New Work from my Food Styling & Photography Workshops

I have been teaching private and small group Food Styling and Photography workshops for students the basic techniques for food styling different types of food (Salads, Drinks, Desserts, Main Dishes, Appetizers, etc.) along with the basics of prop styling, set design, and art direction and basics for food photography – lighting (natural vs. artificial), camera settings, shooting angles and composition, special effects, and post production. Here are few photos from some recent student workshops where we designed some gorgeous shots using fresh seasonal produce and Fall flavors.

I am accepting new students for the Winter calendar, please call 917-613-5990 or email kristen@theartfulgourmet.com for more information on the workshops and to schedule a date for the class.

Kale Apple Salad
Kale Apple Salad
Roasted Veggies
Roasted Veggies
Apples
Apples
Wine & Cheese
Wine & Cheese
Fall Salad
Fall Salad
Beets
Beets
Minestrone
Minestrone
Pomegranate Martini
Pomegranate Martini
Radishes
Radishes
Tea Time
Tea Time
Cupcakes
Cupcakes
Irish Coffee
Irish Coffee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Food Styling and Photography for The Works Catering in NYC

Butternut Squash Lasagna - The Works Catering

I recently did a photo shoot for The Works Catering group in NYC. I worked with their corporate Executive Chef and Food and Beverage Director to pull together a new library of food photography for their website and advertising/marketing materials. I shot over 25 photos of their delicious mouthwatering appetizers, entrees and desserts with my team stylist Laurie Knoop and assistants Maike Paul and Liz Mazzei, on the rooftop and inside rooms of their facility in the Lower East Side.

Here’s a few sample shots of the delicious goodies that were meticulously styled and photographed and also some fun behind the scenes photos from the shoot.

Asparagus BBQSpoonbread Beet-IcebergSalad BurgerBar ButternutLasagna-72 ChickenBalls ChimichurriSteak ChoChoBeef CookieTray Desserts1 Desserts2 LambChops Quail QuailEgg RoastChicken Scallops SoupSpoons SquashSoup

Click on the arrows left or right to scroll through the photo gallery:

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Food Styling for Birds Eye Healthy Eating TV Segment on CBS with Jennette McCurdy!

Birds Eye Veggie Mission on CBS The Couch with Jennette McCurdy
Birds Eye Veggie Mission on CBS The Couch with Jennette McCurdy

Last week I got a really fun, unique food styling assignment for Birds Eye Vegetables for a TV segment featuring brand ambassador Jennette McCurdy (Nickelodeon I AM CARLY and Sam & Cat star) on CBS morning show The Couch. Jennette McCurdy talked about her new role in a healthy eating initiative for Birds Eye Vegetables for a multi-week challenge for families to seize the fun and ‘Rewrite the Dinnertime Rules’ leading up Nickelodeon’s 10th annual Worldwide Day of Play this fall.

I was asked to create three veggie portraits of Jennette and The Couch hosts Carolina Bermudez and John Elliot using Birds Eye Vegetables to feature on the show. I picked up a few packages of frozen carrots, peas, green beans and corn and had a fun evening drawing faces and glueing veggies on white plates to create the portraits. Not as easy at it looks! Here’s a few photos of them along with some photos and videos from the TV Segment. Read on to find out Jennette’s Dinnertime Rules for eating healthier by incorporating fresh veggies into your kids meals!

Food Styling for Birds Eye and Jennette McCurdy segment on CBS The Couch
Food Styling for Birds Eye and Jennette McCurdy segment on CBS The Couch
Veggie Portraits for Birds Eye & Jennette McCurdy CBS TV Segment
Veggie Portraits for Birds Eye & Jennette McCurdy CBS TV Segment
On set with Jennette McCurdy on CBS The Couch
On set with Jennette McCurdy on CBS The Couch

McCurdy and Birds Eye have some suggestions for getting started ‘Rewriting the Dinnertime Rules.’

Rule #1: Role Reversal. Kids pick the menu and the veggies, help shop for the groceries and are in charge (with a little help from mom and dad) in the kitchen. Plus, they get to pick the theme and dress and decorate accordingly, whether it’s hitting the “beach,” bringing out your family’s wild side in the “jungle” or cheering on your favorite sports team.

Rule #2: Play with Your Birds Eye Veggies! You can use your veggies to make smiley faces or create colorful rainbows on your plate. You can even give your broccoli a mohawk haircut (really!) – just have fun!

