstruction of my work and post some that are big no-no's and some minor mishaps along the way in styling foods.
1. Can you figure out what's wrong with the shot of the salad above? Colors must be balanced. Too many greens, but too few reds. The nuts have rolled down and you can't even see the goat cheese! With the lack of toppings (strawberries, cheese and nuts), the salad photo becomes dominated with just green leaves.
2. Now you might ask yourself what's wrong with this one? A couple things actually- need to steam the napkin used as background since the fold is visible, the half-eaten cracker on top seems "lost" in the photo thus need to re-arrange it with the group of crackers below and most importantly, can you tell what the little red stick is? If not, it is a teaspoon. Don't leave your viewers guessing what the photo is. Make it obvious.
3. Another hummus photo. Besides the 2 chickpeas lost on the bottom and the unpolished shape of the hummus, a good food stylist must be well-educated... in food. That's why chefs or food connoisseurs have an edge when it comes to styling because they know how the food should look. So what's missing in this photo? EVOO.
1. Can you figure out what's wrong with the shot of the salad above? Colors must be balanced. Too many greens, but too few reds. The nuts have rolled down and you can't even see the goat cheese! With the lack of toppings (strawberries, cheese and nuts), the salad photo becomes dominated with just green leaves.
2. Now you might ask yourself what's wrong with this one? A couple things actually- need to steam the napkin used as background since the fold is visible, the half-eaten cracker on top seems "lost" in the photo thus need to re-arrange it with the group of crackers below and most importantly, can you tell what the little red stick is? If not, it is a teaspoon. Don't leave your viewers guessing what the photo is. Make it obvious.
3. Another hummus photo. Besides the 2 chickpeas lost on the bottom and the unpolished shape of the hummus, a good food stylist must be well-educated... in food. That's why chefs or food connoisseurs have an edge when it comes to styling because they know how the food should look. So what's missing in this photo? EVOO.
I need a drink in this hotT weather, don't you? Cool down with this summer drink made of strawberries and sake.
The weekend birthday brunch with the gals started with a mimosa for me, coffee for them. And then I filled my empty stomach with Universal Cafe's famous french toast with marjoram and chattily creme. The place is a little bit off the beaten track hidden in the corner of 19th St but it was packed! No wonder they were ranked as Top 10 places to have brunch in SF by Opentable.
The overhype cupcake craze failed to impress me. I went inside to get a bday treat for myself but after seeing the rather too big and piled sky high with icing cupcakes (I've been known to scrape off icing and whip cream- unnecessary fats that I don't enjoy eating) I just decided to take a photo and go. A good case study about how this shop started and how it became famous but don't be fooled with the cupcake hype.
Tis the season for cherry picking thus took the little one to his first ever peach and cherry picking experience. Although the fruits we picked turned out to be not so sweet and I was really tempted to buy the sweeter ones out of the little shop or the farmers' market down the road, my mum reminded me that we were there for the "experience". OK.
So now, I have a bunch of not too sweet peaches and cherries hanging out in my fridge. I have to make them into something. A jam perhaps? Any ideas?
So now, I have a bunch of not too sweet peaches and cherries hanging out in my fridge. I have to make them into something. A jam perhaps? Any ideas?
Aftermath of eating a cherry = dracula! |
Gabe choosing his bucket |
Gabe's friend telling him to get off the ladder! |
excited to start running around |
one of my picks |
splat. ooppss |
calamari appetizer - not free |
Glad to announce that I scored a free meal (entree and dessert) worth more than $40 at Palomino last night. Ever since I signed up for their newsletter a few years ago, they have been sending free entree for my birthdays and more free stuff whenever they have something new on their menu. Even coupon sites, e.g. Groupon, Pinchit, Bloomspot, LivingSocial, etc., can't beat this kind of deal, which makes me come back year over year. Thus, I encourage all my readers to go sign up for their newsletter.
clam parsley pizza |
Golden Boy Pizza- one of the other hidden gems of San Francisco tucked in a quiet street of North Beach.
mozarella topped with peas |
parmasen truffle fries |
pasta with soft shell crab with bonito flakes |
chicken with sweet potatoes |
More Italian plates from Bottega in Yountville, Napa Valley. Was not too thrilled when I was seated outside their terrace during a breezy afternoon- equivalent to freezing, hungry and grumpy me.