Category Archives: Food

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Seasons

29 April, 2010 – 8:04 am

Hello there! I haven’t updated this blog regularly in a while, mainly because it was off-season for weddings. Now that wedding season is in full swing again, expect some great blogs coming up shortly, particularly some “sneak peaks” at the most recent weddings I’ve shot.

In the meantime, if you’re so inclined, check out another blog I started in January, mainly for food photography and writing. I’ve shot quite a number of food-related events, documented my visits to eateries, posted recipes from cookbooks I’ve purchased, and will be reviewing new cookbooks and more restaurants in the coming weeks. Lots of activity over there!

This site has taken up the bulk of my off-season from weddings. Please have a look and, if you’re so inclined, bookmark that site, too (www.jackiewrites.com), to follow my adventures in food. Here are a few shots to tempt you.

By Jackie | Comments (4)

Foodportunity - March 2010

26 March, 2010 – 2:17 pm

I got to shoot yet another fantastic Foodportunity event, hosted by Tom Douglas and put on by Keren Brown (aka. Frantic Foodie) at the Palace Ballroom. As always, the food was incredible, the displays were great, and there was a trend toward healthy, sustainable products, as well as a bunch of great gluten-free goods. Many chefs who weren’t a part of the event made a showing, as well as lots of new people I hadn’t seen at previous events.

I had several culinary favorites from that night but I really think the deconstructed beef stroganoff by Fresh Bistro really hit it out of the ballpark. I also loved Crispin’s hard cider. Delicious! The one thing that was missing was the food expert panel from previous events. Instead, it was just a few tables in the front where people could talk to the chefs or writers, as they passed by. There were incredible raffle prizes this time, as well as another fantastic “speed networking” event at the end.

For me, I think the highlight of the evening was meeting Steve and Paul from my new favorite web site – www.rouxbe.com (Rouxbe Cooking School, in conjunction with Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver). Everyone scored a premium membership just for being there. How generous, and what a great way to promote the site. I know it’s going to be an enormous hit!

As always, here are some highlights from the event! Enjoy!

By Jackie | Also posted in Events, Photojournalism | Comments (3)

Food Styling Workshop With Dolores Custer!

26 February, 2010 – 10:57 am

What a fantastic day! The fabulous Foodportunity crew put on another spectacular event at the Allrecipes.com headquarters in Seattle. It was the Expression Food Styling workshop with successful food stylist, Dolores Custer of Portland, Oregon.

I shot the event for the organizers, and it was wonderful to combine my two specialties: event photojournalism and food photography. Thanks to Keren Brown for asking me, and thanks to Charity Lynne Burggraaf for partnering with me with part of the day.

Huiyona Restaurant of Seattle provided a really wonderful lunch!

Here are some highlights from the workshop! All of the food shots were styled by workshop attendees. Fabulous work, people!

By Jackie | Also posted in Events, Photojournalism | Comments (7)

The Brains Behind Bastille.

12 December, 2009 – 9:33 am

Shannon Galusha is the man behind Bastille Cafe and Bar in Ballard/Seattle. And what a fantastic place it is. As we were doing headshots of him, for his image stock, I asked him how business was doing in his first six months open. “There’s an hour wait almost every day,” he said. And that’s impressive for Seattle, as you can tell that this place isn’t cheap. This is a place where you go to splurge. And the restaurant isn’t tiny, either. They have a ton of tables. Also, Seattle diners are pretty picky. They don’t revisit a place that’s expensive unless it’s got good food and good atmosphere.

Shannon is delightful and I thoroughly enjoyed talking with him, taking his pictures, and, while waiting, snapping a few shots of the interior.

Rick and I plan to go there in the not-to-distant future!

By Jackie | Also posted in Commerical, Portraits | Comments (3)

Foodportunity - a Seattle Food Extravaganza

31 July, 2009 – 10:12 am

I originally purchased a ticket to this event in order to meet with chefs, farmers, vintners, food writers, and so on, to pitch my food photography and get better connected. When I signed up, I contacted the organizer (Keren Brown - the Frantic Foodie - a fabulous food writer and event organizer) and asked her if they actually needed a photographer for the event. She took me up on the offer!

It was a great event, held at the Palace Ballroom owned and operated by Tom Douglas (of Dahlia Lounge and Palace Kitchen across the street) who prepared an entire whole roast pig for the event, in crazy Seattle heat. Wow! Other chefs were there, as well as food manufacturers, brewers/vintners, restaurants, coffee roasters, and more. Mid-way through the event, there was a panel of experts, and my favorite Seattle food writer (Nancy Lesen! Swoon!) started off the discussion.

It was packed and a great event. At the end of the evening, I participated in a speed-networking event in which I met with 20 other people in the food industry, for one minute a piece, to pitch my photography. Good times, and good connections. Thanks again, Keren!

Here are some highlights from the event!

 

By Jackie | Also posted in Events, Photojournalism | Comments (3)

Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon!

21 July, 2009 – 3:31 pm

I was invited to shoot the recent 2nd annual Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon, put on by Taste TV. And what an event it was.

I should start by saying that I’m actually not a real serious chocolate eater. (I know, I know.) If I’m going to indulge in sweets, I’d much rather go for something fruity. And if I’m going for richness, I’ll take something buttery or creamy. I usually choose something chocolatey as a last resort (meaning: I’m desperate). In essense, I’ll take strawberry over vanilla over chocolate.

So, I felt that I would not be too tempted to taste the goods while photographing them. See, I was on a “diet” and tried to abstain from sweets, and felt that a chocolate festival would be no tempation at all.

I was wrong. DEAD wrong.

I tried many bites of some of the best chocolate I’ve had in my life. I enjoyed so much of it, that I bought several little samples to bring home to Rick. My favorite? Posh Chocolat’s “10 Year Old Balsamic & Strawberry” artisan truffle. Listen to this description.

“10 Year Old Balsamic Vinegar, Strawberry Puree and Fresh Cracked Pink Peppercorns infused in 61% Single Origin Dark Chocolate Ganache. This sweet and tangy truffle is enrobed in 74% Single-Origin Ecuadorian Dark Chocolate.”

One word: sublime.

Enjoy the photos!

 

Cheers to chocolate!

By Jackie | Also posted in Events, Photojournalism, Products | Comments (1)

Cooking for a Cause!

16 March, 2009 – 7:16 pm

Last month, we donated food photos for inclusion in a cookbook called “Health Food, Healthy Living” compiled by a fellow photography in Salmon Arm, B.C.

The book is going to be sold to raise money for a woman in B.C. to adopt a child from Africa (Ethiopia, specifically). While we do not know the woman personally (we know of her through an acquaintance of mine), we rallied for the cause, because we are big supporters of adoption. (Jackie’s brother was adopted and she cannot imagine a life without him in it!) We also especially support adoption from Africa, where there is currently almost 12 million AIDS orphans alone (not to mentions orphans from war, famine, and so on).

Twelve million. Children without parents. Let that sink in for a minute.

The children of our world are clearly suffering, but with courageous and generous people out there willing to adopt, sponsor children, or sponsor relief and development organizations, we can make our world a better place for them, little by little.

If you would like to purchase a copy of the cookbook… please contact us for details (jackiebaisa@gmail.com). The book is being printed in British Columbia and will be available for sale by Mother’s Day!

Here are some of the photos we donated!

By Jackie | Also posted in Personal | Comments (2)