Day One of #IFBM2014 - The Food Photography sessions: Key takeaways

The day started with participants trickling in, starting quite early, given the unpredictable nature of Bangalore traffic. The Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park took great care to welcome and even escort each one of them personally to the conference hall. People seemed to be in complete awe of the colours and spunky decor of the hotel.

 The day kicked off with our organizer-MC Arundati giving the welcome note to our participants. The GM of the hotel, Faiz Alam Ansari extended a warm welcome to all the IFBM 2014 attendees and went to the extent of saying "Ask for anything and the answer will be yes". That kind of generosity and warmth set a positive tone for a great day. Marketing and Communications manager, Deepika Pillai also announced a few contests that kept the participants tweeting / sharing their observations all day!

Picture courtesy: @mypref

Session 1 - Foodography by Deeba Rajpal
Deeba, who's collection of completely droolworthy photos and antique props are known to every worthwhile foodblogger needed no introduction. Her talk inspired the participants to put that little extra into their food photos. 
Some of her mantras were "Be inspired""enjoy what you do" "find your own style and work on it".
In the era where everything and anything can be inserted or cut out using post-processing, she had a refreshing take "Attention to detail, right from word go. Use post processing as a luxury, not a crutch."

Pic courtesy: Revati

A few takeaways from her session:

• Use fresh ingredients and play around with props to create a new picture each time.
• Pick seasonal and local fresh produce for your cooking and photos. The freshness shows in the photos.
• use what you have and get creative. No need to spend on expensive props.
• Reuse props but not in the consecutive posts, people will wonder if you have only one plate :-)
• Let the food talk. Your eye should focus on the food and not multiple other things. 
• create a Pinterest board & go back regularly. You'll see a lot of changes in it development over time.
• With Indian curries don't try to shoot whole bowls. try small portions.
• Keep a mix of white plates, glass bowls, clear glasses, white baking dishes, small kadais, small saucepans to build a basic collection of props for use.
• Use a tripod. Once you start using it, you cannot do without it.

She also presented a case study of taking pictures of a footlong sandwich which needs toothpicks / skewers to keep the bread propped up and not fall flat on the fillings. 
We learnt that the combination of natural light and shooting in Auto mode, is capable of giving some stunning results as is evident in her photos.

Session 2 - From your kitchen to your blog - Better Food Photography by Aparna Balasubramaniam 

Pic courtesy: Siri P

Aparna's blog is known for its clean, clutter-free photos. She conducts workshops on food photography. It was indeed a great opportunity for the food bloggers to have a session from Aparna at the IFBM 2014. 

The audience had a good laugh, when Aparna started with the no-nonsense basics of "read your camera's manual", something which we all shudder to do. 

Some of the takeaways from her session:

• Know your gadget.
• Shun flash, use natural light.
• Soft backlight works best and is highly recommended. 
• Know the rules, only so you can break them.
• Use toothpaste to remove the shine from glossy surfaces.
• Rupee coins make great tilt correctors.
• Get your composition right and keep crop to a minimum. 
• Focus has to be the sharpest where you want to draw the eye.
• More than anything else, READ THE MANUAL :D 

Masterclass with Chef Sameer Luthra of Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park

Executive Chef Sameer Luthra brings his vast culinary expertise to launched Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park. Sameer is a seasoned chef with over 12 years of experience serving in various hospitality, food and beverage positions around the globe.

Chef Sameer Luthra has planned for us a delightful "Masterclass" where he will showcase some fabulous recipes and give the participants tips on how to get hotel like results with easy to source ingredients and recipes.

He has been passionate about cooking since he was fifteen and holds a prestigious degree from the world’s best culinary school the “Le cordon Bleu” in Paris.

Chef Sameer Luthra started his career in 2001 with the Taj Group of Hotels. Sameer moved onto work with other reputed hospitality brands like Novotel Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Westin Pune Koregaon Park and the Starwood Group of Hotels.

