The Food Paparazzi: Friend or Foe?
In this technological age of information and the Internet, almost anything can be shared instantly via Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and YouTube. Thanks to the massive popularity of Food Network stars and Top Chef, the rise of the foodie culture has also taken part in this virtual game of information sharing.
These days, everyone and their mother has a food blog (myself included). Many people have come to rely on these blogs as trustworthy sources for recipes and restaurant recommendations. An important factor that adds to the credibility and popularity of such websites are tantalizing pictures of food.
The "food paparazzi" is a new term coined to refer to shutterbugs snapping photos of everything from cupcakes and pizza to gourmet cuisine in fine dining restaurants. While this type of paparazzi might seem innocent in comparison to the celebrity–chasing, fight–inducing type, not everyone is so pleased with their presence.
Some chefs and restaurateurs fear that flashing bulbs and clicking lenses will detract from the dining experience of other customers. Maitre D’s worry that the paparazzi’s process of setting up cameras, rearranging plates, and taking several shots will slow down overall service and turnover. Über particular chefs complain that the food photography can actually ruin the taste of food: by the time picture–snapping diners actually eat, the food may be cold!
Despite the distraction or annoyance that food paparazzi may bring, chefs also realize its benefits. This form of flattery is a great source of free publicity. Posting pictures on Twitter or Flickr can reach millions of people instantly, and seeing a delectable photo on a food blog may just convince someone to go there on his next meal out.
To compromise, some chefs allow photography in their restaurants, but only without the flash. Some chefs, however, are much more outspoken critics. Chef Grant Achatz of Alinea in Chicago, for example, posted quite a lengthy rant about the food paparazzi on his restaurant’s message board:
"A month ago a front of the house team member served the Hot Potato–Cold Potato to a blogger that was taking photos with a camera resting on a tripod. The server did their normal spiel, telling the guest the dish was intended to be consumed right away so the sensation of temperature contrast could be experienced. Instead they took a few minutes to move the course around on the table to find the right light, snapped several images, and then undoubtedly enjoyed Warm Potato–Warm Potato."
As a food blogger myself, I’ve personally felt conflicted by this issue. To shoot, or not to shoot? I’ve often felt awkward pulling out my camera in the middle of a busy restaurant, or asking friends, "Wait, don’t eat it yet! I need to take a picture for my blog!" I don’t set up shop with a tripod and extra lighting like some folks, but I doubt that a quick snap will dramatically slow down the pace of a meal or ruin the taste of the food. Sometimes the presentation is just as important as the taste, and the only way to share this with others is in a photo. There are only so many ways you can describe something as delicious or mouthwatering; so in this case, a picture really is worth a thousand words (or tastes).
— Written by Cara Colbert
Photo credit: gastronomnom.com
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