NC Triangle Dining

The Best Restaurants and Bars in Raleigh, Durham, Cary & Chapel Hill

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The Famous Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich in Raleigh and Durham

Popeye's chicken sandwich in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Popeye’s chicken sandwich in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Now you may be wondering about the buzz around the new Popeye’s chicken sandwich! Launched in mid-August, this chicken sandwich quickly went viral through word of mouth creating lines and mania everywhere. Claims that the new chicken sandwich was better than arch-rival Chick Fil A’s was put to the test. Popeye’s then ran out of chicken in September, sadly ending all the chicken craziness. But not to fret, dear foodie, because the Popeye’s chicken sandwich re-launched on November 3 and guess what?! There were still lines! But persistence is important in life and all I can say is that this chicken sammich, well it’s worth a bit of a wait!

Popeye's chicken sandwich in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Line at Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

I headed over to the Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen on Capital Boulevard at about 2pm on a Thursday afternoon. Pulling into the parking lot, I could still see a line of about 6 cars in the drive-thru. Inside, there was a shorter line of about 4 people so, not too bad. And you can bet that most people were in line for that chicken sandwich. It takes about 10 minutes to hit the front of the line and I order up one spicy chicken sandwich ($3.99) and one classic combo’d up with a drink and Cajun fries. It’s $11.69 for the whole deal which is super reasonable and my order comes out in about 5 to 10 minutes given the busy restaurant.

Popeye's chicken sandwich in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Popeye’s chicken sandwich in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

The chicken sandwiches come nicely wrapped in foil-paper sleeves which keeps some of the heat in. Visually, it’s a delicious looking sandwich! Shiny-top, brioche bun with a large and bumpy, fried chicken patty tucked in between. Inside you’ll find two pickles, a slather of mayo (spicy or plain) and that’s about it. Taking a bite you’ll get a hit of tender chicken, crunchy batter and sweet from the pickle. Popeye’s grills the bun a bit for some buttery texture and the brioche adds a hint of sweet to the sandwich, excellent! While the chicken patty is all white meat, it’s tender and exhibits some juiciness. All in all it’s a very, nicely balanced chicken sandwich with some heft and surprisingly, not much grease which is appreciated. I’d recommend the spicy version to maximize flavor. And oh yeah, those Cajun fries are great too! Just a hint of spicy coating, I’ll need to get them fresh next time.

While I wouldn’t wait in a 30 minute line or risk being stabbed in line for the Popeye’s chicken sandwich, it’s certainly about as good as it gets for fast food chicken. It’s an extremely satisfying bite and well put together given its humble origins. Just be aware that we only have 7 or so Popeye’s in the area vs. the MANY Bojangles locations. So if you’re willing to make the trek out to your local Popeye’s Louisiana Chicken, I’m pretty sure you’ll be pretty pleased with their chicken sandwich, Classic or Spicy!

 

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen locations in the NC Triangle

3904 Western Blvd, Whitmore Drive, Raleigh

3699 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh

3318 Capital Blvd, Raleigh

1701 Pinewinds Drive, Raleigh

7120 Knightdale Blvd, Knightdale

Terminal 2, RDU Airport

2723 Guess Road, Durham

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Food and Culinary Deals at Costco Wholesale in Raleigh for the Holidays!

Front of Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Front of Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

I’m not sure what I was thinking when I got my Costco membership.  I mean, what’s a single guy going to do with a 72 pack of toilet paper or a 10 pack of Brita filters?  But you would be surprised, my friend!  Once I learned the in’s and out’s of being a Costco member and navigating the parking lot, you realize there is definitely some value for even a single person with a membership. Especially if you’re into food and cooking, go figure.  And the more times I visit Costco, the more I find to enjoy and eat.  Let’s go for a quick tour!

Foodsaver at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Foodsaver at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Let’s start with Costco’s kitchen goods.  While they don’t have a huge selection, what they do have for kitchen brands is pretty strong.  I’ve been thinking about trying out sous vide cooking so I’m sort of in the market for a vacuum food sealer.  And while Costco doesn’t have more than 2 or 3 choices of any particular item, the 4880 Food Saver they have for $119, retails for over $175 elsewhere.  BIG savings!

