crystal jean photography » food

feetfirst + blogshop

crystal — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:00:28 +0000

last week i had the amazing opportunity to help out at feetfirst + blogshop, hosted by our labor of love, max wanger, bri emery, and angela kohler. it was such an eye-opening experience and i had a great time meeting the photographers as well as bloggers that i’ve long admired. everyone was so warm, open, and honest about their journey getting to where they are, and it really challenged me to remember why i’m doing this and to define who i want to be. i’m really excited to take my work to the next level.

here’s a peek at their beautiful studio in atwater where the workshop was held (steph pointed out to me that it was featured on apartment therapy)!

the lovely alison and zach did a great job modeling for us.

throughout the three days, we were so fortunate to have our lunches catered by heirloom. i’d been wanting to try their food for awhile since their lasagna cupcakes are all the rage in LA. on friday they brought out their newly constructed taco stand to serve gourmet pasta. the verdict? definitely the best catering i’ve ever had. i’m already coming up with excuses to host a party just so i can have those lasagna cupcakes again!

huge thanks to bri for giving me this opportunity, and margaux for being the all-around sweetest person to work with!

olive + gourmando (montreal, quebec)

crystal — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:27:22 +0000

one of my favorite things about pinterest? it helps me visually discover amazing little spots that i can bookmark for my travels. next time you’re traveling, skip google and use pinterest’s search for some great curated finds. it’s also a photographer’s dream for scouting cool spots to shoot. (follow me here!)

i found olive + gourmando on pinterest shortly before our east coast trip last year, and it’s easily one of my favorite places that i’ve ever eaten at. situated on the edges of cobblestoned old montreal, it’s an adorable bakery serving delicate pastries and simple food made from the freshest ingredients (the quebecois, like the french, do not mess around when it comes to food). my favorite? the housemade ricotta with roasted tomatoes and herbs. i still replicate this recipe often for breakfast at home.

sneak peek: shana + andrew

crystal — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 07:58:08 +0000

yums.

frosted cupcakery

crystal — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 05:22:45 +0000

another sneak from saturday’s shoot. cute shop in belmont shores.

chongqing

crystal — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 03:50:23 +0000

ma la huo guo

cucina urbana & chocolat (san diego, ca)

crystal — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:58:57 +0000

tried this new place called cucina urbana on my last trip to san diego. i first read rave reviews on a couple of blogs, and it did not disappoint! make sure you make a trip out there if you’re in san diego. :)

on a wednesday night it was packed with people, so make sure you make reservations–but if you wander in, they’ll probably seat you at one of the cool communal tables below.

i LOVED their chandeliers.

polenta + ragu, short rib pappardelle. two dishes worth going back for. :)

afterwards, i was tempted to make my usual stop at extraordinary desserts, but we opted to try something new since we were only a couple blocks from chocolat. dark chocolate + hazelnut gelato sundae? HELLO. (p.s. why doesn’t LA have good dessert spots? anyone have suggestions?)

the publican (chicago, il)

crystal — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 02:18:10 +0000

sunday brunch at the publican in chicago. honestly one of the best meals i’ve had. ever. enough of an excuse in itself to go back to chicago. :)

everything was charmingly mismatched and instantly nostalgic — embroidered linens, french toile plates, pewter silverware…

beer mimosas and spicy pork rinds

best dish: red-wine poached eggs with AMAZING prosciutto. that bearnaise sauce single-handedly turned me into a fan of white wine vinegar. pastrami short rib was delicious too.

i loved the feel of being in a communal farmhouse kitchen.

it was so good that our party decided on the spot to make dinner reservations for the same night. we didn’t end up keeping them, but all the more reason to come back :)

chicago, il

crystal — Wed, 26 May 2010 06:10:43 +0000

a few weeks ago a bunch of college friends and i headed to chicago to visit our friend dan at northwestern. despite having been to 49 states, chicago has always eluded me so i was super excited for this trip. :) and the windy city did not disappoint! i loved every minute of it, from the ornate skyscrapers to the tree-lined avenues to the midwestern hospitality. and the food. THE FOOD! four days was entirely too short, and i’m looking forward to another visit. thank you dan :)

chicago deep dish! yes, please. although to tell the truth… it’s just as good, if not better, at tony’s little italy around the corner from my house. :)

the incredible view from our 53rd floor mag mile apartment. absolutely. beautiful.

bleeding heart bakery

it rained for most of our weekend in the city, but i feel like it made chicago all the more beautiful. there’s something about the way the street looks when it’s just rained…

frontera grill! home of top chef master rick bayless.

hot doug‘s foie gras hot dog + duck fat fries. decadent and heavenly. at the same time. and worth the 45 minute wait.

i loved the art institute. could have stayed there the whole day if it weren’t for my aching feet by the end of our trip…

and of course, the millennium bean!

(i’m saving photos of the publican for the next post because it’s just that good.)

gourmet date night #1

crystal — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:49:13 +0000

crab cakes with cucumber salad, lemon-pepper pappardelle with sausage, red pepper, and peas in a pesto cream sauce, tj’s $2.99 riesling (corkscrew fail…)

and i call this one: why the heck am i still single?!

p.s. thank you maggie. :) you know how to cure the ailments of the heart.

crystal — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:23:39 +0000

going to try to post a photo a day from seattle :)