A chef’s creations are often likened to art. The meticulously plated amuse bouche. The vivid hues of jus dancing around an entree. The curation and presentation of petit fours. It’s all spectacular and seemingly all too beautiful to only be enjoyed for a brief moment — so many of us will ultimately take out our phones to snap a photo and preserve the meal well past digestion.
“It’s always a joy to look back and remember what I had at any given moment, especially when the dish was particularly memorable,” says TJ Steele, chef-owner of Claro in Gowanus, Brooklyn.
Yes, even MICHELIN Guide chefs fall prey to the ease of smartphone cameras to solidify their meals. “For me, it’s a way to capture the time and place—a personal food diary, if you will,” adds Steele.
What actually warrants a photo of food on a plate, though? Below, MICHELIN Chefs share their thoughts about what and when it is appropriate for the phone to eat first, as well as tips for executing a quick, yet efficient, photo.
Use culinary photos as a diary
Since your phone keeps track of the exact time and place where you take a picture, Steele considers food photos as “a great way to always look back and know when and where you had something.”
Celebrate your friends
“When I visit my friends' restaurants, I'm so proud of their journey and the hard work they do that I take pictures of their creations (or their babies, if you will!),” shares Claudio Foschi, head chef at Oyamel by José Andrés in Washington, DC. Chef Foshi mentions a recent visit back to his hometown in Barranquilla, Colombia for a food festival where he took “tons of pictures of the local food” as well as during a dinner at his friend Manuel’s restaurant. “I couldn’t resist taking photos of his creations, telling the stories of his childhood and the Caribbean region.”
Travel always warrants a photo
“Recently, I visited my girlfriend in LA and took pictures of every meal we had to remember the trip,” says Steele, emphasizing the usefulness of a photograph to create a sort of food diary. In this case, it can also serve as a way to bookmark favorites in a new destination.
Consider other diners
Christian Welch, executive chef at The Pembroke in Washington D.C. says he doesn’t often take photos of his meals, but on the select occasion he does (to admire an artful presentation), he considers the guests around him. “I think the most important etiquette is to be mindful of the atmosphere and the people around you. When you’re in a restaurant, it’s not just about your experience—it’s about everyone’s.”
Don’t use flash
To further the consideration of other diners, Steele bluntly states, “don’t use flash.” Unless you’re a food photographer for an organization, you may also want to reconsider standing, rearranging plates, and staging for the perfect photo.
Don’t interrupt the server
Another way to be respectful of those around you is to consider your server. “Don’t take pictures when the server is describing your food,” suggests Steele. This automatically disconnects from the greater experience and is considered rude.
Don’t forget to admire the presentation in the moment
"The ease of being able to snap a photo sometimes takes away from the moment of actually experiencing what’s in front of you," reminds Welch. Sometimes when you get caught up in taking a perfect photo, or snapping a picture slyly, you interrupt the natural process of connecting with your dish—missing the visuals, smells and emotions it might evoke. “I prefer to appreciate the food with my senses instead of through a lens,” says Welch. “For me, the [culinary] experience is about being in the moment, enjoying the meal, and respecting the artistry of the dish.”
Hero image: Faces of Travel / Adobe Stock
