Nothing is more pleasurable after a good meal than...... Chocolate cake! ~Bon Appétit

I mean a thick slice of fresh chocolate cake! A 5'' inch high slice of cake, a fat thick 5 inch layered slice of chocolate cake topped off with chocolate flakes.

                                         Enter the star of this shoot:  BindiUSA Desserts!

                                                 Next up was the Red Velvet cake:

Heaven's and the powers that be managed to fill up two (2) refrigerators with there new selections for the Summer of 2013....  All I can say is stay away if you have a problem with sweets, stay away if you have no control.  I spent 12 hours working with chef Michael Giletto * (my food stylist on and great friend) where he had to re-create the most perfect cuts of cake, making sure that every morsel of the chocolate flakes were perfectly laid out, double checking that each and every pistachio nut or sugar was positioned correctly to balance out our feature cover image while our client eagerly watched as we worked on each aspect of sets to get what we all needed. 

To be drooling from the lip, deciding in our minds where to cut the chocolate cake and how large of a slice we want…. Some of the images are posted here and others can be viewed at: 

http://bindiusa.com/home.asp As of today the images are live on the Bindi USA ( Desserts ) website

The Cover for Bindi Desserts Summer edition 2013-2014 

Th

Pistachio Cheesecake: A creamy pistachio cheesecake with pistachio pieces, topped with a light pistachio mousse and sprinkled with pistachios, on a cookie crumb base.

Many thanks to BindiUSA,

http://bindiusa.com/home.asp

Chef Michael Giletto food Stylist,

(http://www.michaelgiletto.com) 

Rhiana Hritz Art Director (http://www.rhiana.com), 

Studio space provided by Taina A Studio 

(http://www.qnycreative.com/category/clients/bindi)

~ fino alla sucesiva~

Gluttony at it's best: Behind the Curtain at the South Beach Food and Wine Festival Miami Beach

~ Behind the Curtain at the South Beach Food and Wine Festival~

The movers and shakers, the powers that be and me... Inside all the chefs where still prepping, still organizing, up until the final seconds...Then the first of the doors opened then 4 doors opened, then 8 doors opened in the middle resessed in the ceter of the grand ballroom was the softest voice that greeted everyone joining in with a welcomed sound of a piano playing in the back round..

The mood was set by the pianist as he stroked the keys lightly enough to complement mood and low enough to hear bottles popping and chinging of glass's coming together. As freely as the wine flowed the aroma of sweet and savory, spice and citrus quickly took over the air ... This is South Beach Food and Wine Event Best of the Best at Fontainebleau hotel. 

This is where 47 of the nation's best chef's presented a tasters menu of the finest foods. .

Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, Chef Anita Lo, Chef Anne Burell, Chef Nubo Matsuhisa, Chef, Aaron Brooks, Chef, Francios Payard, Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, Chaf Guy Fieri, Chef Heddy Goldsmith. Chef Johnny Iuzzini, Chef Todd Erickson, Chef Marc Forgione, Chef Marc Murphy, Chef Michael Mina, Chef Norman Van Aken, Chef, Pascal Oudin, Chef Scott Conart, Chef Sunny Anderson, Chef Daniel Boulud, Chefs Art Smith, Chef Lorena Garcia, Chef Andrew Carmellini, Chef Duff Goldman, Chef Andrew Zimmern,Chef Timon Balloo, Lee Schrager, and many other food network icons.

Fontainebleau Miami Beach presents Wine Spectator's Best of the Best sponsored by Bank of America,

Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village featuring MasterCard® Grand Tasting Tents,

The Big G

gay Social

Wine Spectator Wine Seminar Kosta Browne 

Best of the Best at Fontainebleau hotel

Chicken Coupe hosted by Andrew Carmellini  

A Red Hot Night: Presented by Target: Hosted by Ingrid Hoffmann

Then there was the grand tent and major parties, food throw downs, and lots and lots of Food events.Then there were the after parties.. of which I can't show images, because I was asked to leave my camera's behind and allowed to enterbehind curtain.........

