Tag Archives: food network

Holy Chicken Wings of Awesomeness

18 Dec

Some of you might remember my culinary ravings from our trip to Portland, OR back in April.  Two meals stuck out most for me from that trip – one of them being the four-course brunch menu served at Beast (one of the best meals of my life) and the other being the Spicy Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings from a place called Pok Pok that were just off the hook crazy delicious.  (For extensive photos and writings of these meals, check my blog post from the trip).  Meanwhile, it has come to my attention that Pok Pok is officially opening two locations right here baby…  a restaurant in Brooklyn on Columbia Street (a newly burgeoning foodie scene) and a smaller wings spot on the Lower East side come early 2012.  The deal was official as of the end of October and my mouth is watering just thinking about those fish sauce wings.  Who wants to join me opening week?!

Meanwhile, speaking of culinary amazingness… is anyone else watching The Next Iron Chef on Food Network?  Because it is currently my favorite show (keep in mind, we still don’t have cable and our TV has been rather limited – but still…) and this season, pitting culinary superstars against each other for the Iron Chef title, has been totally awesome!  I believe the finale is airing TONIGHT!  Now I want to go visit the restaurants of all these chefs… especially Chef Chiarello’s restaurant Bottega in Napa Valley.  Maybe I’ll add that to my list of things I want to do as a thirty-three year old.  Baby’s first trip?  Anyone know a good sitter in Napa?  Hmmmm.

 

It’s Monday Again… The Weekend Catch-Up

11 Oct

Happy Monday everyone!  So… in continuing where I left off the last time we spoke, Friday night I worked alongside Adam and a small crew covering the Burger Bash event – part of the New York City Food & Wine Festival.  The event was pretty awesome.  It was held at the Tobacco Warehouse in Dumbo, Brookyn.  It is this open-air brick structure – half torn down, which used to be a tobacco warehouse… just guessing.   But it’s right on the water with views of Manhattan and it is directly below the Brooklyn Bridge – so the setting is just SICK!  I was hired as an Assistant Camera… but while Mark (director of photography and best man at our wedding) was filming the interviews with Barney’s’ Simon Doonan and several famous foodies, Adam told me to take my camera and my tripod and get some party and burger footage!  I was a bit nervous at first – being off on my own with no direction… but once I got going, I got really into it!  It was a blast!  I had an all-access badge and got to tell everyone I was shooting for Food Network, which helped me get in closer to the action.  I got some really awesome footage – burgers, chefs, partygoers, signage, flaming grills, etc.  It was a definite sink or swim moment and I believe I swam quite nicely. :)  Can’t wait for the next shoot!

Here is a light projection on the wall of the warehouse during the event:

Photo 182 out of 365 – “New York City Wine & Food Festival”

"New York City Wine & Food Festival" - Dumbo, Brooklyn

On Saturday afternoon, Adam left for California for the Carmel Art & Film Festival and then for a Subaru Shoot later this week.  I was so sad to see him go!  This is going to be the longest separation we’ve ever had since meeting each other three years ago.  The truth is… when I go away (like when I went to Guatemala with my friend Amie for a week in February) I’m totally ok.  I mean, I always miss Adam – but I’m happy to be traveling.  On the other hand, when he leaves town and I’m home alone… I don’t like it very much!!  Home feels incomplete without him.  So, Saturday I was a little blue.  I walked around the East Village all by my lonesome, took a bunch of pictures, strolled through a flea market and then decided to treat myself to a pedicure.  Well… nothing beats my blues like a little pampering and this was the best pedicure I’ve ever had in my life!  They took such good care of me for almost two hours!!  What a good idea that was.  Here is the spa I went to… the Galleria Nail Salon… seriously, they rule.  And here is a photo from the flea market:

Photo 183 out of 365 – “East Village Flea Market”

"East Village Flea Market" - Settings: ISO 100, f/4.5, 1/320 sec, 50mm lens

Saturday night I ordered Italian comfort food from Il Bagatto and chilled solo for the evening.  Though I was sort of bored and missed Adam, it was nice having some quiet time – we’ve had a lack of that lately!  Mental note for the future… pedicures, Italian food and some good TV are a perfect cure for a sad Nell.

