All photos © Chris Stowell Photography

All photos © Chris Stowell Photography

What better way to celebrate 234 years of independence than red velvet cupcakes with white frosting, red stripey and blue starry sprinkles? That would be cupcakes with strawberries and blue berries!

I hope you had a great day, enjoyed the fireworks and had many delicious cupcakes too!

Wow, I can’t believe it’s a month since the last Cadillac Chefs event! As usual, Chef Colin Smith hosts at the Roundabout Bistro in The Town Center at Somersett. This time (with Independence Day and a summer of grilling ahead) the recipes focused on entertaining – dips, sliders, salad, skewers and steak… coming from the kitchen at an astounding rate! To say I was kept on my toes is an understatement; it’s a new personal record for speed shooting food!

All photos © Chris Stowell Photography

See more Cadillac Chefs events…

Another night back at the Roundabout Bistro! This time for a slightly younger, considerably more feminine, and definately more attractive crowd (no offence intended Cadillacs, you’re all great but you know how it is, wrong type and all that).

It was a completely different vibe than the usual gig, but a lot of fun – and the food was as good as ever with Chef Colin Smith leading the ladies through the recipes. I fell completely in love with the Chicken, Goats Cheese and Pepper Tart… those boxes of puff pastry that are usually sat waiting to become pie lids (as in Steak and Kidney pies) are destined for a higher purpose now

All photos © Chris Stowell Photography

It was a delight to work with Edible Reno-Tahoe on a feature of the AMAZING Wolfdale’s Restaurant in Tahoe City, CA. Owner/Chef Douglas Dale’s creations have somewhat of a reputation and deservedly so.

Having never eaten there I was both excited and a little anxious to see what I was getting into… However Chef Dale and his wife were perfect hosts, ever helpful and a joy to work with. I live for gigs like this!. It makes what I do for a living so rewarding… and tasty

You can see the results for yourself! I’m pretty happy with the shoot, but as the expression goes – “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”. Boy is the eating good!

All photos © Chris Stowell Photography

It’s always a pleasure to work with Chef Colin Smith and the Reno’s Cadillac Chefs, a group of gentlemen with a passion for culinary expertise, and fine wines to match their fine food.

I’ve been working with these guys for just over a year now, back then when we first started working together food photography was a scary discipline for me, a challenge that left me exhausted after 3 hours of flying around the Bisto capturing prep shots, tweaking the lightbox, juggling lenses.

Nowadays the Roundabout Bistro (situated in the Village at Somersett up in NW Reno) is still my playground, I’m still learning and improving everytime I go there but it’s so much fun and I’m so settled with the set-piece shots that I still have time to really stretch myself technically without becoming too stressed juggling those 6 or 7 courses in the 2 hours that everyone eats!

Chef Colin’s expertise is immense! I thought I could cook until I started hanging around him while he’s guiding the Cadillacs, but even though I’m focussed on the photography and not the prep I still manage to pick up 4 or 5 incredible tips each night there. Poached eggs have never been so good!

All photos © Chris Stowell Photography

See more Cadillac Chefs events…

Runs from 2nd May, 2010 until 30th June, 2010, Spanish Springs Library, Sparks, Nevada.

Full address: 7100A Pyramid Highway, Sparks, NV 89436, click for more info/directions

A collection of photos taken during May/June 2009 in the meadows surrounding Stampede, Prosser and Boca Reservoirs, which produce spectacular displays, especially after heavy rain/snowfall winters.

Particularly impressive is the area on either side of Sagehen Creek, with its abundant blue and violet lupines. Well worth the short, flat hike in/out!

Prints are available by calling 775-247-3624, or drop me a line here.

The framed prints from the exhibition (cream matted 18″x12″ prints in a 20″x16″ black frame) will be available at a 35% discount of just $120 from July 1st. Pre-ordering is recommended. Prints are also available to order as a limited run on beautiful archival paper: 12″x8″ $56, 14″x11″ $77, 24″x16″ $195, 30″x20 $295, 36″x24″ $395. Gallery wraps and canvas prints are also available.

All photos © Chris Stowell Photography

Another night of camaraderie, 6 courses of gourmet food and fine wines at the Roundabout Bistro in the Somersett Town Square.

With Chef Colin Smith leading the way the menu’s always something really special, and the attention to detail and love of cooking of the Cadillac Chefs always produces really pretty dishes.

These nights are a real challenge for me… imagine shooting 6 dishes in several settings in about 90 minutes, crazy mixed lighting, and the pressure to enjoy the food too!

Oh, life’s hard

See more Cadillac Chefs events…

I was privilaged to cover the April meeting of the local chapter at the Roundabout Bistro in the Town Center at Somersett. Chef Colin Smith’s food was stunning (as always) and it’s always a pleasant perk of the job to able to graze as you work.

Wine was supplied by North Berkeley Wine.

All photos © Chris Stowell Photography

Réception

Picandou Frais Stuffed Gourgere
Brulée Grapefruit with Beet Tartare
Columbia River Caramelized Salmon with Ginger-Plum Relish
Spiced Sweetbread Hash in Fingerling Potatoes

NV Domain Egly-Ouriet Brut Tradition Grand Cru
2008 Domaine Vacheron Sancerre Blanc
2008 Domaine Michel Ecard Savigny-lés-Beaune Vieilles Vignes
2007 Domain Philippe Delarche Corton-Renardes Grand Cru Reserve

Le dîner

Kumo-Moto Oysters with Citrus-Sea Salt Sortbet and Beluga – 2007 Frédéric Magnien Chablis 1er Cru “Montmains”

Seared Day Boat Scallop with Apple-Fennel Salad and Toasted Almonds – 2007 Daniel Barraud Pouilly-Fuissé “En Bulands” Vieilles Vignes

Brined Maple Leaf Duck Brest with Beluga Lentil Cassoulet, Stuffed Morel Mushroom, Dried Cherry Compote – 2007 Domaine Gérard Raphet Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru “Lavaux St. Jacques” Cuvée Unique

Epoisses de Bourgogne, Tomme de Savoie, Roquefort – 2007 Frédéric Magnien Morey-St.-Denis 1er Cru “Les Ruschots” 

Le Dessert

 White Chocolate and Pepper Cream Brulée with Caramelized Pineapple and Peach Salsa, Apricot sugar cookie – 1995 Domaine Grand Maison Monbazillac “Cuvée du Chateau”