"Unify, Simply and Amplify" ~ The vibe of life is the rhythm of life!

"Unify, Simply and Amplify"



A quote shared to by my assistant Louis Fisher, by way of his friend by Judy Herrmann! (Partner in Herrmann + Starke photography - www.HSstudio.com • recipient of the United Nations' IPC Leadership Award, past president of ASMP and Olympus Visionary)






It is what I kept hearing play in my head over the past 35 days... "Unify, Simply and Amplify"

Arriving in paradise where the vibe of life is the rhythm of life!  For 23 days in I worked in St Lucia, Antigua and Barbados. What I kept hearing countless times by locals, resort guest, resort employees and random individuals that I encountered. With the phase "you are so lucky you have a hard life". "Thank you", I would respond no life is great, you are here on holiday or vacation and I am here working... I am very fortunate to have met you.

What follow over the past 3 weeks was laughter, sincere candidness from all, whether sharing a view of a sunset at dinner at a restaurant's million dollar view or a chance meeting on flight state side!

Moments were created, moments were shared, moments were fueled by the people around us! Bring a few chairs to a table and you have everything! Fill it with people with accents from all around and you have a worldly bunch and wicked tales!  You always find your own no mater where you are ... you always find your own! Stories flowed as fast as the food and drinks (* faster then food and drinks –remember this is island time)  it is the start of some new great friendships! Thank you!  

Nights turned into days into weeks and everyone offered to change jobs, hand over the keys to the their home, their boat, their life off of the island and back home.



The vibe of life is the rhythm of life, a smile, a hand shake, an opened mind: it is that simple: it never ceases to amaze me about how inviting and eager people are to share, to speak, to learn.


Inspiration is everywhere~  All I would like to continue doing is "Unify, Simply and Amplify"

I am not just a photographer, I am your 24 hour-a-day/365 days-a-week billboard!

I am not just a photographer,  I am your 24 hour-a-day/365 days-a-week billboard. I am raw data, I am your marketing partner, I am your advertisement to the millions that view our images on your website, your blog, your Twitter page, your LinkedIn, your Facebook page...everyday, every week, every year.

I sell and resell you and your restaurant, your resort, your magazine, your cruise line, your food products, your persona... It is because of all my hard work and passion that goes into creating the perfect image, the perfect destination, the perfect mood, the perfect dish, to create the perfect advertisement. I'm the one who you hire to create the images that captures that thought, that dream, that experience, that moment - that made you stop, see, think, taste and hold!

It was that memory, that thought which brought you from here to there. It's what made you book those reservations, it's why you are where you are or where you will be traveling to...

On a beach in the Caribbean, walking down a cobblestone street in London on a chilly day, dining at your favorite establishment overlooking the most magical sunset you have ever seen. It's that special spot that you found off the beaten path on some random road. It's why you are mixing with locals in a remote village in Latin American. You just started to dream - to think where you had your best piece of steak or the fattiest tuna or the best caviar.... perhaps it started with a recommendation, or a review, but it all comes back to an image.

As a photographer, my job is to create one thing: a cover image! An image that stands out, an image that says "wow", an image that resonates internally, an image that causes you in conversation to recall or describe, an image that makes you say "Yes, I WANT THIS!" That is a job of a photographer, that is My job. 

I am your voice to the masses. I come long before the PR and Advertising companies. I am the start of your new beginning. I am as important as the ingredients that you look for. I am someone that works only for one purpose: I am hired to fill seats, to be used like a stamp - sent all over the world to capture that perfect image for one purpose: to create sales. I am not just a photographer, I am your 24 hour-a-day/365 days-a-week billboard. I am your advertisement! 

We make people Go-See-Do.~

The importance of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs:

The importance of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs: Where farmers and chefs are working hand in hand within the their communities ~ Miami....