Sunday, after brunch with my friend Wendy at a new place (well… new to me) called Jo’s, I walked around some more and did a little shopping.  As I walked home – through Soho, I heard some good music happening through the hustle and bustle of the traffic.  As I approached Broadway, I saw this group of Doo Wop singers performing on the street.  They were awesome.  My dad would have loved them… he loves Doo Wop… I thought of him. :)   I listened to a couple songs, took some pictures, gave the guys a few bucks and continued on my way.

Photo 184 out of 365 – “Doo Wop on a Soho Street Corner”

"Doo Wop on a Soho Street Corner" - Settings: ISO 100, f/8, 1/125 sec, 50mm lens

As for this week… today I went to the framing store, where I’m having my prints framed for the show I’m doing at Brooklyn Victory Garden.  I had to sign all the mats before they framed the prints and put the backings on.  It’s all a pretty steep learning curve – but hey… this is my first show… I suppose I can take whatever I learn this time around and do it better next time right? I’m psyched about my photos though – they’re big and pretty.  Here is a link to the ones I’ve decided to display:

Nell’s BVG Photo Show

It was a tough decision and several friends helped me out with their opinions.  In the end… I figured, I have to assume that I might end up keeping a lot of these if they don’t sell.  So… I chose photos that I’d actually want to hang on my wall in my apartment.  I was hemming and hawing about including people pictures… like the random people I’ve been meeting around the East Village.  I decided not to this time around.  I love them… and I love taking them, but I don’t know that I’d want a 20×30 picture of my neighborhood drunk dude on my wall.  I also wanted consistency, so I only chose landscape images – no portraits.  I don’t know if that was a good move or not – but it made sense to me after seeing the space.  So – there you have the decision-making process.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy!  And in November, when the Grand Opening of the store happens… I’ll keep you posted and I hope you’ll join me if you’re in the area!

Photo 181 out of 365 – “Ball In Hand”

8 Oct

"Ball In Hand" - Settings: ISO 1600, f/4.5, 1/50 sec, 50mm lens

I took this at 675 bar last night – we were there for a going away party for one of Adam’s co-workers.  What a COOL space.  I totally want to have a party there someday.  I love the lighting in this shot… the hand position, the shadows, the vibrant red felt and the wood… it’s a pretty sexy shot if I do say so myself.

Anyway – today I’m prepping for another Food Network shoot later this afternoon.  This one’s pretty much my dream come true.  I’m going to be shooting B-camera for The Blue Moon Burger Bash – hosted by Rachel Ray!   The event is going to be held at the Tobacco Warehouse under the Brooklyn Bridge and seventeen chefs are going to be competing for the title of best burger.  I’m excited to see certain chefs there, like Spike Mendelsohn and Bobby Flay.  I only hope I get to try some of the burgers.  I’ll report back tomorrow!

Photo 143 out of 365 – “Columbia’s Finest”

31 Aug

"Columbia's Finest" - Settings: ISO 800, f/3.5, 1/50 sec, 100mm macro lens

I took this shot last night with the Canon 100mm macro lens, which we rented for our Food Network job.  I seriously had the end of the lens INCHES away from these coffee beans.  Amazing.  I am totally buying this lens.  It will be awesome for food photography… specifically cheese photography, which I’m becoming quite fond of.   The coffee featured here is from Stumptown Roasters and it’s called Columbia Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, whew… what a day.  I left the house this morning at 8:15 am for a full day of shooting at Food Network.  Today we shot four executives in a variety of office settings – the SVP of Ad Sales, the SVP of Marketing, PR & Creative, the GM of Food Network and the GM of Cooking Channel.  About five years ago I would have KILLED to be in a room with these people.  Even today – I was starting to get the itch to go work for them.  Most of these high-level executives we’ve been interviewing seem like really amazing, creative and fun people!  Actually, I think instead of going back to a corporate gig, I should pitch them an idea for a cheese show… with me as the host.

