Foodspotting #6: Committing the act (of food porn)

Before all this (nonsense), I rarely whipped out my camera to take a photo of the food. I have always believed that photos should capture an unique moment. A moment that is purely mine. Something that can’t be duplicated. Something that is interesting to view.

And this idea of taking photos of food seemed silly especially since…WHERE AM I IN THE PHOTO. Or Toad even.

There are exceptions of course. Especially when traveling. When it’s a special event. When the food looks incredibly unique.

Frushi!

a chocolate soufleeeeee (can't spell) at Hot Chocolate

To go into the Hot Pot

But then this whole experience of Foodspotting. I recently came across articles from SFWeekly and nytimes on this very task.

I take photos for posterity mostly. To remind myself. And suddenly to find myself to take photos to fulfill the requirements of Foodspotting was beyond me!

There were times that it was easy. I masqueraded as a foodie and descended upon photo-taking. It made sense for places like at Bob’s Donuts.

Apple Fritter at Bob's Donuts

But places like Sebo where we were having the Omakase menu. We were sitting in front of the chef. Would it disturb him that we weren’t enjoying the food? That we were stealing the moment for later? That some food wasn’t consumed right away? And didn’t the menu say “no photographs”? (I was once scolded for photography at Zeitgeist, but that’s a different story and probably different reason). So we asked the chef if we could take a photo of an elaborate course. He laughed and said that it was fine. He asked us if we were crazy foodies and whether we were going to post it online. I felt guilty…and mumbled yes…I am…

Omakase at Sebo

But food is love. It’s a way that I communicate with people. It’s sharing the experience of sight, taste, smell. It’s a memory captured perhaps digitized…just as a reminder. I hope.

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