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Food Photography/SLR Camera
I've been cameras for years, and I can tell you its definitely a good idea to invest in a DSLR if you're looking to make a career of your photography. Either the Nikon D40, or the Canon Rebel Xti, both mentioned by others already, would be a great "beginnner's SLR". This is not to say that those cameras cannot be used long-term, however. They can still be upgraded with any number of lenses. For food-photography, I would reccomend a macro lens, which, simply put, is a lens specifically designed for close-up photography. Since you already have a Canon Point-and-Shoot camera, it will likely be easiest for you to convert to a Canon brand SLR, since the menus will, for the most part, be laid out the same. Good luck in your photo-endeavors! I hope this was helpful!
Sudden cravings
The incredible garlic rolls I had with dinner last night. In pools of garlic-butter.
Tomatoes
I'll take a yummy, plain-and-simple, "mater sandwich". Mayo, lettuce, salt, and pepper, and several slices of Fresh VIne-Ripe (why do we say vine when they grow on a plant?) tomato. Yum. I could eat nothing but that all summer long.
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Food Photography/SLR Camera
*That is, I've been SELLING cameras for years.
Food Photography/SLR Camera
I've been cameras for years, and I can tell you its definitely a good idea to invest in a DSLR if you're looking to make a career of your photography. Either the Nikon D40, or the Canon Rebel Xti, both mentioned by others already, would be a great "beginnner's SLR". This is not to say that those cameras cannot be used long-term, however. They can still be upgraded with any number of lenses. For food-photography, I would reccomend a macro lens, which, simply put, is a lens specifically designed for close-up photography. Since you already have a Canon Point-and-Shoot camera, it will likely be easiest for you to convert to a Canon brand SLR, since the menus will, for the most part, be laid out the same. Good luck in your photo-endeavors! I hope this was helpful!
Sudden cravings
The incredible garlic rolls I had with dinner last night. In pools of garlic-butter.
Tomatoes
I'll take a yummy, plain-and-simple, "mater sandwich". Mayo, lettuce, salt, and pepper, and several slices of Fresh VIne-Ripe (why do we say vine when they grow on a plant?) tomato. Yum. I could eat nothing but that all summer long.
Favorite dessert when eating out?
I usually go for the apple crisp/crumble/dumpling/pie a ala mode. Yum! Unless we're at my favorite Italian place, then Tiramisu - always.
I don't want to waste food!
My husband always uses leftover roast chicken to make chicken stock. Then uses the stock to make gumbo. Mm...I love those days! =)
Yet another table manners topic - clearing plates.
@Simon
I see what you're saying about "No Problem.", but I think it's just become a casual means to say, "You're Welcome." In fact, the phrases mean the exact same thing, really, You're Welcome - You Are Welcome. In other words, I gave you something/did something for you, and you are welcome to it. You're not imposing on me.
I could see this being more infuriating if you've received bad service otherwise, though.
What to do with cucumbers?
My husband discovered a very yummy recipe for Cucumber Sandwiches. They're not the soggy, mayo-laden tea sandwiches you might at first think of, either. We like to sub. some of the mayor for Hidden Valley Ranch.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cucumber-Sandwiches-III/Detail.aspx
I think I'll make some tonight!
Yet another table manners topic - clearing plates.
Having worked in a restaurant, I have to say that the line between clearing you plate in a timely manner and snatching it away from you prematurely is very thin. Often, servers are being nagged by managers, "Prebuss! Prebuss!" They should definitely ask you if you're done, though. "Are you still working on that?" Has never bothered me, because at least they're asking.
favorite apple? and how do you eat it?
I love Granny Smiths, just about any way. Plain, Stewed, with cinnamon, sugar, and nutmeg, in a pie, chopped in a salad, dipped in caramel, then in nuts...you name it!
Decadent Vacation Food Indulgences...