And then I see a set of 4 KitchenAid ceramic knives for $25 which is typically $28 – $35 elsewhere.  KitchenAid mixers?  They’ve got them here and a LOT cheaper then Williams-Sonoma where I used to work.  If you’re in the market for kitchen tools, I think you’d do pretty well here. Costco usually also has a great selection of cookingware sets along with decent quality knives.

Custom cakes at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Custom cakes at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Moving on to the wine, baked goods and meats section, they’ve got a very nice selection of bottles here and from what I’ve been told, the wine-buyers at Costco are SUPER picky.  They are the 7th largest wine retailer in the world which means huge buying power.  I have yet to buy a bottle yet but will take some time to research their selection a bit.  Just past the wines are the baked goods, and I recently bought a 1/2 chocolate sheet-cake for $18!  You can choose from 20 or so decorations and choose from 2 types of cake and have a custom message on it.  And it was a decent cake with light butter cream, another great deal!

Meat section at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Meat section at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Just past the cakes there’s the bulk meat section where Costco sells vacuum-sealed USDA Prime and Choice meats, all at a good price.  I’ve done a couple of delicious prime rib roasts from Costco beef and you’ll know I’ll be back here sometime soon. Just be aware you will need some hungry mouths to take advantage of the family packs here.

Kirkland products at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Kirkland products at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Further in past the frozen goods, there are tons of foodstuffs with the in-house brand, Kirkland.  And while I may not want a bottle of Kirkland wine on my table, who cares when it comes to spices and other bulk cooking items?  I grab a 64 oz. container of organic extra virgin olive oil for $14, it goes for 50% more on Amazon.  A huge 160 oz. container of canola oil for $14 probably goes for at least $18.  And the best thing is that Costco usually stocks items that are above average in quality so you’re getting a great deal on really good food items!  I have yet to cost shop other items but I’d expect the same sort of discounts.  Costco employees are scattered through-out the warehouse demo’ing food items and handing out samples.  Some people say you can put together a lunch here just by grazing on the food samples.

Fresh flowers at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Fresh flowers at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

In addition to the food, you’ve obviously also got some great deals on electronics, basic clothes items, vitamins and more.  About the only thing they have that doesn’t seem to be a good deal are the movies, DVD’s and blu-ray discs.  Right before you check out, Costco has a great fresh flower stand which is well worth whatever price you pay.  Head on off to the cash register, make sure you grab a box to take your stuff out in and square up with cash, debit or the Costco AMEX card.  The lines can get long here but most Costco employees I’ve run into are well-trained and quick, phew!

Food stand at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Food stand at Costco Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining
Self-serve food kiosk at Costco in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Self-serve food kiosk at Costco in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

But the food fun doesn’t stop here because right past the cash registers, you’ve got the Costco food stand.  Like many big-box stores, the experience can be so lengthy they need to provide you with some food (see my IKEA review).  And you can eat really on the cheap here. Hard to believe, but the food here is all pretty darn good, order your food at the self-serve kiosk and they’ve got a pick-up area for efficiency  Costco has their classic 1/4 lb. beef hot dog and drink for $1.50, a chicken bake for $3 and a slice of pizza for $2.  The beef hot dog is an 10″ long, filling beastie and you self-serve your soft drink.  Where else could you eat for under $2?!

The pizza is a medium crust with plenty of cheese and toppings, and of course, the slices are big.  If you want the whole pie, we’re talking only $9.95.  The chicken bake is a thin, well-browned Parmesan crust filled with chicken chunks and a bit of sauce, tasty stuff.  So AFTER you buy all that great food inside Costco, you get some more on the way out to fill yourself.  I’ve even heard of the Costco food challenge where you have to consume $10 worth of eats in under an hour.  Don’t think it’s impossible but I’ll pass for now.

Overall I’m really impressed by what I’ve found so far in my first month of membership and I’d highly recommend you check ’em out if you’ve got one in the area.  The newest Costco for the Triangle is coming to Apex in March 2016. Once you park, it’s not too painful outside of paying up at the cash register.  With their ridiculous buying power, Costco dishes out some great deals and eats for food lovers and aficionados.  Don’t let Costco’s big box presence scare you off from the great values inside, it’s totally worth the trouble…

 

Costco Wholesale

2838 Wake Forest Road

Raleigh, NC 27609

919.755.2801

Location on Google maps

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In Praise of Poutine! Some Great Options for Fries, Gravy & Cheese in the Triangle

Who here likes fries, raise your hand? And how about some brown gravy, raise it up high! So what would you expect would happen when you combine the two?! We’re talking about pure deliciousness here and by gum, they call it poutine! Brought to you by the people north of our border, this Canadian treat (Quebecois, to be exact) has been landing on menus all throughout the Triangle! And I’ll confess to loving this meaty treat and I’ve been searching around the Triangle to find the most delicious version of poutine around.

