Food Styling Workshop with Delores Custer

Keren Brown Media
presents
“Show that Sizzle!”
A Foodportunity Expression Workshop
with Food Stylist Delores Custer

 

 
A Full-Day Food Styling Workshop
Saturday, February 20th, 2010
10 AM to 5 PM
at the headquarters of Allrecipes.com
3317 Third Avenue South, Suite D
Seattle, WA 98134
For Immediate Release:
 
Seattle, January 13, 2009 – Everyone understands that “sizzle” sells, but there’s an art to showing the sizzle and making a mouth-watering image leap off the page. Photographers and art directors have long used the talents of professional stylists to make their food pictures look good enough to lick the monitor, whether it’s a bowl of Cheerios, a steak on the grill, or an exotic banquet.
 
“A food stylist’s job is to get food ready to have its picture taken. “says award-winning food stylist Delores Custer, who comes to Seattle next month exclusively for this one- of- a-kind workshop. She’ll be in town to teach the first “Foodportunity Expression: Styling” workshop in the kitchen of the world’s Number One (and fastest-growing) food site, Allrecipes.com (http://allrecipes.com).
 
 “I am on a mission to show the world that food styling is not about using fake food but about the many techniques that it takes to produce mouth-watering and visually appealing food photographs” says Custer.
 
The event, presented by Keren Brown Media and sponsored by Nonni’s Biscotti is limited to 40 participants and will take place on February 20th, 2010, from 10 AM to 5 PM , at the headquarters of Allrecipes.com, 3317 Third Avenue South, Suite D Seattle, WA 98134
 
Custer will demonstrate food-styling techniques as well as discuss prop selection, styling tips and how to look at food from its best angle. She will delegate group assignments such as styling salads and other food items, so participants have an opportunity to practice what they learn. Custer’s focus for the workshop will be on styling techniques accessible to home cooks, bloggers and others interested in styling food and keeping it edible.
 
Tickets are $99 for the full–day workshop. This includes all fees as well as lunch provided by Huiyona, the Asian-inspired, New American Restaurant on the North side of Capitol Hill.  Huiyona was recently named Best Small Plates 2009 by Seattle Citysearch.
 
Nonni’s Biscotti will provide the delicious, edible props for use in the styling exercises, and will award prizes to the best photos taken at the event.  Nonni, which makes the nation’s best-selling biscotti, has recently launched a new Tusconi cookie as well as a line of gluten-free Risotto Chips.
 
Workshop participants will be able to upload their photos from the event to a Flickr account created especially for Foodportunity Expression.
 
This is a workshop for passionate foodies who want to learn how to better present their food in photographs and for professional photographers who want to know more about the field,” Brown said. “Learning basic techniques of food styling from a pro like Delores is an amazing opportunity.”
 
To date in Seattle, Keren Brown Media has presented two “Foodportunity” networking events, along with the first “Foodportunity Expression,” a sold-out professional workshop for food writers with Rebekah Denn on January 16th. Keren Brown Media also founded the monthly Seattle Food Blogger Events, events that connect Seattle’s food blogging community and create camaraderie.
 
The Historic Mayflower Park Hotel in downtown Seattle is extending special Foodportunity Expression room rates of $129 for a classic guestroom or $149 for a deluxe guestroom on February 19th – 20th  (includes free parking). Email mayflowerpark@mayflowerpark.com and mention Foodportunity.
 
For more about Foodportunity Expression. To register for this event, please go to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/95922
 
*           *           *
About Delores Custer: A freelance food stylist and culinary educator since 1978, Delores Custer works for magazines, cookbook publishers, and in print advertising, public relations, television and feature films. She is a consultant to advertising agencies, international public relations firms, magazines and numerous food companies.
 
Originally from New York City and now based in Portland, Ore., Delores Custer has taught courses in “Professional Food Styling,” “Recipe Writing,” and “Food Demonstration Techniques for Television” at New York University, the Culinary Institute of America and the Institute of Culinary Education. “
 
She is the author of Food Styling: the Art of Preparing Food for the Camera, to be published by Wiley & Sons in April, 2010.
 
Custer’s food clients include Kraft, General Mills, Unilever, Campbell’s, ConAgra, Nestle, Haagen-Dazs, Red Lobster, Subway, Cuisinart, Bacardi, and Budweiser.
 
An interview with Delores Custer is available online at http://www.cookingschools.com/interviews/delores-custer
 
 
About Nonni’s Biscotti
Nonni’s Biscotti is one of America’s leading bakers. The company’s flagship products have been traditional Italian biscotti, made from a family recipe with real eggs, butter and bittersweet chocolate.  New flavors and textures include Tusconi (soft-baked, individually wrapped) as well as Panetini.
 
The New York Style snack line includes Bagel Chips, Pita Chips, Risotto Chips and Focaccia Sticks; wholesome snacks that capture the tastes found in traditional New York City’s bakeries. Old London serves up great snacks and light lunches with its Melba Toast products.
 
Nonni’s recently launched a line of Risotto Chips, available in three flavors: sea salt, spicy marinara and Parmesan with roasted garlic.
 
More information is available at nonnisfoods.com, newyorkstyle.com and oldlondonfoods.com.
 
 
About Huiyona:
Huiyona is an Asian inspired, new American Restaurant located in the North Capitol Hill Neighborhood of Seattle (2355 10th Avenue E). The menu mainly focuses on small plates (almost like Asian tapas) so that guests can share several different items with friends or create their own coursed menu. Owners Mark and Rachel Apuyan strive for a dining atmosphere with an inviting neighborhood feel while receiving the full pampering of fine dining.
 
 
 
About Keren Brown Media
Keren Brown, aka Frantic Foodie, is the founder of Foodportunity, highly popular events for food enthusiasts and food professionals. Keren Brown also founded the monthly Seattle Food Blogger Events , events that connect Seattle’s food blogging community and create lasting connections.
 
Keren’s food events information can be found at Frantic Foodie in the Seattle P-I , FranticFoodie.com and on the events page of My Northwest.com
 
 
Foodportunity Expression Styling
 
FOOD-STYLING WORKSHOP
WITH DELORES CUSTER
Sponsored by Nonni’s Biscotti
 
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
February 20th, 2010
Headquarters of Allrecipes.com
3317 Third Avenue South, Suite D
 Seattle, WA 98134
(Parking is free in the area around the building.)
 
 
Participants should bring their cameras. Foodportunity will have a Flickr account where photographs taken at the workshop can be uploaded. Participants will be asked to bring props that can be found at home. Foodportunity will provide suggestions.
 
10-10:30am
          Registration
10:30–11:00am
          ◦       Introduction to Food Styling
          ◦       Critique & analysis of blogs
11:00am -12:30pm
          What makes a food picture visually appealing and mouthwatering?
          A PowerPoint presentation.
          ◦       Camera angles
          ◦       Working with salads
12:30-1:30pm
          Lunch, presented by Huiyona
1:30-2:00pm
          Presentation by Allrecipes.com
2:00-2:45pm
          Prop selection; getting your creating juices flowing
2:45-3:45pm
          Group work
          ◦       Staging your own salad shots
          ◦       Staging your own snack shots (provided by Nonni’s biscotti)
3:45-5:00pm
          Critique of the group projects & suggestions
          ◦       Conclusions
          ◦       Preview of Delores Custer’s new book,  Food Styling: the Art of Preparing Food for the Camera
          ◦       Participants Q&A