My last two vacations have been down to Savannah, and our biggest indulgence is Huey's on Riverstreet. From their incredible Spinach & Artichoke Dip, to their even more incredible Fried Oyster Po Boy, and finished off with an order of Beignets liberally sprinkled with Powdered Sugar with a side of hot praline sauce! Yum... I'm hungry now.
Are Soul Food Restaurants Dying All Over the Country? A Serious Eats Poll
Hm. I always thought of "soul food" as just good ol' down-home Southern food, regardless of the skintone of the person cooking it. I didn't realize it was supposedly African American in origin. Either way, it's still darn tasty! Here in Georgia there's still a few good little Mom and Pop places. My husband and I favor the Southern Skillet that's down the road from us. Fried chicken, green beans, and cobbler for dessert. Yum!
Hometown Favorites: The Emotional Side of Chocolate
For me it's the Pralines at River Street Sweets in Savannah. I always got them when we visited there when I was little, and we stopped by for some the day after my husband proposed. Even though I can now make them myself, they're never quite the same.
Hometown Favorites: The Emotional Side of Chocolate
I worked at La Maison du Chocolat in Rawdon, Quebec on weekends during my high-school years, and they're the best chocolates I've had so far. I remember I had friends from school that worked there as well, and the lady who ran the place was so nice, it was a small family place and I loved it. She paid us less than minimum wage, but let us eat as much chocolate as we wanted :D The others would joke about how I'd put the place out of business with all the chocolate I ate! loll. My favourite was always dark chocolate. She even made her own ice cream, and had a cappuccino machine too. That's where I got my username :P I remember the first time I tasted her chocolate, I thought it was the most amazing chocolate ever, although the circumstances weren't that great, a friend of my parents had bought them for me and my sister when we went to visit my mom in the hospital once. It was a simple dark chocolate candy cane and I asked where she had bought it. That was years earlier though, who would have guessed I'd be lucky enough to end up working there one day!
Yet another table manners topic - clearing plates.
It depends on where I'm eating. If I'm at a diner, I don't mind the plates getting removed as people finish their meals. It's a diner, and along with not having cloth tablecloths and napkins, I get it. They work on high turnover, it's fine.
At a good restaurant, it infuriates me. I'm not spending $100 so you can rush me out of the place.
It should be said that I eat really quickly. Not so much due to gluttony as to the fact that I want hot food HOT. Leisurely dining ends up with room temperature vegetables because diner/lower end restaurants (and even some high end one's) do not serve hot food on hot plates as they should.
To me, a far more annoying restaurant thing is not having the food brought out at the same time. It sucks sitting there while everyone else at the table is enjoying their whatever as I sit there waiting for my food.
Yet another table manners topic - clearing plates.
I've always understood that if you put your knife and fork together in the middle of the plate it signifys that you've finished your meal.
It infuriates me when waitstaff remove plates before everyone has finshed eating.At a hotel restaurant recently this happened and the second time I didn't hold my breath. The waiter argued and told me he'd worked in some very high class places and it had never been a problem!!!! Hopefully his manger thinks differently. I think its downright rude.
favorite apple? and how do you eat it?
Fuji, although (based on the comments), I think I'll try Honey Crisp... Apples with fruit dip: mix an 8-ounce pkg. softened cream cheese with 1/4 cup jam of choice. Let it chill and eat with any fruit. I think it's best with apples!
Food Photography/SLR Camera
thx kathryn. one of these days, with any luck, i'll be upgrading to something more sophisticated than an entry-level dslr : )
Hometown Favorites: The Emotional Side of Chocolate
Char-val's! Oh MerMade07, you've brought back some memories! Haven't heard that name in ages!
See's was always a big Easter treat too.
By far tho, my 2 favorite chocolate shops are Mon Aimee Chocolat in Pittsburgh & Yossick's in Columbus, Ohio.
My favorite childhood chocolate memory has to be when my uncle came to visit and took me and my sister to Station Square and told us to get a pound a piece. My Mom went into shock and wittled us down to a half pound each, but I was still set up with more coconut chocolates than reasonable for child consumption! (It also set the bar for all of my boyfriends since!)
