I am truly the Masta
 

...of the best chili water you ever had.

Rice wine vinegar
Hot Hawaiian red chilis
1 habanero, slivered, half seeded
a few small slivers of completely smashed ginger
half a clove of smashed garlic
kosher salt to taste
and a few of my own secret ingredients

steep for 2 weeks, pull out the red chilis, leave the habanero in.
the shit will rock you.

I also make some really killer fish dishes. (more on those at a later date)

:)

t

I picked up some Ahi Tuna last night at Costco... got any recommendations on what to do with it? I seared half of it last night in a pan, 45 seconds per side... it ended up alright, but not really as fresh as what I've had in Hawaii.

why did you leave Hawaii for SF?

Well, I was never really into Ahi, and it sounds like you did everything right, but nothing is ever ultra fresh from Costco. In Hawaii you're getting the stuff the same day it was caught.

May have to try that as a marinade.

$5 dollar (plus) gas, $9 dollar milk, $1500 per month electric bills, $600 per month water bills, etc.... you get the idea. There comes a point when even paradise isn't providing a good ROI.

Sometimes I substitute it as a sauce on top of quiche. Usually I just throw some green tabasco on quiche.

What neighborhood are you in? Post some pics of the new pad :)

Never heard of chili water before,does that burn when you eat it?

Nothing personal, but I'd rather not. Posting personal photos never gave me a good result in the past. :)

But I will post a pic of the bacon / cheddar mini quiche we made last weekend.
I've been working hard on my food photography:
(all food in my pics are made 100% from scratch)

http://devsh0p.com/jbin/quiche001.jpg

Well, yes sort of. You don't really 'eat' water. But yes, it's spicy. :)

Yummmmmmmmm.

True but you place it over food,or do you just slam the shit back like a shot lol

forgive me my religious ignorance - but what is the difference between kosher and non kosher salt?

Actually I do both, lol. Sometimes I just need a shot of something hot, and I have it in one of those metal sport bottles with the sippy top, (in the fridge), so I can pop that and just get a few quick shots of hotness.

I hear ya man... I don't even have my city listed for that same reason. I have a new appreciation for security after a weird event a while back. Only one webmaster knows where I live now, in addition to a few close friends.

I think kosher is watched over by a rabbi or something. All I know is it tastes waaaaay better than something like, Morton's table salt.

That just made my butt itch...

I made kaddo bourani last night-

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/...ef9c0bb0b7.jpg

subbed ground beef w/ morningstar tofu crumbles and used butternut squash in place of pumpkin since it's a little out of season now.

Maybe not the most photogenic meal in the world, but it was delish. :thumbsup

We make a lot of stuff like that actually, lol. Stuff that tastes awesome but looks not so good in a pic. I'm working on doing 'staged' dishes now so we prep one for pics, and then eat the rest. :)

hmmm, ok...

i know over here they go crazy for this:

http://danilicious.files.wordpress.c...ur_de_sel2.jpg

no gourmet kitchen nowadays that does not use fleur de sel instead of ordinary salt

That looks more like Mediterranean Sea Salt. It's more chunky & thick. Kosher salt is sort of in between that and regular table salt.

I thought you were kidding when you said you were working hard on your food photography. I've been approached by a few local restaurants when I was networking with the chamber of commerce... but I never really wanted to go down that road. Didn't get the feeling they were too serious about paying real photographer rates, either.

What kind of market is there for food photography?

There's no money in food photography. LOL
(couldn't help it)

Actually, there are whole shows dedicated to it on the Food Network channel now. Food photography is everywhere. Every pic of food you see, in the stores, on tv, at the restaurants, etc is prepped just for pics, staged and shot by a pro somewhere.

I'm not claiming to be anywhere near that level.... it's just something I like to do. But maybe someday.... who knows. It's just a hobby I have. :)

Well, clearly it's big. I just don't know anyone that actually does it. I'm curious about the market & rates, though. I guess I'd just need to do a portfolio and shop it around. Hmmmm...

It's one of those teamwork things.... as a photographer, you need to work in conjunction with a Food Designer Chef. Without the food designer, they are just regular pics of food. The chefs do all the heavy lifting.

what i can add:

it is paid very good when done professionally - but it's a science. you have to fake a lot and there's even people who call themselves "food stylists"

http://digital-photography-school.co...iques-and-tips

a food stylist

http://www.tamihardeman.com/

Plus the photogragher needs to use the right equipment...a view camera with tilt and shift :)

Yeah, I wish camera gear wasn't so expensive. I've been experimenting with a macro lens lately, and I like those, but I have so much more stuff on my wish list.

Would a regular SLR and a tilt shift work?

I'm using a Canon DSLR, and the few goodies I've been able to afford.
My philosophy is, what I can't do with the camera alone, I absolutely can do in Photoshop & Illustrator. Although, I would prefer to have perfect shots right in the camera.

The secret of great food photography is the food stylists. The lighting and shooting are a piece of piss. That is why those people make a lot of money. Shooting Mickeydees french fries with a little backlight takes little talent. Making them stand up and sparkle does. You are pissing up a rope if you try to shoot real food and make it look like a magazine.

That sounds fantastic. I can think of a ton of ways to use that. Fresh oysters comes to mind.

Exactly. After watching shows about the food designers, I'm convinced that's the only way. It's not real food. Well, it is, but it's 'designed' for a photo. :thumbsup

I hear you, I love cooking and taking pictures also. I have no luck using my macro so I do table spreads :(

Saving up pennies to go back to flim or hoping I win the lotto :)

I have shot Mickeydees and Campbells Soup commercials. It is all about the styling. Don't waste your time unless you want to learn how to float a parsley sprig in a bowl of soup that is full of marbles or burn a steak with a soldering iron.

Sounds really good, i love making chili, need to do some again for the cold weather...

I agree & disagree at the same time. I understand the necessity for staged food, but I don't think it has to be all or nothing.
This is a real pot of sauce, with thyme & bay leaves on top, that we cooked up a few months ago to go on something (can't remember what)....

http://devsh0p.com/jbin/sauce001.jpg

Not staged at all..... and I think the photo came out great. (the sauce sure did!)
Anyway, this is just a hobby bro.... I'm not trying to make a living shooting food or anything.... I just love food and taking pictures.

:)

This thing looks very good. Super nice.

Thanks dude! Real men DO eat quiche! :)

Those taste good. Yum!

I love food and I cook....bbq.....but I never take pictures. I actually dont like taking pictures, but I have always made a very good living doing it. But its work. Cooking is fun.

haha, old school. my mom had the book (reference).