Sheraton Parsippany

I wanted to share a few pics from a recent shoot in New Jersey at the Sheraton Parsippany Hotel. They have just renovated their restaurant, Amuse, and the food and hospitality is fantastic. I highly recommend staying there if you are in the area or book a group if you have a corporate meeting coming up.

 

 

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Menu Shoot for Double Tree by Hilton

I wanted to share some of the shots from a menu shoot I did for Double Tree by Hilton—Valley Forge in King of Prussia, PA. Executive Chef Stephen Delaney plated some really delicious comfort food from lounge menu. People ask me all the time if I doctor food for shots, and I really don’t (save for an occasional brush of olive oil here and there for some extra shine). I rely on the plating techniques from the chefs as they are the true artists and my job is to make it look as delectable as possible. If you want to eat it, we have succeeded. Nothing makes me happier to hear from restaurant clients that they have customers come in on a cold dark night because they saw the food shots on their website.

Executive Chef Stephen Delaney putting the finishing touch on the foam.

Fried Calamari with a spicy dipping sauce.

Grilled cheese with bacon, tomato, and avocado.

Flatbread pizza with brie, caramelized onions with balsamic reduction,
portabella mushrooms, and arugula.

Grilled salmon.

Layered triple chocolate mousse.

Remembering Chef Charlie Trotter

With the recent passing of Chef Charlie Trotter, I wanted to take a moment to post some photos from the Santé Magazine Restaurant Symposium held in 2007 at the Equinox Resort in Manchester, VT. I have to admit, that at the time I was still relatively new to the culinary scene and during those symposiums and guest chef dinners I was photographing some of the top chefs in the industry and didn’t have the time to reflect on it at the time, being too nervous to make sure my exposure and focus was spot on in the kitchens while dodging boiling pots and harried sous chefs. So when Chef Trotter came to the hotel to begin preparing for the amazing wine-pairing tasting with Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein, and tables we set up in the back prep area, I could sense his intense focus and preparation and how that carried over to the hotel’s chef team assisting with the plating for about 80 seminar attendees, many of whom were accomplished chefs and restaurant owners.

Much has been written and documented about his career, I hesitate to use the word “star”—even though he was—I could tell I was in the presence of a brilliant mind. He seemed to be simultaneously focusing on the task at hand but another part of his mind seemed somewhere else, thinking of the next step. His restaurants pushed the envelope and everything I have read, as with all great chefs, he worked hard at his craft and brought everyone around him up a level, pushing for excellence.

According to the Chicago Tribune, he apparently died of an in-operable brain aneurysm that he was diagnosed with after some dizzy spells, and had recently closed his restaurant in Chicago being told by his doctor to avoid flying and stressful working conditions. I can only imagine how that must have affected him.

His legacy in the industry will be felt for a long time.

Night at the Museum

I wanted to share a couple of shots from a recent shoot in Fort Worth, TX for the American Airlines Training Center and CR Smith Museum. I was set up after sunset to create a nice glow behind the building that shows the flagship DC-3 in the CR Smith Museum nicely. And after the shots I turned around and noticed the planes taking off from DFW a few miles away and juxtaposed with the high-speed freeway interchange outside the gate. It was a warm 82 degrees and a magical night to be out and shooting. I was using a Canon 5D MKIII and 16-35 mm/2.8L rented from Borrowlenses.com for the assignment, and I think I’ll be adding both to my bag in the near future.

Flying in Friendly Skies with Dolce

One of the things I love the most about shooting for Dolce Hotels is that each property is unique, and when I was called to fly to Forth Worth to shoot at the American Airlines Training and Conference Center I was excited to see this property. It also gave me the chance to go back to Texas after almost 19 years when I worked at the DFW airport following my tour in the US Navy.
Another thing I love about working with Dolce is that their staff is super professional and accommodating and they go out of their way to make sure the shoot goes smooth. This was the forth Dolce property I have had the opportunity to work with and these are a few of my favorites from the two-day shoot.

The chef team in front of one of the many flight simulators at the training center.

No peanuts on this flight—Executive Chef Lenny Ventura is an artist.

Ceviche

Exterior at sunset