Sameer has gained international experience at the Caribbean where he mastered the art and intricacies of European and Mediterranean cuisine. He also worked at Indigo, one of Mumbai’s most premium fine-dining restaurants, where he sharpened his modern cuisine skills and gained valuable insight into the different aspects and expectations of today’s discerning Indian clientele.

Sameer’s untiring energy, distinctive style and the use of a perfect blend of ingredients and national tastes is what Chef Sameer Luthra brings to the culinary realm of Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park.

An avid reader, Chef Sameer loves to travel and analyze people. He accentuates the fact that ‘A positive mind automatically creates a positive environment’; however he firmly believes that ‘One charts ones future’ ---- Surely food for thought!!

Spice Sorcery by Husna Rahaman – A HarperCollins Publication Launch

You would have seen our post where we announced that HarperCollins India are one of our sponsors and will be sending home one of their cookbooks with every food blogger attending the Indian Food Bloggers Meet in Bangalore.

We’re pleased to announce that HarperCollins India will also be launching their latest cookbook “Spice Sorcery” by Husna Rahaman, at the Indian Food Bloggers Meet. Food bloggers, who will be joining us at Bangalore for the Meet, will get an opportunity to meet and interact with the author, Ms Husna Rahaman and get an insight into the story behind her cookbook, and the recipes in it.

 

Spice Sorcery is a cookbook with a difference. It is an intimate and mouth-watering insight into the homes and hearts of the Kutchi Memon community – an idiosyncratic people who put a curiously gigantic premium on the gift of taste. The book is replete with stories blended with spices, love stewed with lentils, scandals folded into the dough.

Spice Sorcery is also the story of Razia, the quintessential Memon girl. She uses food to open doors in her life – waving a magic wand, her favourite wooden ladle. Her recipes are likened to magic spells. An apt enough description if you consider how she wields that ladle to enchant a diverse cast of characters: her food-obsessed uncle Munavvar, her autocratic mother-in-law Shakira and her emotionally strained sister-in-law Rabia. Razia’s bewitching tale is steeped in delectable recipes, and sprinkled with little secrets that will bring the smells and flavour of her Kutchi Memon cooking right into your kitchen.

 

 

Husna Rahaman has included over 50 Kutchi Memon style recipe which recipes for Khatta Saalan, Kheema Khabargah, Khekda Shorba, Shikampur Kebabs, Sheer Khurma, Dum ke Phaal,  Roti ka Meetha, Mutanjan, Tamatar ka Kut, Moong Dal ki Kachchi Biryani, Anday ka Khana and Rote , to mention a few.

3 fabulous KitchenAid appliances, at 1 exciting event

Are you as excited about the KitchenAid MasterClass as we are? Here's a sneak peek at some of the appliances in store, that Chef Jolly will be using to whip up some handpicked recipes that you can make in your kitchens too!

Stand Mixer
The KitchenAid stand mixer is every home bakers dream, but the truth is, baking is just the beginning. With 10 speeds and more than 12 available attachments, the legendary Stand Mixer can whip up everything from pasta to ice cream, sausages to salsa and so much more.

It’s a one stop shop to mix, knead, whisk and whip your way through your cooking. The mixer comes equipped with a flat beater, dough hook, wire whip and burnished spiral attachment for all your baking needs.

 Explore the range here: http://www.kitchenaidindia.com/countertop-appliances/stand-mixers/

Cordless Pro Line Hand Blender
Streamlined and powerful, the Cordless Hand Blender is a busy cook's dream. It is handy, cordless and rechargeable. The blender is designed to help expand your repertoire, and soups, smoothies, sauces and salsas are just the beginning.

See what else you can do with it: http://www.kitchenaidindia.com/countertop-appliances/hand-blenders/

Food Chopper
KitchenAid’s Food Chopper makes life in your kitchen a breeze. Be it precise juliennes or smooth nut butters, this compact machine packs in a punch to deliver definite results.

 One touch. Two speeds. Precise results.

See how: http://www.kitchenaidindia.com/countertop-appliances/food-chopper/

Witness all these appliances in use at the KitchenAid Masterclass with Chef Jolly, only at IFBMeet 2014!

