your final project cooking module
What is the objective of this project?
To connect the culinary skills and vocabulary that you have learned so far in the Culinary Arts Program with the "I wish I knew'" recipes that have yet to be cooked or baked in your culinary repertoire.
Ask yourself: What recipe do I need to learn how to make?
Ask yourself: What recipe do I need to learn how to make?
How do I start this project?
Ask yourself: When I am working on a project, am I most successful working in a group or independently?
If you chose working in a group, click HERE to review the project outline for group work and if you chose working independantly, click HERE to review the project outline for solo work.
The next step will require you to start searching for a few recipes that you would like to learn how to cook. These recipes should encompass some of the skills you already know with some new skills and techniques that we have not yet covered in class. The recipe should CONNECT & EXPAND your learning. Please choose your recipe from a reliable source. Stay away from places where anyone can submit a recipe, such as allrecipes.com or the wikipedia equivalent.
If you chose working in a group, click HERE to review the project outline for group work and if you chose working independantly, click HERE to review the project outline for solo work.
The next step will require you to start searching for a few recipes that you would like to learn how to cook. These recipes should encompass some of the skills you already know with some new skills and techniques that we have not yet covered in class. The recipe should CONNECT & EXPAND your learning. Please choose your recipe from a reliable source. Stay away from places where anyone can submit a recipe, such as allrecipes.com or the wikipedia equivalent.
If you are blogging...read this!
Things to consider before blogging:
Food Photography Tips
SETTING: Choose a setting that enhances, but doesn’t distract from your food. Pick a simple, plain background or tablecloth. Use plates whose color contrasts with or harmonizes with your food, but not ones that are the same color. Before you start shooting, make sure there isn’t any distracting clutter in the background of the shot (stray people, silverware, whatever). Using a wider aperture to blur the background will help.
LIGHT: Use natural light whenever you can. The ideal set-up is a next to a large window, with a white curtain to diffuse the light. If you can’t get natural light, don’t be tempted to use your flash. Flash photography is too harsh for food’s delicate sensibilities. It flattens everything out and makes for unappealing shiny spots.
COLOR BALANCE: Learn to color balance. Especially in situations where natural light is unavailable, your photos can have a yellow or blue cast that makes food look terrible. Use the white balance setting on your camera, or adjust the color digitally later on.
DON’T MOVE: Hold still. In low-light situations like restaurants and kitchens, long exposures will register any camera movement as blur. Use a tripod whenever possible. If you don’t have one, try resting your camera on a water glass or the back of a chair.
SHOOT A LOT: Take lots of pictures. Move around the food and see what angle looks best: down low to see the food head-on? Up high to take in the geometry of the presentation?
ZOOM IN: Get in as close as you can. Use the macro setting on your camera if it has one. Fill the frame with the food, so the viewer can almost taste it.
PREPARATION: Don’t forget to take pictures of the process. Sometimes making the food (chopping, cooking) can be as interesting as the final product.
BE QUICK: Work quickly. The faster you take pictures of the food, the fresher it will look. Cold, congealed meat and wilted salads just don’t look good. Use an empty plate to help you set up your shot before the food is ready. At the last minute, slip in the real plate of food.
DETAILS: The devil is in the details. Check the edges of your plates and glasses for stray food, and wipe away any smudges. Use sauces and garnishes to add color to drab shots (i.e. adding a lemon wedge to iced tea).
Blogs to Follow:
Start following a few blogs. Start reading, learning and making notes.
Pinch of Yum
The Kitchy Kitchen
Take a Mega Bite
Teenage Gourmet
Jeremy Cooks
Whisk Kid
The Bite-Sized Baker
Celiac Teen
17 and Baking
Food Photography Tips
SETTING: Choose a setting that enhances, but doesn’t distract from your food. Pick a simple, plain background or tablecloth. Use plates whose color contrasts with or harmonizes with your food, but not ones that are the same color. Before you start shooting, make sure there isn’t any distracting clutter in the background of the shot (stray people, silverware, whatever). Using a wider aperture to blur the background will help.
LIGHT: Use natural light whenever you can. The ideal set-up is a next to a large window, with a white curtain to diffuse the light. If you can’t get natural light, don’t be tempted to use your flash. Flash photography is too harsh for food’s delicate sensibilities. It flattens everything out and makes for unappealing shiny spots.
COLOR BALANCE: Learn to color balance. Especially in situations where natural light is unavailable, your photos can have a yellow or blue cast that makes food look terrible. Use the white balance setting on your camera, or adjust the color digitally later on.
DON’T MOVE: Hold still. In low-light situations like restaurants and kitchens, long exposures will register any camera movement as blur. Use a tripod whenever possible. If you don’t have one, try resting your camera on a water glass or the back of a chair.
SHOOT A LOT: Take lots of pictures. Move around the food and see what angle looks best: down low to see the food head-on? Up high to take in the geometry of the presentation?
ZOOM IN: Get in as close as you can. Use the macro setting on your camera if it has one. Fill the frame with the food, so the viewer can almost taste it.
PREPARATION: Don’t forget to take pictures of the process. Sometimes making the food (chopping, cooking) can be as interesting as the final product.
BE QUICK: Work quickly. The faster you take pictures of the food, the fresher it will look. Cold, congealed meat and wilted salads just don’t look good. Use an empty plate to help you set up your shot before the food is ready. At the last minute, slip in the real plate of food.
DETAILS: The devil is in the details. Check the edges of your plates and glasses for stray food, and wipe away any smudges. Use sauces and garnishes to add color to drab shots (i.e. adding a lemon wedge to iced tea).
Blogs to Follow:
Start following a few blogs. Start reading, learning and making notes.
Pinch of Yum
The Kitchy Kitchen
Take a Mega Bite
Teenage Gourmet
Jeremy Cooks
Whisk Kid
The Bite-Sized Baker
Celiac Teen
17 and Baking
if you are filming...read this!
Things to consider before filming:
- Tidy the kitchen. You should have minimal items on the countertop and there shouldn't be any clutter in the background.
- Have everything pre-measured and in order of use off to the side.
- Choose the time of day that will offer you the best lighting. Natural sunlight is the best for both the food and you:)
- Know your recipe by heart. That may mean making it a couple times before hand to make sure it turns out.
- Keep your recipe close where you can refer to it when you must.
- It may help to have part of the recipe already done. For example when the recipe calls for whipped cream, have the cream already mixed. Or if you must separate eggs, have it done already.
- Make sure to keep the line a site clear. When you use a dish, move it out of sight.
- You want to keep a clean appearance. If your hair is long, tie it back. Never touch your face, hair, or nose...lick your fingers, or use the same tasting spoon twice. If you have an itch, ignore it. If you do happen to do so, wash your hands.
Video Example
Watch this video by Claire Thomas for some good ideas of what to include in your video. You may wish to make a few notes.