Rule #3: Celebrate Every Bite. It can take up to 12 times for a kid to try a new type of veggie, or any new food before he or she begins liking it (http://www.choosemyplate.gov). So, keep it up! And while you’re at it, give yourself a high five for every bite your kid takes.

Rule #4: Be a Veggie Explorer. There are all sorts of cool and surprising ways to serve veggies. Like smoothies (mixed veggies with yogurt, OJ and honey), popsicles (carrots and OJ) and salad dressings (carrot ginger). You AND your kids will be amazed at all the cool ways you can eat your veggies.

For easy advice on getting kids to eat their veggies, more dinner “rules” and recipe ideas created for and tested by kids, visit www.BirdsEye.com.

Enter to win a trip to Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play on September 21st in New York City!

The Couch on CBS Birds Eye Jennette McCurdy Video

 CLICK HERE to watch the video from the TV Segment on CBS The Couch

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Food Styling for Dr. Neal Barnard on the Joy Behar: Say Anything TV Show!

Kristen on Joy Behar Say Anything TV Show
Kristen on Joy Behar Say Anything TV Show

Last week I had the fantastic opportunity to cook and do food styling for a special healthy food segment on the “Joy Behar: Say Anything!” TV Show featuring Dr. Neal D. Barnard, M.D., founder and president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). Dr. Barnard sits down with guest host Marilu Henner to discuss how saturated fat makes you sluggish and which colored foods are good for your brain and improve memory. Barnard says, “Greens, foliage — that contributes folate, which is a B vitamin which protects the brain.” He adds, “So when you see the greens, you know that’s good for the brain.” He also goes into discussing what foods to avoid such as heavy carb and fat-laden foods that make us tired and lack energy.

Power Foods For the Brain
Power Foods For the Brain

I was asked to cook and style four of Dr. Barnard’s recipes from his new book “Power Foods for the Brain: An Effective 3-Step Plan to Protect Your Mind and Strengthen Your Memory” to display during the TV interview food segment. The recipes were all colorful and healthy and made with Power Foods and all-natural ingredients: Summer Salad made with Rainbow Chard, tomatoes, corn, onions and garlic and pecans, Minted Fruit Kebabs made with a Citrus Lime and Mint light dressing, Marinated Grilled Veggie Kabobs marinated in a balsamic and herb dressing, and Super Raspberry Protein Brownies made with black beans, raspberry jam, cocoa powder and figs.

Could that glass of milk affect your memory? Is that aluminum can increasing your risk for Alzheimer’s disease? Can a banana be a brain booster? Everyone knows that good nutrition supports your overall health, but did you know that certain foods can protect your brain and optimize its function?

In POWER FOODS FOR THE BRAIN, Dr. Neal Barnard has gathered the most important research and studies to deliver a program that can boost brain health, reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and other less serious malfunctions, including low energy, poor sleep patterns, irritability, and lack of focus. The plan includes information on:

  • The best foods to increase cognitive function and boost folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12
  • The dangers dairy products and meats may have on memory
  • The role alcohol plays in Alzheimer’s risk
  • The latest research on certain toxic metals, like aluminums found in cookware, soda cans, and common antacids
  • Plus, 50-75 recipes and timesaving kitchen tips.

Here are the recipes I made and styled for the show. Enjoy!

Summer Salad
Summer Salad

Summer Salad – The more naturally colorful your meal is, the more likely it is to have an abundance of immune-boosting antioxidants and phytochemicals. The same foods that are good for your heart are good for your brain.

Summer Salad

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: Serves 2 as main dish or 4 as a side

Calories per serving: 181 calories

Fat per serving: 2 g total fat

Chard’s slight bitterness is beautifully balanced by the sweetness of the corn and grapes, resulting in a surprising depth of flavor.

Ingredients

  • ½ small white onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • Leaves from 1 bunch chard
  • 4 Roma tomatoes, diced
  • 1 ½ cups fresh corn kernels
  • ¼ cup pecan halves
  • 1 cup seedless black grapes
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Mince the onion and garlic, then smash them together a couple times with the back of a knife or with a mortar and pestle.
  2. Wash the Swiss chard thoroughly, as it tends to be gritty, then slice it into ribbons by tightly bunching the leaves together and slicing them with a sharp, heavy knife. Place the chard in a salad bowl, add the remaining ingredients, and toss.
https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2013/07/food-styling-for-dr-neal-barnard-on-the-joy-behar-say-anything-tv-show/

Marinated Grilled Veggie Kabobs
Marinated Grilled Veggie Kabobs

Marinated Grilled Veggie Kebabs – these are super easy to make and super colorful, and healthy. Marinated in a dressing made with balsamic vinegar, orange juice, honey, mustard and maple syrup with Italian season before grilling, they are super tasty too.

