Wednesday, May 6, 2020

2014 - May 30 - Autumn


2014 May 30

I just love Autumn in  Johannesburg!  The leaves are all orange, yellow and brown ... the air is crisp and smells of wood fire, the sky is blue without a single cloud and soaking in some Vitamin D in the sun is pure heaven!  The other day in a parking area, I walked and saw this big crisp Autumn leaf on the ground ... I stopped and stomped on it.  A guy got out of his car and asked me:  ‘Is it dead now?’  I doubled over from an embarrassed laugh ... but thought it was cute.

Have you ever thought of food photos in magazines, brochures or on TV ... and the person behind it – that’s called a food stylist.  And basically this food stylist cooks and ‘put’ food on a plate or a surface, make it pretty and the photographer takes the pictures.

So I applied for a job as a ‘junior food assistant’ to a food stylist this week.  I suppose the word ‘junior’ should have set all bells ringing.  But because this food stylist is also involved in recipe experimenting, etc, I thought it sounded like a good experience.  Well – this assistant is expected to:

Work for about 2 days a week (not even every week) from 5am till 10/11 pm
Carry heavy crates of food/props
Clean the set in-between food styling
Has to be on stand-by for whenever is needed
Has nothing to do with recipe experimentation
And only gets paid about R350 per day!

I suppose for a young STRONG chef it will be a good beginning and introduction to the food industry.  But I decided then:  I don’t want to be a professional food stylist or food photographer.   But then – I’m already doing all this and more ... I’m experimenting with recipes, creating my own, adapting others.  I style my own food, take my own photos and I try to inspire you all with my recipes.   And I don’t have to work looooooooooooooooong hours, or carry heavy stuff ....  

Back to this issue – SOME OF YOU WILL HATE IT – others will embrace it.  My ingredient is CELERY.  And can I say, I was pleasantly surprised by the recipes ... I loved every single one of them!!!!

http://www.xcentricideas.co.za/images/2014/XCentric%20Ideas%202014%20Issue%204.pdf






































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