The View From The Front Porch~ Written and  posted by Chef A Todd Webster ~ Reposted by Steve Levine / Steady70  (http://theviewfromthefrontporchblog.wordpress.com/)

Chef Todd Webster Speaking to guests about the importance of using fresh local ingredients; Chef Laura Lafata leaving after purchasing some fresh herbs and plants, Freshly picked Peppers, A child sampling a tomato! @Teena’s Pride Farms 
Chef Todd Webster and everyone at the Front Porch Cafe would like to welcome you to our new blog, The View From The Front Porch! We will feature events going on at The Front Porch Cafe, pieces about our dishes, and the local organic produce we love so much. Chef Todd Webster is proud to launch the blog with a post about a recent event with our great friends atTeena’s Pride Farms. But first, a little bit about what we do at The Front Porch Cafe.The Front Porch Cafe has been an institution on the South Beach Scene for 23 years. We’re known for being the most popular neighborhood breakfast spot in town, with a great local following. With the addition of Chef Todd Webster to our team, The Front Porch Cafe is making a move to incorporate organic and local produce into the fold, starting with a re-vamped dinner menu highlighting fresh, local food and celebrating Miami’s herritage. Were not just for breakfast any more.

Florida native Todd Webster learned to love and appreciate environmentally responsible food while working as the Sous Chef at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink. His background at Michaels Genuine and Le Cordon Bleu grew his love for cooking into a passion for local farming. Around this time he was introduced to Michael Borek of Teena’s Pride. Michael and Todd’s love of local produce led to a fantastic friendship that continues today with weekly visits to Teena’s to pick out amazing produce for weekly specials at The Front Porch Cafe.

Todd Webster and Michael Borek

Each month, Teena’s Pride hosts a guest chef cooking demo to educate visitors about their Comunity Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. On March third, our own Chef Todd was the guest chef, and he was fired up at the chance to cook with Teena’s organic vegetables for his friends, family, and over 200 guests to the farm. While walking the farm to pick produce for his demonstration Chef stopped in a row of heirloom tomatoes and laughed, ”you know, I’m like a kid in a candy store here, I’ve got more vegetables than I can carry!”. For his demonstration Chef Todd Webster created a salad using spelt, an ancient grain with a mellow nutty flavor, and featuring the Teena’s Farms produce he picked that morning. Along for the ride were his, wife Yoanna, daughter Hannah, and two local culinary students, Melissa and Jasmine, who helped him create the well recieved salad. Luckily our friend Steve Leveine was on hand to capture some great shots of the event.

Chef Todd Webster and his Daughter, Hannah

Chef Todd Webster, his wife Yoanna, and sous chef Hannah

Chef Todd and his fresh spelt salad were a hit, people came back for seconds and were amazed at how great a dish can be when made with local produce. The event was a great way to showcase the CSA program, for which the Front Porch Cafe is a pickup site. To learn more about getting monthly shares of Teena’s Pride Farms produce and to join in on the action you can go here. Our menu features several products from the farm, including their spectacular heirloom tomatoes, rainbow chard and romanesca. Once again, we would like to welcome you to our blog and remind you, it all starts at the farm.

Todd Webster, Jasmine, Teena Borek, Melissa, and the students Chef Instructor

Thank  you Chef.....


http://theviewfromthefrontporchblog.wordpress.com/

El Ñosh | SoBe • Launch Party @ South Beach Marriott ~ArtBasil.org ~Steady70 2013 SOBE Food and Wine

El Ñosh | SoBe • Launch Party

Star power Chefs Eric Greenspan and Roberto Trevino Mash it up at the South Beach Marriott at

El Ñosh | SoBe • Launch Party , opening night of the 12th Annual South Beach Food & Wine Festival.

Where Ay! Caramba Mets Oy Vey!

By Cristiane Roget (eat@artbasil.org) 310-220-9118

Miami Beach, FL –

2/24,’13 Raising the bar on singular events, the Marriott South Beach hosted El

Ñosh | SoBe • Launch Party coinciding with the opening night of the 12th Annual South Beach Food and Wine Festival. The landmark four night event unfolded Thursday, February 21 on the windswept wooden Ocean Terrace with 400 blue chip guests in attendance. El Ñosh | SoBe recalled a time when Sinatra and Sammy haunted the original Art Deco gem that is now the reincarnated Marriott, a luxurious, beach front property on the serene side of 5th Street gateway.