Marinated Grilled Veggie Kabobs

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Serving Size: 4

Serve these savory kebabs over a brown rice pilaf for a satisfying and easy meal.

Ingredients

  • 16 cherry tomatoes
  • 2 red onions, each cut into 8 bite-size chunks
  • 2 green or red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and cut into 8 pieces each
  • 16 button mushrooms
  • 1 small yellow summer squash, cut into 8 pieces
  • 1 small zucchini, cut into 8 pieces
  • Marinade:
  • ½ cup balsamic vinegar
  • ½ cup orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 8 metal skewers, or bamboo skewers soaked in water for 30 minutes

Instructions

  1. Place the cherry tomatoes, red onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, squash, and zucchini in a large bowl.
  2. In a small bowl, combine the marinade ingredients and whisk well. Pour the marinade over the vegetables and stir to coat. Marinate for 15 minutes.
  3. Heat a charcoal or gas grill or your oven’s broiler. Onto one skewer, thread the ingredients in the following manner: 1 tomato, 1 red onion chunk, 1 pepper piece, 1 mushroom, 1 yellow summer squash slice, 1 tomato, 1 zucchini slice, 1 red onion chunk, 1 pepper, and 1 mushroom. Repeat with remaining ingredients and skewers. Place the kebabs on the hot grill or a broiler pan and brush with the marinade. Grill for 7 minutes, or until desired tenderness, turning the kebabs a few times. Serve immediately.
https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2013/07/food-styling-for-dr-neal-barnard-on-the-joy-behar-say-anything-tv-show/

Minted Fruit Kebabs
Minted Fruit Kebabs

Minted Fruit Kebabs – Power up with blueberries and grapes. These “brain berries” get their deep colors from anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants shown to improve learning and recall in studies at the University of Cincinnati.

Minted Fruit Kebabs

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Yield: Makes 4 kebabs (4 servings)

Calories per serving: 35 calories

Fat per serving: 0.2 g total fat

Fresh fruit makes a striking appearance in these antioxidant-rich kebabs. Enjoy them for a refreshing, light dessert!

Ingredients

  • 8 red or green grapes
  • 4 large strawberries
  • 4 1-inch-square cantaloupe chunks
  • 4 1-inch-square honeydew chunks
  • 4 1/2-inch-thick slices peeled kiwi
  • 4 1-inch-square watermelon chunks
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint leaves
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 4 10-inch bamboo skewers

Instructions

  1. Thread 1 grape, 1 strawberry, 1 cantaloupe chunk, 1 honeydew chunk, 1 slice kiwi, 1 watermelon chunk, and 1 more grape onto a skewer. Repeat with the remaining fruit and skewers. Place the finished skewers in a shallow container.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the orange juice, lime juice, mint, and vanilla. Pour the marinade over the fruit kebabs, cover, and chill for at least 30 minutes (or up to 3 hours) in the refrigerator before serving.

Notes

Recipe by Christine Waltermyer

https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2013/07/food-styling-for-dr-neal-barnard-on-the-joy-behar-say-anything-tv-show/

Super Raspberry Protein Brownies
Super Raspberry Protein Brownies

Super Raspberry Protein Brownies – A brownie made with black beans? You bet! Beans are high in fiber, calcium, and protein, making them a nutrition powerhouse. Beans are free from saturated and trans fats. Researchers find people consuming the most saturated fat in their diets have more than triple the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Super Protein Raspberry Brownies

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Yield: 16

Serving Size: 1/16 of the recipe

Calories per serving: 145 calories

Fat per serving: 1 g total fat

A brownie made with black beans? You bet! Beans are high in fiber, calcium, and protein, making them a nutrition powerhouse.

