Fine Dining Food Photography Archives

November 24, 2023 — Comments are off for this post.

A Gastronomic Wonderland: Three Unique Christmas Menu Photoshoots in London

Best Festive Menu in Canary Wharf — *Festive dishes at Bōkan 37*

'Tis the season, and Christmas menus are popping up all around London. Whether you're looking for a lavish fine dining meal or a Christmas sandwich on the go, there's something for every mood. In the past few months, I've had the pleasure of shooting three unique festive menus at Bōkan 37, The Pear Tree at Greenland Place, and B Bagel.

Shooting festive cheer

Three's something undeniably special about Christmas. it's a time when families and friends come together, often around the table. As a result, festive menus abound.

Since August 2023, I have done three festive photoshoots. The first was at Bōkan 37 in Canary Wharf, which is serving an elegant five course Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menu. The second was at B Bagel, which is welcoming the festive season with two decked out bagels. And the third one was at The Pear Tree, which is serving a two and three course menu throughout the month of December.

Best Festive Menu in London — *Three unique Christmas menus*

Christmas Menu at B Bagel: The Christmas Turkey Bagel — *Three unique Christmas menus*

A delectable five course menu at Bōkan 37

Perched atop the Novotel in Canary Wharf, Bōkan 37 beckons food lovers with its understated elegance and unmatched views. On Christmas Day, Executive Chef Robert Manea and Head Pastry Chef Luigi Festinante have put together a five course feast like no other.

To capture the essence of the menu, I shot three dishes, as well as some festive desserts, These were:

Chestnut soup, Alsace bacon
Venison, queen’s pear & ginger spice
Foie gras Brioche, Berries Chutney
Ricotta & pear cheesecake
Bōkan Big Ben

Fine Dining Photographer — *Fine dining elegance: The festive menu at Bōkan 37*

The battle for London's best Christmas sandwich: B Bagel's Christmas Bagels

Come December, we're all looking for a great Christmas sandwich. B Bagel, with its casual and playful atmosphere, has introduces a festive treat to their menu. Served with stuffing and cranberry sauce, you have the option of turkey or brie as your filling. Whatever you choose, this is a Christmas sando to remember!

Brie and Cranberry Bagel — *A taste of festive cheer: B Bagel's Christmas bagel*

A neighbourhood gem: The Christmas menu at The Pear Tree in Greenland Place

Nestled in the heart of Greenland Place, The Pear Tree invites you in for cosy meals with your nearest and dearest. From the 30th November to the 24th December, they are running a festive menu alongside their regular one, offering two courses for £29 and three courses for £36.50.

You can start your meal with pumpkin soup with roasted chestnuts and truffle, or the duck rillette, before indulging in a mushroom & truffle wellington or a roasted partridge with a confit leg croquette. End your meal with a decadent dessert like the Christmas pudding with blueberries and almonds, or the rice pudding with boozy prunes and coconut flakes.

Let the festive feasting begin!

Christmas Menu Photography — *The two and three course Christmas menu at The Pear Tree*

Christmas Set Menu — *The two and three course Christmas menu at The Pear Tree*

Behind the scenes

The three photoshoots took place between August and October 2023. If you fancy seeing more festive content, including Christmas cocktails, keep an eye on my Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok as I have two more Christmas shoots scheduled in the next weeks.

To delve deeper into previous food and restaurant shoots, have a look at TOKii, Taste of London, Benares Mayfair, Bonfire, SlowBurn, Chuku’s and The Haberdashery. If you're into cocktails, check out the festive cocktails at Bōkan Bar, Lanique Spirit of Rose and Sabine Rooftop Bar.

Or drop me a line - I'd love to hear from you!

Published by Naf Castanas in Food and Drinks, Food Photography, London guides, London Restaurant Photography, Restaurant & Brand Photography

October 26, 2023 — Comments are off for this post.

Capturing the Art of Sushi Photography – TOKii at The Prince Akatoki

Sushi Photography Marylebone — *Capturing the art of sushi*

Nestled in the heart of London, where tradition meets innovation, TOKii at The Prince Akatoki beckons all food lovers. Join me on a captivating visual journey through their world of Japanese gastronomy, as I unveil the artistry behind their sushi making, their exquisite Wagyu beef, the vibrant bento boxes, and the behind-the-scenes magic that makes this restaurant a true gem.

TOKii at The Prince Akatoki

In the heart of London, tucked away within the luxurious confines of The Prince Akatoki, lies a restaurant that promises an unforgettable dining experience. Located in Marylebone, TOKii is a haven for those who appreciate the art of Japanese cuisine.

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of joining their team to shoot different elements of their menu: behind the scenes at their sushi bar, their sashimi and nigiri selection alongside other cold starters, their new bento boxes and their wagyu beef. And if you know me, you know I love sushi photography!

Sushi perfection: Shooting behind the scenes at the sushi bar and sushi menu

Firstly, the photoshoot began with the star of the show: sushi. I was granted access to the heart of the kitchen, where the sushi chefs showcased their craft and the precision required to create the beautiful sushi platters.

Each piece of sushi was a work of art in itself, the epitome of precision and presentation. As a result, TOKii's sushi menu is a testament to the skill and dedication of their chefs. From the beautifully cut sashimi, the expertly created nigiri, and the crunchy rolls, all the way to the yellowtail carpaccio, and tuna tartare - this was a true joy to photograph.