T.V. personality and lauded Los Angeles restauranteur Eric Greenspan and Celeb Chef, Roberto Trevino, a San Francisco native and viejo San Juan transplant mashed it up with an imaginative fusion of traditional Jewish and Latin dishes. Sourcing ingredients who’s origins share a common Mediterranean root (that later diverged after the Inquisition) the menu evoked sighs of bliss with Arroz con Pollo Knishes,Yucca Latkes with crème agria and home-style mango jam or Pastrami & Dill Pickle Croquetas with a smear of savory, old-world horseradish mustard.

The premiere libations flowed freely with mixologists from Don Q, Miami Club Rum, Kim Crawford select wines, Corona Light with snappy lime, Zigum Mezcal, l’Chaim Kosher Vodka and The Vini , exceptional wine by the glass, creating novel twists on signature cocktails including celery sodas, aphrodisiac mojitos, and egg creams with an infusion of coconut and aged Don Q premiere Puerto Rican Rum.  More sighs of bliss were heard with the arrival of Hayley St Pierre-Ms. Intl World Super Model, Erica Causcut, Teen Latina Int’l United States, Anna Marie Murillo and Lorena Arbelaez-Ms. Latina Int'l Florida from Colombia. Ms. Ester Dollar, Ms. Latina Int'l 2012 of Cuban and Jewish descent and the reigning Ms. Portada and Dominique Martin modeled couture evening gowns by Charlyn Castro Rojas-Couture Designer and the current Ms. Latin International 2013 of Puerto Rico and doyenne Angela J. Posillico.

 Latin singing sensation Carlos Faroy and Willie Panama , direct from a international tour of ‘Miami Rocks the Troops’, Copacabana’s Elizabeth S. Kobel, impresario’s Gerry Kelly, Rhythm Foundation’s James Quinlan, Denise Righetti at  BocaFoodFinds  and Steve Levine of Steady 70/ Global Getty Photographer were onboard. Anne Burrell, the Face of the South Beach Food and Wine Festival, Chef Todd Webster, Elin Trousdale of Le Bistro and survivor of Gordon Ramsey’s ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ joined Executive Chef and cutlery wizard Michael C. Giletto to pay homage to Greenspan and Trevino. El Ñosh | SoBe • Launch Party was on the national news radar with Al Roker’s NBC’s The Today Show on-air mention and VIPictures photographer Andrew Kutno’s personal invitation to Diane Sawyer.

Decked out diners dined al fresco on the vast elevated deck, a bridal’s setting bordering a horizon of sea and stars. VIP guests and cosmo foodies also included Steve Rossi, Esq. representing the epicurean society founded in the Middle Ages, La Confrere, La Chaine des Rotisseurs, photographer and author, Elger ‘Men Who Cook’ Aragundi, a protégée of Nicole Shelly Models.

Heads turned with the arrival of Daniel Hartwell , Bostonian Loco Bazooka concert producer, author and coach who melds music with wellness, while “aligning the soul with rhythm and good living” and laser genius Mobius8 fresh off a tour with C-Low Green. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZJvI5nVGoQ. And the night rocked on.

 As Chef Trevino purrs away in Puerto Rico with the opening of his 5th Kitchen, (BudaTai, Bar Gitano and Casa Lola will be a hard act to follow) and at the helm of Cook Shop, Inc. with Miguel Balbi and Eric Greenspan’s ever growing list of kudo’s including Conde Nast Traveler and Gourmet Magazine as he helms 5 distinct Los Angeles eateries a.k.a. ‘celeb destinations’ including the Foundry on Melrose that was nominated by James Beard as one of the ‘Best New Restaurant’s in America’ is it any wonder future El Ñosh gatherings are being planned to coincide with the Aspen, Los Angeles and New York Food & Wine Festivals? For updates visit artbasil.org/news

Innovations on the daring duo’s El Ñosh | menus will continue to break new ground in paying homage to the two distinct, but compatible, culinary traditions; one Latin Caribbean the other Jewish Ashkenazi. El Ñosh | SoBe • Launch Party brought together culinary wizards long separated from their fans by a kitchen door and centuries of decorum to advance the Art Basil credo that, ‘fine food shared is food paired with memories savored’.

