Whether you’re hosting an in-person or virtual culinary event, it is important to create an interactive, engaging and memorable experience for your audience. From cooking lessons and recipe competitions to food festivals and wine tastings, the possibilities for creative culinary events are endless! Continue reading for our best ideas to enhance your next culinary event experience…
Feature World-Class Celebrity Chefs
Hosting a celebrity chef at your culinary event is guaranteed to build excitement and credibility among your viewers! Check out the photos below from some awesome events we’ve captured over the years featuring some of our favorite famous chefs.
The Arizona Harvest Moon Dinner Event is a unique outdoor dining experience under a full moon in the heart of the City hosted on the PHX Renews Property, featuring top local chefs and AZ Careers Through Culinary Arts (C-CAP) Alumni.
Shown in the top left photo above (left to right) is Arizona Cardinals superstar Larry Fitzgerald; Host of PBS Plate & Pour, Iron Chef America Winner and Owner of Biltmore-area restaurant Tarbell’s Chef Mark Tarbell; and Renowned Food Network celebrity chef and Sanctuary’s Executive Chef Beau McMillan (Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain).
Chef Tarbell can also be seen photographed in the bottom right photo above with celebrity chef and cookbook author, Rocco DiSpirito at the 2017 Arizona Women’s Board Author’s Luncheon.
A few other celebrity chefs we’ve had the incredible opportunity of photographing include:
Celebrity Chef Anne Burrell with former Miami Dolphins quarterback, Dan Marino (top right photo above) at the 2015 PepCity Super Bowl Halftime Party in Glendale, AZ.
Food Network star and best-selling cookbook author, Giada DeLaurentiis (bottom left photo above) at her “Weeknights with Giada” book signing in Scottsdale, AZ at Sur La Table in Kierland Commons.
Bravo’s Top Chef Masters Winner, cookbook author and Mexico–One Plate at a Time television series star Chef Rick Bayless (right middle photo above) in Phoenix, AZ at a Tasting Event for Negra Modelo.
Support Local Restaurants and Chefs
Phoenix is home to some of the best local restaurants, food festivals and culinary events in Arizona. We love working with our AZ culinary geniuses and supporting local chefs and restaurants is a great way to relate with your audience while promoting the Valley’s amazing culinary scene!
Beckett’s Table opened in 2010 in the heart of Phoenix and has won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for the past six years. We’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Chef Justin Beckett (top left above) and his team to photograph several special occasions over the years including the Lincoln Drive and Dine event hosted at Beckett’s Table!
Other local chefs we’ve had the fortune of working with include:
Chef Christopher Gross of Christopher’s at the Wrigley Mansion (bottom left); Chef Scott Conant of Mora Italian in Phoenix (bottom right); and beloved iconic Phoenix Chef Tomaso Maggiore of Tomaso’s on Camelback (top right, In Loving Memory of Tomaso Maggiore). Tomaso was an amazing person and will be missed dearly. Voted Best Italian Restaurant in the Valley since 1977, you can visit Tomaso’s in the Camelback Corridor in Central Phoenix.
Include Audience Interaction
A great way to enhance your next culinary event is to include audience interaction! You can demonstrate cooking lessons at your live events or during virtual broadcasts.
We teamed up with Macy’s Culinary Council to photograph their Game Day Cooking event in Scottsdale with three time James Beard award winning Chef Tom Douglas. The audience loved the live interaction and opportunity for discussion during this cooking demonstration!
Another awesome local restaurant we’ve worked with is Rock Lobster located in Chandler, AZ where guests enjoy Teppanyaki style cuisine and freshly prepared Sushi. This is the kind of culinary entertainment that will leave your guests wanting more!
You can view more of our Culinary Event Photography at HautePhotoVideo.com and contact us when you’re planning your next live culinary event or virtual experience!