Backtrack on Food Styling

It's been a long while when I had a food styling gig.  And since there's an upcoming project that I hope will push through this time, I will be posting some photos here that has already been published to build up my portfolio and serve as inspiration to me as well.

The then AdFix Production Design, now Archetype Design Studio, has tapped me to work on a couple of their projects with Megaworld Lifestyle Magazine where I got to work as their food stylist back in 2013 and 2014.  I was too busy on the job at that time that's why I wasn't able to ask someone from the crew to take behind-the-scenes photos for legitimacy purposes since our names are not published on most projects.

You can view or download Megaworld's Lifestyle Malls Magazine Holiday 2013 here:

Aside from food styling, I helped set the props and table as well.  We were a huge team behind these shots! :)

I remember being so stressed out on this set-up because there was this lady who stepped into our shoes and manning us on where a certain dish or prop should be placed.  She's not part of the creative team.  She's one of the owners of the restaurants featured on this photo and she wants her dish to outshine the rest.  :p

This last shot from the Holiday issue was a breeze.  We set up at Mann Han in Divisoria before lunch time, and we wrapped up late evening.  But there were no issues at all.  We just waited for all dishes to come up where I made final adjustments.

---

I also had a blast on the Summer 2014 photoshoot. You can view or download it here by the way.  There were a number of setups done on different locations and we all enjoyed it.   I even remember putting a roll of tissue and styro underneath the meat and veggies of Kare-Kare since it was too flat on the picture.  The ladies of Megaworld dismissed the thought of tasting the dish after the shoot.  Haha!  The recurring issue we dealt with during these shoots was how to fit all the dishes/plates into the long table.  But, obviously, we were able to manage it.

For queries on my food styling services, you can shoot me an e-mail contact.appleg[at]gmail[dot]com.  For production design, you can search for Archetype Design Studio on Facebook.  :)

Balotinto Pasta

Okay, okay.  The dish sounds horrible, but I guarantee you that it tastes good and quick to prepare!  I can't think of any other name.  So I shortened the ingredients of this dish to balotinto, which means bacon-longganisa-tinapa-tomato.

Ingredients:
*Feel free to play with the measurements of the main ingredients.  If you want to have more tomatoes, then please add more, etc.  

Sliced tomatoes (I used cherry tomatoes here)
1 fried longganisa, chopped
3 pcs tinapang Salinas, flaked
2 slices of bacon

2 tbsps olive oil
pinch of thyme
salt and pepper to taste

cooked penne pasta good for one serving

- Cook penne pasta according to package instructions.  Wash, drain, and set aside.

- Prepare ingredients indicated above.

- Heat pan.  Render bacon on heated pan until it produces oil.  Set aside bacon.  Chop it to pieces.

- Add olive oil on the heated pan.

- Saute sliced tomatoes.  Rub thyme onto palms on top of the pan where you are sauteing tomatoes.  Add flakes of tinapang Salinas and chopped longganisa.  Saute.

- Toss in cooked penne.

- Serve with your choice of cheese and sprinkle some chopped basil or parsley if available.



Happy Cooking! :)

Food Styling Practice

A practice shoot I had with a good friend of mine (who took these photos), Chez, back in 2013 where I did the food styling.

What I did wrong here, the dressing is way too thick, didn't spray water on the leaves, and the knitted place-mat is stretched far left (it was made that way, can't do anything to it at that time hehe)

Wasn't able to brush some oil over the chicken pieces.

More to come when I find time rummaging my old files.

Passion Forward: Food Styling

Food styling is what I'm most passionate about.  I get to cook or bake the dish/es (if the client asked me to do so), style and shoot it for my clients, or to you who frequents this blog.  It's like putting all my interests into one.

What made me different from other food stylists in the metro?  I don't use too much ingredients (like hoarding sacks of ingredients for a couple of frames).  Food waste is a no-no for me.  So I do edible styling, which simply means, we can feast on the dish/es of the shoot.  Again, no food waste + happy tummies!  I also refrain from making the product/s too commercialized (looks fake), and I use available lighting for more personal approach towards the consumers.  It's like giving them the feel of having the dishes at the comfort of their homes.  Thus, I'm less expensive.

I don't mind working with start-up businesses, or kiosks.  Your product/s should to be the star of your business!  Rates are flexible for your kind of shoot.  I can just simply do the styling and someone you know will shoot.  Or I can prepare/cook your products and style it, or just simply stick to styling.  Your choice.  We can have a thorough discussion about the details.  All you have to do is communicate with me by sending an e-mail:  curlyscribblings[at]gmail[dot]com and we'll start from there.

P.S.  I'll be posting samples on the next few days.  It's time to hit the sack because it's two in the morning!  :)