“Nell Talks Cheese”

What do you think?  Can you see it?  Each episode will star me… roaming gorgeous countrysides all over Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, England, America – in search of the creamiest, yummiest, most delectable cheeses the world has to offer.  Hmmm…. I like it.  Just need to work on the whole camera-shy thing.

Tomorrow I’m leaving the house at 6:30 am for another shoot day out in the Hamptons.  I’m not even sure who’s being interviewed tomorrow – but when that’s over, we have a three-hour drive home and then I’m doing head shots for my lovely friend Jessica!  I’m super excited for that.  I met a woman who lives in my building who started her own photography business and she gave me some excellent tips for shooting up on my roof.  I’m feeling really confident now that I can get some great shots in the natural light – and Jess is a good model… she’s adorable and I’m sure the camera will love her!

Oh, and another amazing thing happened the other day! I’m telling you… the universe is starting to work with me here. A friend I met while doing my cheese boot camp at Murray’s is opening her own cheese shop in Brooklyn.  She sent me an email last week asking if I can take some product shots for her – and shots of the store once it’s finished.  She also said that she wants to feature local artists in her store and she loves my photography and would like to display my work in her shop!  AND… it will be for sale!  I am so pumped about this!  I’m going to work with my wonderfully creative friend Amie to come up with some framing solutions – barn wood perhaps?  And now I have to pick out which photos to display.  I’m thinking along the rustic theme – if anyone has any favorites, please – let me know!  I always have a difficult time picking favorites from my own work!!

Now – I’m going to go flop on the couch.  Once Adam gets home we are ordering Westville (a weekly staple in our home)… turkey burgers with cheese.  Yum.  See you tomorrow!

Photo 137 out of 365 – “Interview With a Muppet”

25 Aug

"Interview With a Muppet" - Settings: ISO 3200, f/4.5, 1/50 sec, 105mm (24-105mm lens)

So – today was an exciting day!  I had my first official day on the job as an assistant camera woman on a shoot!  Adam’s company, Bodega got hired to shoot and produce a video tribute to the President of Food Network – Brooke Johnson in honor of her being named “Woman of the Year” by WICT (Women in Cable Television).  For the video – we are interviewing several top executives from Scripps Networks as well as several on-air chefs & TV personalities from Food Network.  I’ve been studying up on my camera, which happens to shoot amazing quality video in addition to gorgeous photographs (god i love this camera).  Yesterday I went to Adorama to pick up some rental equipment and I got to try out some fabulous camera lenses.  I used a lens today that costs $2500 to buy!! – I’m in heaven. :)  One of my favorite lenses I tried is this 100mm Canon L Series Macro lens.  It lets you shoot objects really close-up, which I love to do.  Here is an example of me playing with that lens in the store…  I love how it captures texture in such incredible detail.  I will have a field day with this baby some day – it’s now topping my wish list for lenses I hope to own.

Macro Lens - Zipper - Settings: ISO 1600, f/4, 1/50 sec, 100mm Macro Lens

Meanwhile, the shoot today went fantastic!  I really enjoyed myself and I can’t wait for the fun to continue tomorrow.  At eight a.m. tomorrow morning, we are heading out to Bobby Flay’s house in the Hamptons to do his interview!!  What a trip!  So – good things all around.  On another note,  I’m also starting to get some head shot appointments – and now that I know how easy and reasonable it is to rent a lens… I’m totally going to rent some better equipment so I can knock these head shots out of the park!

Oh yeah…  and the little blue muppet is not officially part of the interview.  He was just sitting in so I could practice with my equipment and camera settings.  But isn’t he cute?

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