Sudden cravings
A big, thick juicy, bacon dbl everything cheeseburger. Grilled med rare and when you bite into it the juices dribble down the sides of your mouth. But that isn't going to happen because I don't eat red meat too often. craving got triggered when I saw on FN site a pic of Flay's burger.
Sudden cravings
Nothing, for once. Ate a burrito the size of my face for lunch. ughhhhhhhh
Tomatoes
The only salad dressing I ever use: several cherry tomatoes, cut in half and placed cut side up on a plate. Sprinkle liberally with table salt, and let sit for a few minutes. Upend on salad and toss well. Shiver with delight.
Tomatoes
pasta pomodoro... sauteed garlic, sungold cherry tomatoes, and basil over pasta with plenty of parmesan.
my pants got tight this week after the sungolds showed up at the market.
Tomatoes
Tomato and goats cheese filo tarlets. Crispy pastry, bursting hot tomatoes and tangy cheese - topped with a dollop of pesto fromage fraiche
Sudden cravings
Love this question! I'm craving a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie, right out of the oven...
Tomatoes
That tomato salad sounds wonderful! I love beefsteak tomato capresi salads, or tomatoes on pizza (with sauce). I'm going to miss prime tomato season...
Food Photography/SLR Camera
Note also that the Nikon D40 and D40x lacks the motor necessary to drive Nikon's current lineup of fast primes. So if you buy a Nikkor 50mm f/1.7 lens, your D40 will be manual focus only, no auto-focus.
For Nikkor lenses, only AF-S and AF-I type lenses will autofocus on the D40, from what I found on the Nikon web site. View all Nikkor lenses. I don't shoot Nikon, so I don't know the lineup as well but it's something to be aware of before you go out and buy a D40 and start getting lenses. For the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM lens, if you have a Nikon D40 or D40x, the autofocus, however, will work. More on the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and D40 combo.
Vvvanessa, the following Canon SLRs have liveview (you can frame your shot using the LCD screen, not just by looking through the viewfinder):
EOS-1Ds Mark III
EOS-1D Mark III
EOS 40D
EOS XS / XS i
Tomatoes
I just made panzanella - bread salad - to use up some tomatoes and stale french bread I had on hand.
Cube the bread (toast it if you desire - I did,) cut up tomatoes (I had yellow, purple, cherry, and plums,) cucumber and onion (I used scallion) and toss with basil, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper to taste.
There are some panzanella recipes at Epicurious.com, but I think you can wing it easily enough.
Food Photography/SLR Camera
consider also the olympus e-510. if you are doing close up shots, the live-view screen is a huge bonus, and last i checked the latest versions of the rebel and nikon d40 don't have the screen.
the olympus is my first dslr, and while i'm still figuring out what i'm doing with it, i'm really glad i chose it.
the feel of the camera in my hand is really important to me, too. i spent a lot of time fondling cameras in camera shops.
the other contender for me was the sony A-100.
Food Photography/SLR Camera
Thank you all for great advice! Will definitely take it all to heart (or to the camera store...or to my credit card lol)
Sudden cravings
Pork. Or fried chicken. Herb-rubbed pork with garlic smashed potatoes.
Food Photography/SLR Camera
I just upgraded my Canon Rebel XT to a Canon 40D. The Rebel is an AWESOME first DSLR. I recommend getting the body only and then buying the lens separate. If you're on a budget, the 50mm 1.8 lens is under $100 and is a great lens - I've used it to take many many shots for SteamyKitchen as well as for my cookbook.
Sudden cravings
Seafood pizza or an extra cheese clam pie! Sooo good.
Tomatoes
Technically it's not a "dish," but I LOVE sundried tomatoes and would put them in every little thing if they weren't so expensive- the oil packed ones, that is.
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*That is, I've been SELLING cameras for years.