Toronto Life Cookbook 2013 - The Chefs

The Toronto Life Cookbook hits the shelves this week. This is my second year shooting this project and it’s quickly become one of my favourites. I get to work with 40 of the city’s top chefs, shooting their food along with a portrait of them in their restaurant. First up, here' a look at a few of the portraits of this year’s chefs. I’ll post another blog in coming days to show off the food. Enjoy!

Teo Paul - Cote de Boeuf

Susur Lee - Bent

Basilio Pesce - Porzia

Chris Jang - A-OK Foods

Didier Leroy - Didier

Kristel Placida - Le Ti Colibri

Monica Miller - Saving Grace

Alex Molitz - Farmhouse Taven

Alec Martin - Hawker Bar

Danielle Oron - Moo Milk Bar

Andrew Carter - The Oxley

Greg Flom - Leslieville Pumps

Eron Novalski - Aria

Matt Petit - Rock Lobster

Jonathan Hamilton & Andrew Richmond - La Carnita

Ashley Jacot De Boinod - Glory Hole

Anthony Rose - Rose and Sons

Tye Thomas and Bryan Lavers - Thomas Lavers Cannery

Steve Gonzalez - Valdez

Alexandra Feswick - Samuel J. Moore

Craig Harding - Campagnolo

Gihen Zitouni - Toca

Attilio Pugliese - Happy Hooker

Grant Van Gameren - Bar Isabel

Let's go to the Ex!

Celebrating the Ex's intestinal terrorist and his band of brothers. anti-food styling: Noah Witenoff anti-assisting: Matt Gibson

The Jumbo Corn Dog

The Caramel Apple

Corn on the Cob

The Jumbo Turkey Leg

Cotton Candy

The Mini Donut

The Donut Burger

Chef Michael Smith

We were thrilled to be invited out to Prince Edward Island this past January to shoot Chef Michael Smith's latest cookbook.Not so thrilled about the blizzard we got caught in on our way there (see the photo below).

Once we got settled in, it was a fantastic shooting experience in the beautiful town of Bay Fortune. Michael and his wonderful team set us up in an amazing cottage right next to the studio. I really can't say enough about how great we were treated while we were out there. It felt like we were on vacation.

A few highlights for me included:

1. Drinking PEI Moonshine. 2. The endless games of ping pong. 3. Madeleine discovering a new constellation - 'the mini dipper' 4. Noah taking on the nickname of 'lettuce leaf' 5. Watching Mel go up and down the stairs from the kitchen to the shooting area 900 times.

The book won't be out until later this year, but here's a little preview of some of the shots we did:

Prop Stylist: Madeleine Johari Food Stylist: Noah Witenoff Food Stylist Assistant: Melanie Stuparyk

Prime Rib

Smashed Potatoes

Fries

Chicken Wings Whole

Barley Risotto

Pork Chops

Honey Mustard Ribs

Pan Roasted Zucchini

Chicken Strips and Dips

Curried Lamb Shank

Fish Wings

Backyard Burger

The storm we got caught in on our way out to PEI

Noah and I having a "discussion"

Reviewing a shot

The championship match

Happy Anniversary

Here's to Matt Gibson. He's just passed his 2 year anniversary here at Ryan Skuzlik Photography.2 years of abuse and still going strong!

The choice of a new generation.

Applied Arts 2013

It's always nice to be included in the Applied Arts Photo Annual.Here are some of my photos that made the cut this year.

To see the rest of the winners click here

Ultra Decadent Chocolate Cake

Toronto Life Cookbook - Lobster

Toronto Life Cookbook - Sandwich

Toronto Life Cookbook - Burger

Fog on Dwarf Trees A

Fog on Dwarf Trees B

Eat Street

I am always pushing to go messier, oozier, and runnier when shooting food… but it’s a fine line before it gets, well, sloppy. Shooting the Eat Street Cookbook put that concept to the test. Each recipe was provided by various food trucks found across North America, and our goal was to shoot each one with a casual, street food feel. It got messy, and we stained a lot of things, but it was a helluvalotta fun.

Whole Truck Burger

Chili Fries

Chocolate Diablo Cookies

Terimayo Oroshi

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Soba Noodles

Crab & Brie Grilled Cheese

Mac N Cheese Cones

Oysters

Grilled Swordfish

Pimento Mac & Cheese

Pork Chops with Lemon Potatoes

Mustard 5 ways

Food Styling: Noah WitenoffProp Styling: Madeleine Johari

5 different mustards

in a salad dressing

on toast

on a burger

as a marinade

on meatballs

Waiting

I love shooting landscapes and working with natural light. It's such a different approach than what I am used to working in studio. I had an opportunity to do this recently on a commercial shoot in Oregon and I was reminded how much waiting is involved. Waiting for the sun to move into the right position or waiting for the clouds to clear, waiting for the light to work it's magic and bring the landscape to life...so much waiting. Sometimes the waiting is completely wasted as the sun gets into that perfect position and that's when the clouds roll in and ruin everything. I don't really mind this though. It's a refreshing change of pace. It's like going fishing, it's fantastic when everything lines and you get that awesome shot, but it's also just nice to be out there even if thing don't fall into line. All that waiting gives you an opportunity to reflect and everything just seems to slow down a little.

So here are a few shots I took while waiting and waiting and waiting...

Toronto Star Cookbook

Jennifer Bain's Toronto Star Cookbook hits the shelves this week. We shot this project in studio last April. It's funny how you kind of forget about the work for a while and then it comes back to life with the release of the book a year later.

With recipes ranging from Brazilian fish stew, to bimbimpbap to beef kaftas to grilled cheese sandwiches, this cookbook is definitely the most eclectic selection of recipes i've ever shot.

The Toronto Star Cookbook includes recipes from the province's chefs, farmers, home cooks, food writers, store owners and many others. Inside are recipes from more than two dozen cultures, reflecting the province's rich multicultural food scene, as well as many Canadian classics. Jennifer selected and personally tested every one of the book's recipes, most of which have been featured in the Star since she took over the food beat in 2000. Also included are 25 READERS' CHOICE recipes, chosen by Star readers as their favourites of all time.

Prop Styling: Madeleine Johari Food Styling: Noah Witenoff

Publisher: Appetite by Random House

The Cover

Smoked Cheddar Grilled Cheese with Sriracha Ketchup

Ontario Buffalo Mozzarella with Tomatoes and Basil

Pasta All'Amatriciana

Bread Spread

Chapter Opener

Porchetta & Co's Rapini with Garlic and Chili

Garlic-Basil Smashed Potatoes

Beef Kaftas with Tahini-Lime Sauce

Caju's Brazilian Fish Stew

Geetha's Sweet Potato Usli

Noodle Spread

Carrot Quinoa Pie

Chocolate

Flavour Principles

Here is a sneak peak at Lucy Waverman and Beppi Crosariol's new cookbook, Flavour Principles, due out in the fall. We shot this cookbook over 2 weeks in Lucy's beautiful home last September. The house was turned upside down as the living room and dining room were converted into a studio and the basement was filled with props. I'm sure she was happy to have her home back after we left.

I've admired Lucy's work for a long time and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with her on the new cookbook. Her recipes are by far some of the best I've shot. Visually, the sense of colour, texture and freshness made these recipes a pleasure to shoot, and absolutely delicious to eat!

We saved the cocktail shoot for the end of the shoot, and as you can see in the last shot, Beppi's cocktails were a smash hit!

Art Director: Colleen Nicholson Prop Stylist: Madeleine Johari Food Stylist: Eshun Mott