Oxtail poutine at the 41Hundred in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com

Oxtail poutine at the 41Hundred in Raleigh – $13

Out in North Hills you’ll find the 41Hundred located in the Renaissance Hotel. Part bar, part lounge and part restaurant, the 41Hundred offers an array of small plates, sandwiches and appetizers at very reasonable prices. But what caught my eye (and stomach) here at the 41Hundred is its oxtail poutine, whoa! While I first tried this dish for a media event, I came back for a second go-around and it was still great! Thin skin-on fries covered in a deep brown, oxtail-laden gravy with pieces of white cheddar?! Sign me up, please. If you haven’t tried oxtail before, you’ll be blown away by its deep meaty flavor and luscious richness when slowly braised. And it works perfectly for this poutine, don’t miss out! I just wish that I didn’t have to walk by the 41Hundred every time I leave my gym, way too much temptation.

Poutine at the Bottledog Bites and Brews - nctriangledining.com

Poutine at the Bottledog Bites and Brews – $9

Further west you’ll find the very under-rated Bottledog Bites & Brews in Cary! Why’s that? It’s a humble little bottle shop on the side of a plaza so unless you’re looking for it, it’s very unlikely you would stumble in on the place. But here’s where things get better. While Bottledog offers up some stellar craft beers, it also has some of the best poutines around along with delicious flatbreads, hot dogs and beaver tails. They’ve got 5 or so poutines on the menu ranging from your basic fries, gravy and curds along with some spin-off options that include Montreal smoked meat (pastrami-like) and even hot Nashville chicken. But whatever version you’ll choose, you’ll love the rich gravy over tender potato. They even offer poutine as a extra cost side for their sandwiches. Give me a fork and I’ll jump right into this platter!

Brisket poutine at Doherty’s Irish Pub in Cary – $9

This Irish pub in Cary is as good a restaurant as is a bar so I had high hopes for their brisket poutine! Guiness braised brisket with white cheddar and brown gravy makes for a classic treat! A good portion size to be shared as an appetizer!

Poutine at the Jack Tar and Colonel’s Daughter – $10

Well we’ve covered poutine in Raleigh and Cary, but what about Durham? Recently I tried the poutine at the new Jack Tar and the Colonel’s Daughter in the Bull City. This nouveau-diner is doing quite a few classics that have been twisted up in gourmet fashion but their poutine stays pretty true to form. Thin, skin-on, nicely browned fries covered in a light gravy and yellow cheese curds, yum! While this version is pretty solid, I would have like a more hot gravy to cover and melt the cheesy bits, more effectively. And a bit more depth and savory to the gravy would have also been nice. But still a very tasty starter at the Jack Tar and Colonel’s Daughter for a reasonable price.

Masala Poutine at Parts and Labor in Durham – $8

Inside of the Motorco music venue you’ll find Parts and Labor, the casual eatery offering food truck-like small plates along with great beer. Parts and Labor has a couple of poutines on the menu including this spicy, masala poutine! Covered in think melty cheese and this thick red sauce, the masala poutine spins the classic dish up a bit without straying too far. Very tasty!

 

 Fried oyster poutine at Locals Oyster Bar in Raleigh – $8

A spin on the classic poutine, Locals Oyster bar takes thin, skin-on fries and tops them with oyster gravy, corn-meal fried oysters and hot sauce! Located in the new Transfer Co. Food Hall, Locals Oyster Bar offers up a variety of seafood in a casual setting.

So if you’re dying for some fries and gravy, what are you waiting for? Time to visit one of these great restaurants for a big ol plate of poutine. There’s a handful of other places I need to check out for this list (Milltown, Townhall Burgers) so I’ll be adding to it! Which I am certainly looking forward to because who can resist potatoes and gravy?!

 

A Plethora of Poutine Plates in the Triangle

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News: Thrive NC is coming to Raleigh on May 10 and 11, Foodies Rejoice!