Beans are free from saturated and trans fats. Researchers find people consuming the most saturated fat in their diets have more than triple the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 teaspoon safflower oil
  • 2 15-ounce cans low sodium black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup pitted dates
  • 1 cup all-fruit raspberry jam
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease an 8x8-inch baking pan with the oil.
  2. Combine the black beans, dates, jam, and vanilla in a food processor and process until smooth. Add the flour, cocoa powder, and salt and process again.
  3. Pour into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 30 minutes or until the top looks set. Remove from the oven and cool completely, then cut into 16 squares. The brownies will keep, refrigerated in a covered container, for up to 1 week.
https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2013/07/food-styling-for-dr-neal-barnard-on-the-joy-behar-say-anything-tv-show/

For those of you who may have missed the show, here’s a video of the food segment that aired on TV last week:

And lastly, here’s a few photos behind the scenes on set at the show that day:

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New Food Styling & Photography for Stoli Vodka

June has been a busy busy month! I’ve partnered with an agency in New York to do some custom food styling and photography for their new Stoli cocktail photo library and shot 11 drink recipes with the agency art director and account team. Here’s some of the photos I did for them – Bloody Marys, Martinis, Stoli O Rouge, Blueberry Lemonade and more. Stay tuned for the updated photos on Stoli.com website in their cocktail recipe section 🙂

_MG_7963 _MG_7978 _MG_8000 _MG_8013 _MG_8021 _MG_8032 _MG_8041 _MG_8044 _MG_8056-2 _MG_8067-2 _MG_8084-2

New shot from a Photo Shoot for Sandra Lee Magazine!

sandra lee hero shot
Sandra Lee Hero Shot for March issue
Sandra Lee Hero Shot for March issue

WOW. I recently had the opportunity this past January to assist on a photo shoot for Sandra Lee at her house in Westchester for a series of food and holiday shots for Sandra Lee magazine with my photographer friend, Jill Lotenberg. We set up and shot 15 different photos of Sandra in various settings around her home and kitchen, with gorgeous food and cocktails for her holiday and entertainment-themed magazine spreads with recipes. The house had a full crew and production team including food stylists, prop stylists, makeup artists, photographers and a team of assistants working around the clock to set up the lighting,  food and drinks, props and sets around the house, and of course styling Sandra herself to be gorgeous and photo ready for the perfect final beauty shots for the magazine. The photos turned out great, and it was a cool opportunity to meet Sandra and her team in person. The shot above is currently in the March 2013 issue out on newsstands..stay tuned for more as they are published!

Published! Food Styling & Photography for Gary Null’s NEW Vegan Cookbook..Hot off the Press!

GNCookbook-hero
Anti-Arthritis, Anti-Inflammation Cookbook: Healing through Natural Foods
Anti-Arthritis, Anti-Inflammation Cookbook: Healing through Natural Foods

Yay! The time has finally arrived – the cookbook I shot and styled for Gary Null Power Foods arrived on my doorstep yesterday, HOT off the press!

I styled and shot this cookbook last August-September and it was a 6-week process with plenty of long days and nights, cooking, styling and shooting, with lots of laughter and intensity, for Gary Null’s new cookbook titled Anti-Arthritis, Anti-Inflammation Cookbook: Healing through Natural Foods. The cookbook has over 270 recipes that are Vegan, Vegetarian and Raw Food based on the premise of promoting a healthy diet while preventing and reversing arthritis, diabetes, cancer and inflammation through eating raw, vegan and power foods.

I worked with Gary and his editorial team throughout the process to interpret the recipes into appealing, fresh and healthy images for the cookbook. I also collaborated side by side with two amazing Chefs; Wes Wobles and William Shear, day and night (literally!) to turn the recipes into beautifully plated works of art which were styled meticulously in the kitchen and by myself on set, to create the perfect final beauty shot.

I’m very proud to have been the stylist and photographer on this awesome project and part of this dynamic project team that made the cookbook come to life in such a short time – it turned out beautifully with full color photos, a clean design and a comprehensive healthy eating program that might turn any meat-loving carnivore into a Vegan or Vegetarian just yet! The recipes are simple and easy to prepare with raw ingredients including grains, fruits, vegetables, and non-meat soy proteins flavored with plenty of fresh herbs and seasonings. There are recipes for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Salads, Soups and Desserts plus plenty of sauces and dips along with healthy appetizers. Gary also explains the nutritional aspects to a Vegan and Vegetarian Raw food diet with an eating plan spelled out and easy to follow.

