My plan was to write about my experience at an exhibition in Belgravia, showcasing Banksy and Damien Hirst pieces but since Banksy has already had his limelight in my first post I decided to go for low key food artists that deserve recognition.
I recently tweeted about beautiful latte art creations by amazingly talented baristas and since then I have started seeing an explosion of food art everywhere around me in cafes, magazines and even talks. Maybe it was just the fact I began taking a concious interest in it and not the fact that I was leading the trend, which is what I would like to believe.
As it happens, I was told about Hotelympia, an exhibition showcasing design, furniture, cooking equipment for the hotel and hospitality industry. I am sure that some of you may have switched off by this point thinking what the hell does this have to do with me? Well nothing really, if these finely crafted canapés dont impress you.
Restaurant Plates - Hotelympia 2010
Restaurant Plates - Hotelympia 2010
The Salon Culinaire competition was swarmed by people taking photographs and so I thought I would get in on the act. As an Events Manager and Marketing nerd, I have seen many canapés change hands but nothing like this! It might have something to do with the fact that some of them were made for the House of Commons and, the company I keep might not be as high brow as politicians.
Have you ever seen an Apple Mac made out of fat? Well here it is.
Apple Mac made from fat at Hotelympia
I am not sure how seriously I can take a romantic couple made out of lard but nevertheless it is beautiful.
and finally, who can forget the perfect American family ‘The Simpsons’…
The Simpsons Cake
For a full list of the winners please visit the Caterer Search website http://bit.ly/cqcbPZ
Now, these exhibitions are lethal because you don’t stop eating wherever you go. One minute I had tofu in green curry on a toothpick and the next I was being shown soya caviar!
One stall which stuck in my mind was Lauden Chocolate with their beautifully designed chocolates and truffles. Based in Leeds, Lauden have won a Bronze Award by the Academy of Chocolate in 2009 for their House Truffle. Unfortunately for me I have given up chocolate for lent but my friend who joined me could not stop drooling or reaching her fingers back into the chocolate box, fully armed with that innocent puppy eyed look. Yes, there is always one!
Source: http://www.laudenchocolate.com
I really love how art always seems to be in places you least expect it and how it can take on so many forms. The presentation of these dishes and cakes were so eye catching and creative.
I have to say that recently a friend and I were debating about food and art – she claimed she has absolutely no creativity and didn’t know the first thing about art. I really think you have to encourage people to look harder into their creative qualities because having worked in a restaurant as a talented chef it was not hard to see her artistic ability through creating dishes. Food combines artistic colours and flavours and it takes creativity to know what works, which is exactly what the Salon Culinaire displays illustrated.
FATLDN 