While you may realize that the Triangle and Raleigh has been in a food renaissance of late, we sometimes forget that not everyone is lucky enough to enjoy all the foodie riches. With all the farms in our lovely state, it’s hard to believe that North Carolina is in the top 10 for food insecurity in the nation. That means our at-risk population (children, seniors, and others) are unable to regularly obtain a healthy and nourishing meal.

           
This past Tuesday, I had the opportunity to attend a media tasting sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina to discuss their upcoming Thrive NC event coming to City Market in Raleigh on May 10 and 11. Executives from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Dr. Patrick Conway and Reagan Greene Pruitt, VP of Integrated Marketing and Community Engagement) told us a bit about the inaugural Thrive NC event and why it was so important for the citizens of NC to be involved. Given our rich history in farming and agriculture, we can make our community more aware of this food insecurity, right in our midst. By discussing how it impacts peoples lives and health for the worse, we can work together to find a fix. During the Thrive NC media event, we also got to meet Chef Jeff Seizer (Royale) and Sophia Woo (MOFU Shoppe) who will be participating in Thrive NC

To help raise awareness of food insecurity in NC, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina will be hosting a series of events (Thrive NC Summit, Day of Service, VIP Reception) revolving around the importance of food for economic development and children’s nutrition. These events are invitation only BUT you can support their efforts by joining us on May 10 and 11 at the public Thrive NC events!

Dumplings and brussels sprouts from MOFU Shoppe
Dumplings and brussels sprouts from MOFU Shoppe

There will be a showcase of local food, chefs and culinary displays that looks pretty fantastic, in my opinion. On Thursday, Thrive NC will have Vivian Howard (Chef and the Farmer), Sam Jones (Sam Jones Barbeque) and Teddy Diggs (Il Palio) in the house. Followed by Andrea Reusing (Lantern), Cheetie Kumar (Garland) and Ashley Christensen (Poole’s Diner) on Friday for chef demonstrations. There will also be a variety of tastings from local restaurants and beverage sponsors for you to enjoy. Live music will be provided by Kasey Tyndall, Joe Kwon and others for your enjoyment.

Sandwiches from Lucarne
Sandwiches from Lucarne

Sounds like a lot of fun and deliciousness for a $30 ticket, eh? What makes it even better is that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina will be supporting a variety of local charities from this event. From A Place at the Table to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, Raleigh City Farm and more. Check out the list below for what’s planned to be on the Thrive NC menu, wow! I’ve linked to my food blog reviews if one is available.

So what are you waiting for, foodie friend?! It’s time to go grab your Thrive NC tickets, hope to see you there on May 10 (Thursday) and May 11 (Friday)!

Thrive NC at City Market, May 10 and 11

Purchase Tickets!

 

Participating Restaurants for Thrive NC

18 Seaboard – Core Sound Oysters (Thurs)/ Polenta and Pork Belly (Fri)
42 & Lawrence – Coffee
Beasley’s Chicken and Honey – Carolina Reaper Hot Chicken Sandwich
Bida Manda – Lemongrass Pork Sausage
Brewery Bhavana – Char Siu Bao
Carroll’s Kitchen – Variety of Kolaches
Centro – Pulled Pork Tacos
Counting House – Braised Short Ribs (Thurs)/Roasted Pork Belly (Fri)
Gonza Tacos y Tequila – Tacos
Hummingbird – Spiced Chicken Wings
Il Palio – Tomato Braised Lamb Meatballs
Kimbap Cafe – Kimchi Fried Rice Lettuce Wraps
La Farm Bakery – Assorted Breads and Spreads
Lily’s Cheesecake – Assorted Cheesecakes
Lucarne – Pork Belly Chicken Liver Mousse
Mandolin – Carrot Spaghetti (Thurs)/Smashed English Pea Tart (Fri)
Mez Durham – Chipotle Chicken Tinga Tacos
MoFu Shoppe – Pork and Chive Dumplings
Oak City Meatball Shoppe – Mini Meatballs and Mac and Cheese
Oro Restaurant & Lounge – Truffle Mac and Cheese
Pizza La Stella – Specialty Mac and Cheese
Poole’s Diner – Lump Crab Doughnuts
Royale – Mini Burger with English Muffin Buns
Sam Jones BBQ – Whole Hog Pork Sliders
Sassool – Local Sweet Potato Hashwi
Smashed Waffles – Sweet Waffles
Southern Charred Bar & BBQ – Pulled Pork, Brisket and Chicken Wings
Sweetwater Ices – Lemon Sorbet and Strawberry Sorbet
Tonbo Ramen – Pork Belly with Tonkotsu Ramen Broth
Trophy – Crispy Bacon with Grilled & Smoked Chicken
Under the Oak Farm – Sweet Potato Salad
Vic’s Ristorante – Penne Primavera in White Wine Sauce
Whiskey Kitchen – Smoked Chicken & Sausage Gumbo with Shrimp

