From Baths to Beers: Superior Bathhouse Brewery

July 11, 2016 in Advertising Photography, Food Photography

If you haven't visited Hot Springs lately, you're missing out on quite a gem. Superior Bathhouse Brewery is located on Historic Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs National Park and is home to Hot Springs' first Craft Beer Tasting Room, on-site Brewery.

I spent an afternoon back in April photographing some of the most popular brews and non-brews that Superior has to offer. In the photo above is their Killer Irish Red served in a tankard.

For the dark beer lovers, on your next visit you can try (above) Foul Play Stout served in a pint glass showcasing artwork by local tattoo artist and founding Foul Play Cabaret Member, Doris Night.

For the blonde beer lovers, try Hitchcock Spring Kölsch, seen below.

Another popular beer is Chaudfontaine Houblon (below). Chaudfontaine is a Belgian town located in the province of Liège and when translated literally, Chaudfontaine means Hot Spring.

For those looking for the perfect nibble to pair with their beer, one of Superiors most popular items is their Southern Black-Eyed Pea Hummus served with pretzel chips. I can eat this stuff by the bowl.

Or you can try their Superior Plate. Served at dinner, the Superior Plate featured Arkansas-own Petit Jean seasonal meats and Kent Walker artisan cheeses. In the photo it's paired with Chaudfontaine Houblon.

Looking for the sweeter, more indulgent drinks at Superior? A local favorite is their root beer float. Superior uses Arkansas-made Yarnell's Ice Cream serving over 40 floats daily and going through more than 50 gallons of ice cream weekly. We went through a few tries to get the right photo and we tasted as we photographed.

Quality control...right???

Want to see how they make beer at Superior Bathhouse Brewery? Check back for that blog post in a few weeks!

Here's a few BTS photos.

Food Photography | Mmmmmm.....Mexican!

May 04, 2016 in Food Photography

Who doesn't love Mexican food?

It's a Friday night or any other day of the week. You're with your favorite person or a big group of friends. In front of is a big bowl of chips and salsa.

You slowly sip on an ice-cold margarita followed by a big plate of whatever your favorite Mexican dish may be.

What else could be better??

I spent a lovely and a very stormy Wednesday in late March with my incredible food stylist Muriel working on a Mexican-themed photo shoot. The room smelled of sweet onions, peppers and roasting corn. To kick things off, we started with a simple yet delicious roasted corn. This is so simple to do at home.

We precooked the corn just enough so when we added them the grill, all we needed was to add a nice little char to the surface. We soaked the husks in water for a while so they would not burn up. For the corn we used a Weber Smokey Joe. I'm snob when it comes to grilling. I'm no expert in all things grill, but you cannot beat the taste when something is cooked on charcoal. I can hear the gas grill lovers scoffing!

Roasted corn with red pepper and herb butter.

Steak fajitas were next up. As the flank steak was cooking away on the Weber, I got the set ready for the fajitas. Muriel painstakingly sliced the onions and peppers into perfectly thin and uniform slices. Those, along with the jalapenos and the lime half, were charred indoors on my cast-iron grill pan.

I invited my good friend Stacey to join us because she is a Mexican food junkie. I'm mean she needs to be in rehab. I knew she'd want to be the office taste-tester. I did put her to work holding a white fill card. Afterwards, we savored every bite of the photo below.

Flank steak fajitas with charred onions, peppers, pico de gallo.

Guacamole.

I can eat bowls of this stuff.

No Mexican meal or party is complete without a margarita. For this I wanted to keep things simple: A basic black background, coarse sea salt, a traditional margarita glass and a lime wedge. I personally don't like my 'Ritas with salt, but the jagged edges of the salt makes for nice texture.

We wrapped the photo shoot with savory slow cooker, pulled pork carnitas with pickled red onions, diced pineapple and cilantro. This one is a favorite at my house on a Sunday. The leftovers will last you a week.

Are you hungry yet?

Project for Hot Springs Guest Guide

March 01, 2016 in Editoral Work, Advertising Photography, Food Photography, Magazine work

Once again, I teamed up with Arkansas Business Publishing Group to shoot a few new and fresh photos for the 2016 Hot Springs Guest Guide.

On your last vacation, have you ever noticed the local magazine in your hotel room that provided info on where you should: Shop? Dine? Experience the local nightlife?

Of course you have. Just about every major city around the country has something like this.

Hot Springs, which is Arkansas' top tourist destination is no exception.

This years trip was mostly a gastronomical one: Beer, Pizza and Cupcakes

Got Beer?

A flight of beers from Superior Bathhouse. — A flight of beers from **Superior Bathhouse.**

My first stop of the day was at Superior Bathhouse. I've been here on several occasions for dinner either by myself or with friends or clients. This place is great. I loved LOVED working with and photographing their owner and head brewmaster, Rose Schweikhart. She's the first person I've met that's more high-energy than me!

Rose Schweikhart, owner and head brewmaster at Superior Bathhouse. — Rose Schweikhart, owner and head brewmaster at **Superior Bathhouse.**

I could have spent all day here, but there were other projects to get to.

I loved these taps. Two of their Superiors taps are topped with bathtubs which are actually vintage soap dishes that Schweikhart bought from eBay.

Got Pizza?

Tony Valinoti, owner of DeLuca's Pizzeria. — Tony Valinoti, owner of **DeLuca's Pizzeria.**

Later in the afternoon, we headed to DeLuca's Pizzeria to photograph their owner Tony Valinoti. This is some of the best pizza you'll eat anywhere. The only thing bolder and better than the pizza was the time I spent photographing Tony. His lively and big personality and just as wonderful as his pizza.

He made us a pizza and after one bite, I could not get it in my mouth fast enough. And neither could he. Tony only uses quality ingredients imports from the motherland...AKA Italy. You name it, he imports it: semolina flour, meats, cheeses and sauces. You can taste the difference.

Got Cupcakes?

My last stop of the evening satisfied my sweet tooth. I photographed Mackenzie Simon, the owner of Fat Bottomed Girls Cupcakes and a few of her namesakes.

Mackenzie Simon owner of Fat Bottomed Girls Cupcakes. — Mackenzie Simon owner of **Fat Bottomed Girls Cupcakes.**

If you've never had these cupcakes you're missing out. We photographed, and sampled, a few of their favorites including their best seller, the Ooey Gooey Buttercake. As you started to unwrap the parchment wrapping, you can smell it. This cupcakes simply melts in your mouth.

They are simply perfect....every. delicious. bite.