By: Samantha Ramos-Zaragoza
I’m pretty sure a lot of people had no idea that the food styling industry even existed when they watched ABS-CBN’s Sunday Evening show, Rated K, last September 21. I for one have friends constantly bewildered when I talk about my husband’s work. I get questions like “What? Your husband’s a FOOT stylist?”, or after explaining the nature of his craft, I usually get a “May ganun palang trabaho?!” response. The show, which featured my husband Theo Zaragoza and his work as a food stylist, was indeed enlightening.
So what is food styling? Google this and answers you will find. But Theo’s definition of styling is born from a chef’s perspective. Contrary to what most people perceive it, food styling is not about faking food; or creating phony foodstuff with motor oil, white glue, spray paints, and other ingenious materials. Nope, it’s not that exciting actually. As Theo described it on the show, “Kung ang make-up artist tao ang pinapaganda, ang food stylist, pagkain ang ginagawang bida.” For him, food styling is about preserving the natural beauty that food innately has. As much as possible, he uses the same food ingredients and similar products to enhance and maintain the appearance of food in front of hot camera lights and unpredictable environmental conditions. Of course, there are situations wherein he has to use fake items (i.e. fake ice) due to the fact that there is no way to make those foods stay “fresh” or consistent all through out a shoot. But as much as he could, he uses edible materials to act as substitutes to these products. Sounds easy? Not really. Food styling requires a creative eye, a love for stressful and long-hour shoots, quick-thinking, and of course, passion for cooking and designing.
The show started with the TV crew following Theo at one of his shoots for F&B World Magazine to get a feel of what he does everyday. He was then interviewed on his perspective on food styling, as well as the description of the job. After all of this, it was time to share his trade secrets in front millions of TV viewers.
So here you go guys, this is Theo’s food styling 101, free of charge:
Iced Tea
Preferably, use real iced tea. You can also mix soy-sauce and water in a pitcher until you get the color you desire. Make sure the glass to be used is very clean and free of any marks. Place fake ice in the glass and pour the colored water. To create a “cold” effect, fill a spray bottle with water and spray the glass with this.
Halo-halo
Again, make sure the glass is very clean. Fill the glass with fake crushed ice (crushed tawas is an old alternative no longer being used). Carefully arrange halo-halo ingredients on top of the ice. Fill an injection with milk and slowly incorporate this to the dessert. Keep toppings shiny by spraying this with water. To create a “cold” effect, spray the glass with water from a spray bottle.
Chicken and Meat
Half cook meat or chicken. Finish it off by brushing it with soy sauce and torching the part that will be seen in the camera. If you want your meat grilled, heat metal sticks and burn meat, creating a crisscross effect. Glaze with oil for a shiny appearance.
Fish
Similar to chicken and meat, color and torch the part of the fish that will be seen in the camera. Finish it off by glazing the fish with oil for a shiny effect.
Ice Cream
If a walk-in freezer is unavailable for a shoot, then a fake ice cream concoction must be used. Prepare concoction and color this according to the ice cream flavor you prefer. Press this mixture in a scooper then carefully scoop it out on a glass or serving dish. Using tweezers, tweak any part of the ice cream to make it look realistic. Add a “skirt” to it and use tweezers to create an ice cream look.
To view pictures and videos of the TV shoot, visit http://www.resultadophotos.blogspot.com/.
*Theo Zaragoza is the food stylist and managing partner of Resultado Gourmet Designs, Co., a food styling and food photography firm. To contact the company, call +63916-740-8319, (02)492-0210 or email Theo at theo_zaragoza@yahoo.com. Visit his websites: http://www.resultado.com.ph/ and http://www.resultadofoodstylingco.blogspot.com/.
I’m pretty sure a lot of people had no idea that the food styling industry even existed when they watched ABS-CBN’s Sunday Evening show, Rated K, last September 21. I for one have friends constantly bewildered when I talk about my husband’s work. I get questions like “What? Your husband’s a FOOT stylist?”, or after explaining the nature of his craft, I usually get a “May ganun palang trabaho?!” response. The show, which featured my husband Theo Zaragoza and his work as a food stylist, was indeed enlightening.
So what is food styling? Google this and answers you will find. But Theo’s definition of styling is born from a chef’s perspective. Contrary to what most people perceive it, food styling is not about faking food; or creating phony foodstuff with motor oil, white glue, spray paints, and other ingenious materials. Nope, it’s not that exciting actually. As Theo described it on the show, “Kung ang make-up artist tao ang pinapaganda, ang food stylist, pagkain ang ginagawang bida.” For him, food styling is about preserving the natural beauty that food innately has. As much as possible, he uses the same food ingredients and similar products to enhance and maintain the appearance of food in front of hot camera lights and unpredictable environmental conditions. Of course, there are situations wherein he has to use fake items (i.e. fake ice) due to the fact that there is no way to make those foods stay “fresh” or consistent all through out a shoot. But as much as he could, he uses edible materials to act as substitutes to these products. Sounds easy? Not really. Food styling requires a creative eye, a love for stressful and long-hour shoots, quick-thinking, and of course, passion for cooking and designing.The show started with the TV crew following Theo at one of his shoots for F&B World Magazine to get a feel of what he does everyday. He was then interviewed on his perspective on food styling, as well as the description of the job. After all of this, it was time to share his trade secrets in front millions of TV viewers.
So here you go guys, this is Theo’s food styling 101, free of charge:
Iced Tea
Preferably, use real iced tea. You can also mix soy-sauce and water in a pitcher until you get the color you desire. Make sure the glass to be used is very clean and free of any marks. Place fake ice in the glass and pour the colored water. To create a “cold” effect, fill a spray bottle with water and spray the glass with this.
Halo-halo
Again, make sure the glass is very clean. Fill the glass with fake crushed ice (crushed tawas is an old alternative no longer being used). Carefully arrange halo-halo ingredients on top of the ice. Fill an injection with milk and slowly incorporate this to the dessert. Keep toppings shiny by spraying this with water. To create a “cold” effect, spray the glass with water from a spray bottle.
Chicken and Meat
Half cook meat or chicken. Finish it off by brushing it with soy sauce and torching the part that will be seen in the camera. If you want your meat grilled, heat metal sticks and burn meat, creating a crisscross effect. Glaze with oil for a shiny appearance.
Fish
Similar to chicken and meat, color and torch the part of the fish that will be seen in the camera. Finish it off by glazing the fish with oil for a shiny effect.
Ice Cream
If a walk-in freezer is unavailable for a shoot, then a fake ice cream concoction must be used. Prepare concoction and color this according to the ice cream flavor you prefer. Press this mixture in a scooper then carefully scoop it out on a glass or serving dish. Using tweezers, tweak any part of the ice cream to make it look realistic. Add a “skirt” to it and use tweezers to create an ice cream look.
To view pictures and videos of the TV shoot, visit http://www.resultadophotos.blogspot.com/.
*Theo Zaragoza is the food stylist and managing partner of Resultado Gourmet Designs, Co., a food styling and food photography firm. To contact the company, call +63916-740-8319, (02)492-0210 or email Theo at theo_zaragoza@yahoo.com. Visit his websites: http://www.resultado.com.ph/ and http://www.resultadofoodstylingco.blogspot.com/.
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