Light, healthy and fresh is the name of the game in this cookbook, and it’s arrived just in time for Spring to lighten up your diet and get healthy! Who knew eating meat-free could be so tasty? I just might give it a try 🙂

Purchase a copy of the book online

View gallery of some of my fav photos I shot for the book

Kudos to the Cookbook Team!
Kudos to the Cookbook Team!
Kind Testimonial from Gary Null
Kind Testimonial from Gary Null

Entrees

Fettucine Asparagus

Cauliflower Hummus

Salads-intro

Salads

Soups

Sauces

Gingerbread

Breakfast

Apple Banana Turnovers

Desserts

Here’s a few of my favorite photos from the photoshoot:

Mushroom Bean Curry with Butternut Squash
Mushroom Bean Curry with Butternut Squash
Poached Peaches with Raspberry Sauce
Poached Peaches with Raspberry Sauce
Coconut Cherry Ice Cream
Coconut Cherry Ice Cream
Penne Pasta and Kidney Bean Soup
Penne Pasta and Kidney Bean Soup
Stewed Plums
Stewed Plums
Fennel and Pecan Salad with Peaches
Fennel and Pecan Salad with Peaches
Sweet and Sour Bean Stew
Sweet and Sour Bean Stew
Chickpea Burger and Baked Sweet Potato Chips
Chickpea Burger and Baked Sweet Potato Chips
Spaghetti with Eggplant Marinara
Spaghetti with Eggplant Marinara
Sticky Sweet Rice with Papaya
Sticky Sweet Rice with Papaya
Lentil Curry
Lentil Curry
Bulgur and Vegetables
Bulgur and Vegetables
Bammie Cakes
Bammie Cakes
Apple Cinnamon French Toast
Apple Cinnamon French Toast
Bitters Sweet Salad
Bitters Sweet Salad
Millet Coriander Stir Fry
Millet Coriander Stir Fry

And now for some fun behind the scenes shots on set:

Test Shoot
Test Shoot
Chef Wes Wobles in the Kitchen
Chef Wes Wobles in the Kitchen
Kristen on set shooting garden scene
Kristen on set shooting garden scene

 

Making Homemade Granola
Making Homemade Granola
Making Caramel
Making Caramel
Arranging items on set
Arranging items on set

 

Plating the dish and prepping the shot
Plating the dish and prepping the shot
Setting up the props for the final shot
Setting up the props for the final shot

 

Holiday Cocktail Party! Cocktail + Appetizer Recipes

It’s that time of year again – holiday parties filled with plenty of cocktails, socializing and finger food much to our heart’s desire to celebrate this sparkly season. And what better thing to do than start thinking about planning a Holiday Cocktail Party with some fun recipes for cocktails and appetizers?

So here’s the lineup: Whiskey Sour with Stuffed Mushrooms, Classic Martini with Spiced Mixed Nuts, Mulled Wine with Cheese and Crackers, Pisco Sour, and a luscious White Russian for dessert. I know you’ll love all of these recipes for your next holiday cocktail party…Happy Holidays to all of you – CHEERS!

Whiskey Sour
Whiskey Sour

Whiskey Sour

1 small lemon wedge
Turbinado sugar, for rimming glass
1/4 cup bourbon, preferably Maker’s Mark
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon granulated sugar, preferably organic
1 cup ice cubes

Rub the lemon wedge around the rim of a 12-ounce rocks glass. Place turbinado sugar in a shallow dish. Dip the rim of the glass in the sugar to coat; set aside.

In a large cocktail shaker, combine bourbon, orange juice, lemon juice, granulated sugar, and ice. Cover, and shake vigorously until all ingredients are well combined and cold. Pour into prepared glass, and garnish with orange slice.

Stuffed Mushrooms

1/4 cup Italian-seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated or shredded Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped fine
1 teaspoon red chile pepper flakes
Garlic salt
Fresh ground black pepper
3-4 tablespoons EVOO
16 large white mushrooms, stemmed
White Truffle Oil (a few sprays or 1-2 tablespoons for brushing)
2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped fine

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Stem the mushrooms and chop the stems into fine pieces, set aside. In a mixing bowl, blend together bread crumbs, cheese, chopped mushroom stems, garlic, parsley, chile flakes, garlic salt and pepper with EVOO. Adjust olive oil amount to your liking until filling is soft and blended well.

Stuff mushroom caps (cavity side up) with the filling (generously) on a greased baking sheet. Spray or brush truffle oil on outer mushroom caps.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until mushrooms are golden brown. Garnish with fresh mint.

Makes 16 servings.