  

Delray Beach Garlic Fest~ Feb 2013

My first time attending the Garlic Fest here in Delray Beach which took place  at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts at the Old School Square. I have been living in South Florida for over 8 years. I have heard about this festival for  so many times from friends and clients. This Year is different this year my good friend just happened the MC of the 3 day event... Chef Michael Gelitto, an amazing chef opened a few doors and introduced me the powers that be @ the Garlic Fest. The foods the chefs, the judges and all the people that came truly made this an a event a real special weekend.

``
                                    
                                     

                                           
                                     


 The Chefs in the competition:

Chef Bruce Feingold (Dada) ,Chef Chuck Gittleman (Karma Sushi and Steakbar), Chef Blake Malatesta (50cean), Chef Omar Montoya (The Office)

The judges:

Chef Chris Miracolo, Chef Walter Tanner, Chef Joseph Giannuzzi, Chef Roy Villacrusis, Lenore Nolan Ryan, Chef Iam Hedendal, Chef Ernesto De Blasi, Chef Dean Ellis, Chef Nick Morfogen, Chef David Sedivy,Chef Roderick Smith

                                    

After 3 amazing rounds of competitions, Chef Bruce Feingold of Dada took the championship from the two time winner Chef Chuck Gittleman of Karma Steakbar & Sushi.

                                     

                             

Thank you Nancy Stewart, Sarah and Ross Vallely and the rest of the team  I mean family at FMG for opening up and allowing me to do my thing and enjoy 3 days of foods wines and good times. 

                        

Cant wait till next year! 

                          

http://www.dbgarlicfest.com; dbgarlicfest.com; The Delray Beach Garlic Fest; www.facebook.com/DelrayGarlicFest; 14th annaul GarlicFest; Chef Michael Giletto; Corporate Chef Micheal Giletto; Chef Manny Rodriguez; Chef Manny Rodriguez Of Cambio Boca Raton; Casa de cambio Boca; Raton; dada.closermagazine.com; www.facebook.com/DadaHouse?rf=128740230565257; http://www.Dadaofdelray.com; image by steady 70; photo by steady70; food photographer steve levine; food photographer steady70; Top Chef Lindsay Autry; Chef Lindsay Autry; Erick Miranda; Chef Erick Miranda; Chef Erick Miranda at Vic and Angelos; Chef Erick Miranda at Vic and Angelos in Delray Beach; Vic & Angelo'sRestaurant; www.vicandangelos.comChef Blake Malatesta; Chef Blake Malatesta at 50 Ocean; Chef Blake Malatesta at 50 Ocean Restaurant Delray Beach; 50 Ocean Restaurant; www.50ocean.com; 50 Ocean Restaurant DelrayBeach; karmasushisteakbar.com; Chef Chuck Glittleman; Chef Chuck Glittleman at Karma Sushi Steak restaurant; The Green Gourmet; Thegreeengourmetdelray.net; Chef/Owner Joey Giannuzzi The Green Gourmet; Chef Joey Giannuzzi The Green Gourmet; Chef Walter Tanner; Chef Walter Tanner South Tech Academy; Southtechacademy.com; Chef Lenore Nolan Ryan; Lenorenolanryan.com; Chef Eric at Ceviche; Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant; Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant Delray Beach; nancy@avenuecreative.com; Nancy Stewart; avenuecreative.com; FESTIVAL MANAGEMENT GROUP; INC.; festivalmanagementgroup.com; Sarah Vallely