 

Participating Breweries and Spirits for Thrive NC
Anheuser-Busch
Appalachian Mountain Brewery
Aviator Brewing Company
Bold Rock
Brewery Bhavana
Carolina Brewery
Catawba Brewing Co
Dogfish Head
Durham Bull Beer Co
Lonerider
Stella Artois
Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Trophy Brewing
White Street Brewing Co
Whiskey Kitchen

 

Featured Wines

Whites
Bloem White – South Africa
Westerly Sauvignon Blanc – California
Cantina Valdadige Pinot Grigio – Italy
Schlossmuhlenhof Muller Thurgau Troken – Germany

Reds
Terrapura Cabernet – Chile
Bodegas Barreda “Stereo” – Spain
Domaine La Lyre Red – France
Ayre s Pinot Noir – Oregon

Rose
Ferry Lacombe “Mira” Rose – France

Sparkling
Florinda Cava – Spain

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Fab Five Recommendations for Food Photography

Churro waffles at soca in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Churro waffles at soca in Raleigh – One of my favorite pics this year, partially because the dish was also fantastic! The lighting at soca was perfect inside and the plate has a lot of texture and color. Shot this one at a near overhead angle, maybe 80 degrees off the table.

You know the saying, a picture is worth a 1,000 words and it’s never been more true than when you talk about food blogging or social media. We’ve all been tempted by a foodie photo on twitter or Instagram and every now and then, a really good food picture will make you hungry and salivate. And sometimes I’ll find one of my pics up on a website or in an email to tempt others. Given my background as an amateur photographer (years ago), I’m amazed at the versatility and ease at which we can take food pics nowadays. I remember the days of carrying TWO SLR’s, one loaded with color film, the other with black and white film (OMG). But there are still some basic rules and guidance you should follow to get the best food pics out there, whether you’re carrying an iPhone, point and shoot or full-blown digital SLR.

So I thought I’d share some of my top tips that I’ve learned the hard way over the years. Photography is all about light, shutter speed, distance-focus, composition and color, five really important points to consider. And I’m going to assume your auto-focus is working properly on your camera!

Shrimp and grits at Humble Pie in Raleigh
Shrimp and grits at Humble Pie in Raleigh – Love this pic, shrimp and grits are usually basic but the translucent element of the shrimp and broth really pop out here. Pretty sure I was outdoors on a cloudy day on their patio for this shot.

First of all, lighting. Light is key to any photography and the more natural, flat light you can get, the better. Too little or too much direct light (bright sunlight) and your pics will not have any color or get washed out. Ideally, choose a dining spot where you’ve got some good, flat and even natural lighting. The right time of day can be crucial here, mid-day hours are usually better. Barring perfect lighting, you’ll have to adjust for low-light situations which is often the case for night-time restaurant visits. So choose your dining spot carefully if you’re really looking to get some great food pics! A seat by a window is usually best or a decently-lit inside table. Watch out and avoid spots with colored lighting and bulbs, they will make it very hard to get a good image.

Patio at Mulino Italian Kitchen, Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Patio at Mulino Italian Kitchen, Raleigh – A wonderfully lit night shot on their fantastic patio. You can guess I shot this pic carefully with two hands, feet spread apart to steady the lens and with a higher ISO. It came out really sharp which surprised me. The Samsung S7 is strong in low-light conditions.

Second, shutter speed. If it’s dark and you shoot at too slow a shutter speed, you’ll get camera shake and a blurred pic which is definitely no bueno. Some options to compensate is to bump up the ISO (film speed) which is tricky on the iPhone but doable on Android. Use ISO 400 preferably, 800 for worst case. At ISO 800 and beyond you’ll usually start running into graininess in your photos. Another way to compensate, is to shoot your pics with a sturdy base. Lean up against a wall, put both elbows on the table and shoot with two hands. With the right physical support, I’ve gotten decent images with longer shutter speeds (1/8 second) that are still usable. Newer smartphone cameras are pretty fast with large aperture lens (1.8 to 2.0) so choose wisely! A larger aperture lens will allow for faster shutter speeds and minimize shake.