Classic Martini
Classic Martini

Classic Dry Martini

1 2/3 oz Gin
1/3 oz Dry Vermouth

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with twist of lemon peel or olives.

Sweet and Spicy Mixed Nuts

1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup cashews
3/4 cup pecan halves
1/2 cup almonds
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon water
1-1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Dash Louisiana-style hot sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a small bowl, combine the salt and spices; set aside. In a large heavy skillet, melt butter. Add cashews, pecans and cashews; cook over medium heat until nuts are lightly toasted, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle with spice mixture. Add the brown sugar, water, Worcestershire and hot sauce. Cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until sugar is melted.

Place nuts on a large baking sheet lined with foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes until nuts are golden brown. Remove from oven and let nuts cool before serving. Store in an airtight container.

Makes 2 cups.

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home.

Mulled Red Wine with Brown Sugar
Mulled Red Wine with Brown Sugar

Mulled Red Wine with Brown Sugar

Two bottles of fruity red wine (Zinfandel or Merlot)
Zest strips from one orange
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons black peppercorns, lightly crushed
1 3-inch cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
3 bay leaves
1 teaspoon fennel seeds, lightly crushed

Put the peppercorns, fennel seeds and cinnamon in a large tea ball or wrap them in cheesecloth and secure them with kitchen string. In a large saucepan, combine aromatics with the wine, bay leaves and orange zest.

Cover and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered for 30 minutes. Remove the aromatics and orange zest strips. Stir in the sugar until dissolved.

Serve warm in glasses or mugs with a variety of cheeses and crackers and spiced nuts.

Recipe from Food and Wine Cocktails.

Pisco Sour
Pisco Sour

Pisco Sour

2 oz Pisco
1 oz Lemon or Lime Juice
1-2 dashes Angostura Bitters
1/4 oz Sugar
1/2 Egg White

Shake all ingredients except bitters with ice. Strain into champagne flutes.

Dash with bitters and drag with a toothpick to make design.

White Russian
White Russian

White Russian

2 oz Vodka
1 oz Kahlua
Half and Half Cream

Pour coffee liqueur and vodka into ice-filled old fashioned glass and fill with milk or cream.
Alternatively you can shake it all up in a cocktail mixer and strain over ice.
Garnish with coffee beans or cocoa powder.

Crazy Good Lobster Rolls & a July 4 Feast

Lobster Rolls & July 4 Feast
Lobster Rolls & July 4 Feast

#Summer is the time of year where all I want to do is flee to the ocean, bask in some sunshine and eat some really good seafood. With July 4th approaching us, my photographer friend and partner Maike Paul decided we wanted to do a test shoot together and make some crazy good Lobster Rolls and a July 4th Feast.

We picked up a fresh lobster at a local seafood market in Brooklyn (who we named Lobster Louie) and he accompanied us as we walked around Williamsburg searching for a big steam pot and some fresh ingredients and props to make our succulent Lobster Rolls. We picked up some fresh corn on the cob, scallions, chives, celery, and lemons, some crunchy Kettle chips, Corona and limes, heirloom tomatoes and lettuce to make a salad to accompany our feast.

Lobster Rolls are fairly easy to make – and if you’re squeamish like I am, you might want to get a helper to cook the lobster in the steam pot (we recruited Maike’s boyfriend). One tip I recommend is to put the whole lobster in the freezer for about 15 minutes before boiling it as it makes the lobster “sleepy” – it’s a more humane way to cook a live lobster and you’ll feel less guilty, I promise. You can also use frozen lobster if you just don’t want to deal with the complication and doom all together!

Lobster Rolls & July 4 Feast
Lobster Rolls & July 4 Feast

We brushed some light butter on the hot dog buns and put them in a grill pan for a few minutes to make them toasty and browned. New England-style buns are the best, but if you can’t find them, regular top-split buns are fine.

To make the corn on the cob, boil it first for about 10 minutes to soften it and then brush the corn with some butter and throw them in a grill pan or a charcoal grill to get some nice grill marks and then top it off with some sea salt and Old Bay Seasoning or paprika for some extra savory flavor. Make a fresh green salad with heirloom tomatoes and a light lemon vinaigrette to accompany along with some crunchy BBQ Kettle Chips and a cold, refreshing Corona with lime. Now that’s a July 4 feast to remember! Enjoy.

