Food Tales is a joint venture of the Queensland Writers Centre and the State Library of Queensland where they feature some of Queensland and Australia’s best-loved food writers. They are held in different parts of the state and it’s always about writing and food.
On May 11th at the Maleny Community Center’s newly refurbished auditorium, The Food Tales folks are organising a Food Styling, Food Photography and Food Tales workshop. Starting at 9:45 folks can learn how to craft and share their food passion via photography, food styling, writing, blogging and graphic design.
Yes, there are the three who’ll be presenting the workshop. On the left is photographer Chris Klass from Klaas Creative. Remember when I said I went to a food photography workshop? It was with Chris. I learned so much – just look at the difference in the quality of my photos since I attended. I have a long way to go but I’m practicing as hard as I can. Here’s a sample of his work. (Practice, practice, practice, Maureen.)
To make the food that’s fit to photograph, Peter Brettell, chef and owner of Wild Rocket at Misty’s in Montville will be doing all the cooking. Peter is from the UK originally and he and his wife Belinda started Wild Rocket in December of 2010 and they have achieved a reputation for using the best local produce and free range organic meats.
Everything is made at the restaurant including the sausages, breads, stock, sauces – even the jams and chutneys for the scones are made in-house. If you come along on the 11th in Maleny, you’ll not only watch Peter’s food being styled and photographed, that’s what you’ll be getting for lunch.
Peter will be presenting at this year’s Real Food Festival in Maleny. His job? The kid’s cooking class. I think it will suit this father of three down to the ground. You will love meeting Peter. I sure did. He has a smile that instantly puts you at ease.
Julie Fiedler will talk about graphic design and how it fits in with producing great food photos. There will also be a representative from the Queensland Writers Centre but sadly, I don’t yet know who that is.
Finally, there’s the writing and blogging. This is where I’m going to tell what it’s like to be a full-time food blogger. You want to know the good the bad and well, frankly there is no ugly? I love what I do and I’ve met the most wonderful people through my blog. No food blogger will tell you that it’s easy but it’s incredibly rewarding work.
Through people I’ve met, I’ve learned to make interesting, quirky food, I’ve used really different ingredients that would make my poor father squirm and John and I have been able to eat most of it. Sometimes when you have to make a recipe 3 times, the 2nd and 3rd are giveaways. Sometimes the recipe is well… crap. It happens. 🙂
If you’re going to be in the area, it’s going to be a fun event in a beautiful part of Southeast Queensland.
Wish I could join the workshop ! I’m having so much fun in my kitchen cooking and taking food pictures with a novice camera like myself 🙂
Looking forward to some sort of a virtual workshop and I’ll be the first one in the line !
Thanks for the informative post. Love.
I’ll talk to Chris about doing just that. I doubt he’s ever considered it. 🙂
How very exciting Maureen. You are our star!. I wish i could attend. I would feel extra bad if I wasn’t going to Italy to a food show at this time( ha!). I really do wish I could come along and learn and cheer you on . Please have another…….
Sheesh.. I’d love to go as your extra baggage 🙂
Maureen:
This workshop is so exciting! I wish I could participate…I’d love to learn more about food photography and food, of course! I am so happy that you can attend it so maybe you can teach some stuff that you will be learning there. 😉 Have a great time, Maureen!
Yes, every time I talk with Chris I learn something new and I love the food that Peter cooks so it’s a big win for me. AND I get to talk. 🙂
How exciting and what a great team you’re going to be working with to present the workshop! 🙂 Only wish I could attend!
Haha and I love it, there really isn’t anything ugly about food blogging…except maybe over cooked eggs? Hmmm…
Me too… if only to see what you were wearing 🙂 LOL I can’t wait til we can catch up again. You are so ALIVE.
Sounds like a fab day! Wish I could attend 🙂
oh me too! Would we get anything done or just talk? 🙂
Amazing Maureen! So that’s what you have been up to lately. Now the cat is out of the bag and the first picture made me smile. =D I wish I could come, that would be so fun! You guys should do a google hangout at the same time, then I can join. =P
I have no idea how to set that up and how would that affect the people who’d paid to go? The lunch is on the verandah and the rest is in the auditorium so I’m not sure it’s all doable. 🙂
Sounds like a ton of fun! I’d love to hear your presentation — you’re one of my blogging inspirations! And that photography stuff is hard, isn’t it? It’s really worth it to have the opportunity to learn from a professional. Learning how to style is a particular challenge for me, and I think for many of us. I won’t be able to make it, alas, but the price seems quite reasonable. Have a great time!
Yes, it’s reasonably priced if you include a local celebrity chef’s gourmet lunch 🙂
I usually lament that I live so far from you Maureen, but this workshop really makes it much worse. What an incredible collection of talent and that you all are willing to share your knowledge is wonderful.
I KNOW if you were doing something close by, I’d be in the front row!
I would love to go to a workshop like this, there is definitely so much to learn from the pros!
It is awesome 🙂
Wouldn’t I love to have you there with me!
What a great sounding workshop, I am sure you will be able to teach people a lot!
I hope. Well, I’m pretty sure because I’ve learned from every possible mistake 🙂
What a wonderful opportunity!
Now if I just don’t muck it up 🙂
This is awesome, it would be great value for any blogger. I will unfortunately be at my Market Stall at Montville other wise I would be there. Have fun!
I’ll come by before it starts, Lizzie!
This sounds like the sort of thing I could very much do with attending…but probably not in Queensland in the near future 🙂 I hope you enjoy it though!
aww bugger 🙂 One day we’ll meet! (fingers crossed)
It sounds like a great workshop to attend! But sadly I’ll be working on that day. However I’m definitely going to visit wild rocket restaurant next time I visit Montville!! It sounds like a great place to have lunch.
Let me know and I’ll meet you there 🙂
Great post!
What a wonderful opportunity this is for you Maureen, and a wonderful opportunity for any blogger who is in the vicinity to attend. I wish I was closer
This sounds like a great workshop to attend, Maureen, and I bet you’ll really enjoy it. Good for you!
Jamie and I will be there – I am so excited, looks like its going to be a fantastic day. Can’t wait to meet you!!
I wish I could attend… I need help in all three areas… especially photography and understanding blogging better. I hope you enjoy it a bunch. 🙂
How exciting! I wish that I could be there for it. 🙂