Announcing the KitchenAid MasterClass with Chef Jolly

What better way to explore the use of some KitchenAid products and appliances, than to watch them at work? Join us at the KitchenAid MasterClass with Chef Surjan Singh Jolly to do just that.

In this exclusive MasterClass, Chef Jolly will give you a live demonstration of the KitchenAid Stand Mixer, Cordless Pro Line Hand Blender and Food Chopper at work, whipping up sharing some of his favourite recipes with us. Gleaning from his travels around the country, Chef will be preparing the following:

1. Tchaman kut
2. Kaer-Sangri roti
3. Lahsoon-mirchi chutney

Meet Chef Surjan Singh Jolly

 Fondly known as Chef Jolly, joined JW Marriott Bengaluru as an Executive Chef and recently taken on total responsibility of food & beverage requirements at the hotel.

With over two decades of experience of being in the hospitality industry, his achievements include being the Guest Chef on the world renowned reality television show on Star Plus, Junior Master Chef India. He also has his own show on Zee Khana Khazana titled “Ab Har Koi Chef” and was chosen as the Head Chef for Paris Hilton when she visited India.

His love and passion for food has increased his knowledge on ingredients and inspires him to travel on endless expeditions to explore the nuances of authentic and traditional cuisine. From travelling and cooking with Sriji Arvind Singh Mewar, of Udaipur Royalty, Nawab Mehboob Alam Khan, the giant of Hyderabadi cuisine, cooked in the bylanes of Lucknow, perfected the Kulchas in Amritsar dhabas to farming in Pampore, outskirts of Kashmir during the saffron harvest, Chef Jolly has an infectious energy, lively persona and passion for food.

He is a proud recipient of the prestigious Global Marriott Hotels & Resorts ‘Chef of the Year Award for Culinary Excellence’ and travels annually to Nova Scotia, Canada as part of the Culinary Tourism Board to spread awareness on adding Indian flavors to their local and seasonal produce.

Chef’s longstanding career started at The Taj Palace, New Delhi as the Chef de Partie and his long and successful career is dotted with colourful and memorable assignments including working with Jiggs Kalra, undertaking several elite engagements organized for A list parties to Bollywood celebrity weddings. He has also organized several high profile dinners such as Ms. Madhuri Dixit's wedding, Hrithik Roshan’s anniversary, Amitabh Bachchan's Birthday Celebration and for several personal events of Anil Ambani.

We’re excited to have Chef Jolly with us, to bring us face to face with the world of KitchenAid's appliances.

Social Media for Food Bloggers with Nandita Iyer

Nandita Iyer has been a food blogger (saffrontrail.com) since 2006, well before 'food-blogging' was a thing in India. She is very active on social media and has a legendary twitter following that benefits from her tweets on food, nutrition and beyond. According to Nandita, several valuable personal and professional associations have been formed via the various social media platforms she is active on. These have translated into many professional engagements and she regularly writes columns and research oriented food and nutrition stories for several magazines and newspapers. Her blog has been featured in several leading publications, Business Today, The Hindu, Mint, Afternoon Despatch and Courier being a few of them. 

Nandita will speak at the IFBMeet on "Social Media for Food Bloggers" The session will attempt to answer questions on why social media is important to food bloggers. She will share with you the best tools you can use to promote your work, how best to use each medium, what platform works most effectively in each of the instances, building a follower base so that what you say is heard by more number of people, etc. 

Why social media? And more importantly, how can social media can fuel your blogging experience are some of the questions that bloggers grapple with. 

As food bloggers, your work needs to be shared and promoted. You are your own PR machinery. Social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram helps bloggers in distributing their content. These platforms are an essential part of a blogger's identity and hence need to be nurtured. 

During her talk, Nandita will share with the audience, the best tools to be used to promote your work. How best to use each medium and what platform works best in varied instances and are some of the questions many food bloggers have which will find answers in this session. 

How do you build a follower base on Facebook and Twitter so what you say is heard by more number of people. This is another useful secret that will be shared. What do food bloggers stand to gain by being a prominent voice on social media? Nandita will explain from her personal experiences and instances about using social media effectively. 