Crazy Good Lobster Rolls & a July 4 Feast

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 6

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup celery, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup light mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/8 cup fresh chives, thinly sliced (plus more for garnish)
  • 1/4 cup fresh green onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning or paprika
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1-1/2 lb. (4 cups) cooked lobster meat
  • 6 hot dog rolls, New England-style or split-top rolls
  • 4-6 fresh corn on the cob, husked
  • butter, for basting corn and hot dog rolls
  • 4-6 small heirloom tomatoes, cut in half
  • 1/2 head green leaf lettuce
  • 2-3 tablespoons lemon vinaigrette dressing, for salad
  • 2-3 limes, for Corona

Instructions

  1. Bring a large steam pot full of water to a rolling boil and prep all fresh ingredients. Boil lobster for about 10-12 minutes and let cool for another 10 minutes.
  2. Remove the lobster claws and the tail and split open the shell to remove fresh cooked lobster, and cut up the lobster meat into large chunks and remove residue by rinsing under cold water.
  3. In a large bowl, add the lobster meat and stir in celery, mayonnaise, water, chives, green onions, lemon juice, zest, salt and pepper, Old Bay seasoning or paprika. Season to taste with more lemon, paprika, salt, and pepper if desired. Garnish with additional chopped chives.
  4. Boil the corn on the cob for about 10 minutes until soft. Brush with butter and grill in a grill pan for about 5 more minutes until grill marks appear. Sprinkle with sea salt and Old Bay seasoning or paprika.
  5. Brush the hot dog rolls lightly with butter, and grill in a grill pan over medium-high until they get browned and toasty. Serve the lobster salad in toasted buns with the corn on the cob and a fresh green salad with heirloom tomatoes and a light lemon vinaigrette dressing and fresh ground black pepper.
  6. Serve with a bowl of crunchy BBQ Kettle chips and a Corona with lime or crisp Sauvignon Blanc white wine.

Notes

If using a whole live lobster, put in the freezer for 15 minutes before boiling - this is a more humane way of cooking the lobster. You can also use frozen lobster tails if you desire equalling 4 cups to make this recipe. An alternative to the mayo-based lobster salad is to toss the fresh cooked lobster in some butter with fresh tarragon and salt and pepper (Connecticut-style)!

https://www.theartfulgourmet.com/2012/06/crazy-good-lobster-rolls-a-july-4-feast/

Watch the video from Fine Cooking on how to humanely cook a live lobster

Food Network Lobster Rolls by Sarah’s Secrets

Amateur Gourmet’s Lobster Rolls

Ellie Krieger’s Lobster Rolls

Connecticut-Style Lobster Rolls by Serious Eats

Lobsters with Laura Lobster Rolls

Food Styling & Photography Workshop w/ Bea Peltre @ Haven’s Kitchen NYC

Food Styling & Photography Workshop w/ Bea Peltre
Food Styling & Photography Workshop w/ Bea Peltre

I recently attended an amazing food styling and photography workshop with Beatrice Peltre, of La Tartine Gourmande at Haven’s Kitchen in NYC. Bea is an amazing Chef, food stylist and photographer and author of the cookbook La Tartine Gourmande: Recipes for an Inspired Life and one of my favorite food bloggers on the planet! If you don’t know Bea, she is very talented and creative – not only in her cooking and recipes but in her unique, fresh, colorful food styling and photography that has given her fame in the food community.

The workshop was at Haven’s Kitchen, a great cooking school and event space in Chelsea, NYC. If you haven’t visited this place you must next time you visit New York! The front area is stocked full of gourmet food items, cooking tools and utensils, kitchenware, and housewares; and they also serve coffee and tea, wine and great gourmet snacks. They offer small group cooking classes in their great location too, which you can check out online. The kitchen was set up with all of the fresh, beautiful food that we cooked and prepared together with Bea before we went upstairs to the private event space to prop, style and shoot the gourmet dishes we prepared.

After the shoot, we all sat down for a healthy gorgeous lunch of smoked salmon, veggie and dill cream tartines, fresh fruit and salads, cheese, gourmet pizzas and more. We laughed and ate, and had great conversation among the group and learned valuable lessons in the art of cooking, food styling and photography with Bea.

Check out my photos from the workshop and event below (there’s a slideshow on Flickr and a mini-gallery below for viewing pleasure). And if you have the opportunity to ever take a class from Bea or Haven’s Kitchen, I highly recommend! Enjoy.

VIEW THE SLIDESHOW