Extra Extra--Read all about it on December 16 in the Dallas Morning News

Food styling and food photography are truly an art in themselves. On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of spending the morning with freelance food stylist Jane Jarrell and food photog Evans Caglage of the Dallas Morning News.

I'd been asked to consult with Chef Jennifer Hood, MS, RD and students Jennifer Moss and Zack Palmer at Collin County Community College Culinary Arts Program for an article for writer Nancy Churnin, also of the DMN. The focus was on lightening up and making traditional Hanukkah foods healthier.

On the menu: Grilled Latkes, Tzimmes made with Bison and Sweet Potatoes and Nutritious Noodle Kugel.

Learning the tricks of the trade in both food styling and food photog was a blast:

1. a tiny bit of wax, placed correctly, allows for a fork handle to suspend in air for just the right look.
2. The lighting on the tzimmes was created with 4 different lighting apparatus and achieved just the right photo.
3. Top of the line cameras go for 1/4 of a million dollars--and take 4 minutes to actually shoot one photo.
4. It's all about the grill marks when it comes to styling food!
5. There is a small kitchen in the studio that holds probably close to 500 plates, bowls, platter and other houseware items that have been used over the years to create the masterpieces we readers see in pages of the Food Section of the DMN.

Truly a great way to spend my morning.
Looking forward to the finished product-
on stands 12/16/08-just in time for Hanukkah.