She will also outline for you a basic social media plan for your blog. The session, she promises, will be fun, useful and practical and very hands-on! 

Strike gold by creating your own unique experience on social media. Join us at IFBMeet 2014 in Bangalore this August.

What to expect at IFBM 2014

When we planned to organise the Indian Food Bloggers Meet, we wanted it to be an exciting event that gave bloggers the opportunity to share their passion for all things food, exchange ideas and listen to inspiring talks. We wanted it to be an event that would go beyond meeting and eating :) Apart from being the first ever national gathering of food bloggers, we wanted it to be a meaningful and insightful experience that would hopefully add a generous helping of inspiration and loads of value for every blogger who is attending it.

We reached out to friends from within and outside the food blogger community — people who we have known as inspiring, accomplished bloggers, to come share their stories in different capacities — and we have been extremely fortuntate to have virtually every one of them respond favourably. 

We’re delighted to share the entire lineup at IFBM 2014 with you today. Here’s a sneak peek at what the agenda for 1st and 2nd August 2014 looks like.

Food Styling

The best blogs that lure us back time and again are usually the ones with food that looks stunning. And to tell you how to make your food look good, styled to the T and eye-catching, Deeba Rajpal will be sharing her tips and tricks about food styling. Talking about her own distinct style of impeccable beautiful set-ups and a penchant for food props, Deeba will tell us what inspires her and what you too can do to achieve great results with just a little effort and attention. 

Food Photography

When you’re a food blogger, just making your food look good isn’t enough. You have to make your food photograph well too. Aparna Balasubramanian is a food photographer par excellence, and all of us who frequent her blog will agree that her pictures form an important part of the story her blog tells. Aparna will be joining us to share some basic and simple principles of food photography and how to shoot better looking pictures.

Food Writing

Good food writing is what makes some blogs more memorable than others. If you’re the kind of blogger that bookmarks a post as much for the story it tells, as the recipe it shares, then you will enjoy this session by Rushina M Ghildiyal. After the successful release of her first cookbook, A Pinch of This, A Handful of That, Rushina will be talking to us about how to make every blog post compelling and the kind that will be memorable in your reader’s minds.

Cookbook Publishing

Many of us secretly nurture a dream to write a cookbook, to write out a food story that’s waiting to be told and share our words and thoughts about food. But the thought of putting it out there, finding a publisher and carving out an audience, is intimidating and holds many of us back. Aparna Jain, author of the recently-published book, The Sood Family Cookbook, will be joining us to share her journey from self-published author to cookbook writer, telling you how you can make it happen too.

SEO and Social Media Marketing

Most of us and our blogs are nothing without the heaps of love and attention we get online, via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and the like. Nandita Iyer well known food blogger, columnist and culinary trainer, along with SEO Expert Ashish Verma will share with you the best social media tools out there, how you can use them and harness their potential to take your food blog to the next level.

Beyond blogging

This session is a panel discussion that brings a host of bloggers from various backgrounds to one common table. Each of these bloggers have successfully taken their passion for food and blogging to the next level by branching out into a unique and niche field. Whether it is commercial photography, food styling for food/culinary brands, or culinary training, cultural food walks or cookbookwriting — this discussion will give you a glimpse into the stories of some of these bloggers we know and applaud for steering their careers to new directions.

Apart from these sessions, the Indian Bloggers Meet will also include the following:

Wine Appreciation — Aneesh Bhasin from Hipcask will give you a flavour of the various kinds of wine there are to be had, a gist about pairing and techniques — minus the snob value usually associated with wine!

Exclusive Book Launch — Harper Collins will be joining us to launch their new cookbook Spice Sorcery, by Husna Rahman, with a chance to talk to the author and grab your very own copy!

KitchenAid Masterclass — More than just stand-mixers, KitchenAid will be joining us in an exclusive MasterClass that will display three of their leading appliances, and the marvelous ways in which you can use them in your kitchen to transform your goodies!