Kitchen Behind the Scenes Photographer — *A true masterpiece: sushi photography at TOKii*

Wagyu beef: A culinary jewel

The Japanese Wagyu grade A5 served at TOKii is nothing short of a foodie's dream come true. The beautiful marbling is a joy to shoot, while the preparation and final dishes are simply stunning.

The shot list included two dishes:

The Hot Stone Wagyu Beef
The Shabu Shabu Wagyu Beef

The photos showcase the intricate details of each dish. From the sizzle to the first bite, the visual journey captured the anticipation and satisfaction of indulging in this culinary jewel.

Japanese Food Wagyu Beef Photography — *Hot stone and shabu shabu wagyu beef*

Bento boxes: A new addition to the menu

Lastly, I moved on to the bento boxes, which were only added to the menu last month. Available for lunch, each bite will transport you to Japan. I shot the tonkatsu, tempura and karaage bento - with a side of matcha and Genmaicha tea.

Best Food Photographer near me — *New lunch menu: Bento boxes at TOKii*

Commercial Photography in West London — *New lunch menu: Bento boxes at TOKii*

The technical details

This was a full day shoot at The Prince Akatoki. I shot on a mirrorless Sony a7iii, with a 24-70mm and a 50-mm lens and a Godox softbox strobe light. I also shot short videos to create Instagram Reels, which you can see on TOKii's Instagram account.

The Prince Akatoki is located at 50 Great Cumberland Place, Marble Arch, W1H 7FD. The shoot was organised by Feed Social.

Interested in additional content and a look behind the scenes?

You can explore more of my portfolio on Instagram, Pinterest or TikTok.

If you'd like to see more of my food photography, have a look at previous shoots at Taste of London, Benares Mayfair, Bonfire, SlowBurn, Chuku's and The Haberdashery. For drinks and bar photography, you can see the photoshoot of Lanique Spirit of Rose and Sabine Rooftop Bar

If you enjoyed this post, don't hesitate to reach out; I'd be thrilled to hear from you!

Published by Naf Castanas in Behind the Scenes, Food and Drinks, Food Photography, London Restaurant Photography, Restaurant & Brand Photography

Tags: Behind the Scenes, Fine Dining Food Photography, Food Photography, London Food Photography, London Hotel, London Restaurant Photography, Michelin-starred Food Photography

March 19, 2023 — Comments are off for this post.

Mother’s Day Food Photography – Benares Mayfair

Michelin Starred Indian Thali in London — *Benares Mayfair Mother's Day Menu*

Michelin Starred Food Photography Mayfair

I had the pleasure of shooting the Mother's Day and Holi menus at Benares Mayfair. It's good to treat mom all year round, and great to do something extra special for Mother's Day. A six-course tasting menu at a Michelin-starred restaurant is just the thing!
It's always a pleasure to work with the team at Benares and Executive Chef Sameer Taneja, who also included his favourite ingredient in the shoot.

Mother's Day and Holi at Benares Mayfair

Benares is a Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in the heart of Mayfair. Headed by Chef Sameer Taneja, the restaurant offers a tasting, set and à la carte menu for diners to enjoy.

For special occasions, the team prepares exclusive tasting menus with off the menu dishes. I had the pleasure of shooting their Holi and Mother's Day offering.

The brief

As these special menus are only available for a limited time, we only included a few of the dishes in the photoshoot. As such, the focus was on:

Three dishes from the Mother's Day menu
The lassi and petit fours from the Holi menu
Chef Sameer's favourite ingredient: truffles

Michelin Starred Food Photography Mayfair. Mother's Day at Benares — *The gold-topped petit fours for Holi*

The Mother's Day menu

As diners had the option to choose between a regular and vegetarian option for Mother's Day, we chose to shoot the vegetarian dishes as they overlapped both options. The star of the show was the bottomless thali, which included vibrant curries, rice and house-made breads.

Michelin Starred Food Benares Mayfair — *The Mother's Day tasting menu at Benares*

The Holi Menu

Holi, the Indian Festival of Colours, Love and Spring, is celebrated in early spring. For Holi, the chefs added a sweet saffron lassi and gold-topped petit fours to the menu.

Michelin Starred Holi Food Photography at Benares — *Holi at Benares Mayfair*

Shooting ingredients

Lastly, we shot Executive Chef Sameer Taneja's favourite ingredient: truffles. While the menu at Benares is seasonal and changes regularly, there are always dished that include truffles.

Chef Sameer Taneja Restaurant Photography — *Executive Chef Sameer Taneja and his favourite ingredient: truffles*

The nitty-gritty

The shoot lasted three hours, split between a private dining room and the kitchen. I used a Sony a7iii, with a 50-mm lens and a 24-70mm lens, a Godox softbox strobe light and a Manfrotto tripod. I also shot short videos to create Instagram Reels.

Benares is located at 12a Berkeley Square, London W1J 6BS. The shoot was organised by Roche Communications.

Get in touch

You can see more of my work on Instagram, Pinterest or TikTok.

If you're interested in restaurant photography, check our my previous shoots at Bonfire, Sabine Rooftop Bar, SlowBurn, Chuku's, The Haberdashery, and Pastore - or get tips on how to pick the right restaurant photographer for your business. You can also see some of my food styling gigs!

If you liked this post, please drop me a line - I'd love to hear from you!

Published by Naf Castanas in Food and Drinks, Food Photography, London Restaurant Photography, Restaurant & Brand Photography

Tags: Fine Dining Food Photography, Food Photography, London Food Photography, London Restaurant Photography, Michelin-starred Food Photography, Vegetarian Food Photography