Pancakes with apple at the old Provenance in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Pancakes with apple at the old Provenance in Raleigh – A nice shot with lots of textures and colors. I wanted to capture the apples on top but to also pick up the layers of pancake so I had to find a compromise angle for both. While it’s a bit mono-chromatic (yellows-browns), I think I got the complexity of the dish.

Third, distance and focus. I always suggest getting as close to your food subject as possible to capture the detail but cameras sometimes have problems at close (macro) distances. Make sure you tap where on the image your camera should be focused on when you’re in tight (close to subject). Alternatively, you can try to take a photo at distance and then crop the photo digitally to make it look like it’s “close”. But you will lose detail here, even if it may seem like an easier proposition.

Skillet burger at Kindred in Davidson - nctriangledining.com
Skillet burger at Kindred in Davidson – Sandwiches are usually tough because the bun covers everything but this burger is stacked just right to open up the insides. Getting close shows off the melty cheese and textured ground beef, I get hungry looking at this pic!

Fourth, composition. This aspect of photography is key and what I’d call the photographer’s eye. Part of composition is distance and I usually suggest getting as close as possible to fill the frame and eliminate any distracting background details. Although sometimes you will want some background, especially if it’s interesting. Composition is affected by the angle you shoot at. Some people like their food pics directly overhead for a 2 dimensional viewpoint. I prefer about a 30 degree angle (relative to table) so I get some texture/height of the dish. You should also consider moving the plate and/or spinning it to get the right view of your food. There are definitely good and bad sides for food dishes so consider the perspective before you snap that pic! I also prefer not shooting at 90 degree angles with the lines of your subject squared up in your viewfinder

Crab mofongo at soca in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com
Crab mofongo at soca in Raleigh – soca does an amazing job with plating/color and this crab mofongo shows it off. Great porcelain bowl, creamy rice, white crab with pickled red onions show off a lot of color and texture.

And the last and final point, color! Color is so important for any picture but you’re often limited by your subject and lighting. Some dishes are just bland in color (brown, beige, orange, mono-chromatic) and there’s nothing you can do. Other issues are the type of lighting you have (fluorescent, tungsten, colored). Use your Auto-White Balance (AWB) settings on you camera/phone to compensate for the temperature of your light (cool-blue to hot-orange). Good cameras will allow you to set a custom temperature by shooting a white card to set it up. Or avoid the problem altogether by shooting in natural light (see Tip #1). Unfortunately some dishes just don’t photograph well even though they are still delicious!

Christmas at the Angus Barn, so much to look at in this fram but shot this pic hand-held standing on some stairs. Luckily there was enough light from the tree to allow for faster shutter speeds.
Christmas at the Angus Barn in Raleigh – So much to look at in this frame but shot it hand-held, standing on some stairs. Luckily there was enough light from the tree to allow for faster shutter speeds.

Digital photography has totally changed the picture-taking game. Not only because you can take as many pictures as you want and cull out the best ones (volume photography) but you also have the ability to fix/edit photos, in post-processing. I rarely ever use photos I’ve taken, directly into my blog. Normally there’s always some cropping, lightening and color editing to maximize the impact of the picture. And of course, your equipment and smartphone camera. While I’ve typically been an iPhone guy, a switch over to the Samsung Galaxy S7 brought me a slew of compliments on my posted pics. Although I do have interest in possibly getting a Lumix G7 or G85 mirrorless camera sometime, soon. In the end, smartphone cameras are excellent overall and will do a great job 90% of the time. So just practice, practice, practice with your food pics! Eventually the hardest part of photographing a food pic will be holding back on digging into your delicious meal!

 

Five Ways to Improve Your Food Photography!

  • Light – Find natural and flat light, no flashes!
  • Shutter speed – Keep it over a 15th to a 30th second and max, ISO 800.
  • Distance-focus – Stay as close as possible, watch the background!
  • Composition – Shoot directly overhead or at a nice 30 degree angle, find the best view of your plate.
  • Color – Use AWB or set your white balance and edit images on your smartphone if necessary to maximize color. You may need to post-edit on your PC or MAC.

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