Hawkes Bay Organic Butcher | Murray Lloyd Photography

Located in Hastings, the Organic Farm Butchery processes and distributes beef and lamb from Ti Kouka an organic farm near Waimarama (they also have some pigs). After photographing at the farm last year  I thought it would would good to see another side of the operation.  The mainstream media have published large quantities of material about farmers markets, local produce and consumers wanting to know where their food comes from.

However thinking more about images of beef carcasses and slabs of meat I wonder if the public is ready for an even closer viewpoint.  While I was photographing, numerous boxes of organic meat went out the door. Nothing was wasted as the bones seen in the trolley were destined for the beef stock at a gourmet food supplier.

Organic butcher

Butchering an organic carcase

Exterior of the organic butchery in Hastings

Beer flag flies with National Flags | Murray Lloyd Photography

DBDraftbeer signsml

Tino Rangatira, New Zealand, Australia, United States..... and DB Draught? The inclusion suggests the brand sees itself as imparting national identity. I am not sure it will be in consideration for the intended NZ flag redesign.

Wild Food Festival Photos | Murray Lloyd Photography

The famous Wild Foods Festival is a shock awaiting anyone used to romantic farmers' markets or sterilised supermarket offerings. On the menu one year you could get a shot of horse semen washed down with Red Bull.  Among the culinary highlights on my last visit were seagulls bottoms, bull's penis sausages (3000 made from 40kgs), worm slammers (rumour had it the worms were sourced from a local graveyard), and live or chocolate coated huhu grubs.

The more restrained dishes on offer included sliced, pickled fern trunks, whitebait in various guises, and Hoki -Tikka from the local Indian curry house.  Wild indeed.

Wild food festival worm food

Festival goers eating wild food

Punga anyone?

Pig ears at the wild food festival

Wild food fetival

Ruth Pretty Hamburger Recipe | Murray Lloyd Photography

When I read the rugby sevens crowd was going to eat 12000 hamburgers  on the weekend  it made me think how the humble burger (particularly  Mac - burgers) are often targeted by critics of the fast food industry.

On the other side advertisers try various approches to make us eat more. If you want to get away from mass production and the products of Hamburger University try the Lembastic burger from Lembas Cafe in Raumati South (Now named Raumati Social Club) which  took out the title of Wellington’s best burger.

If you are looking for an inspiration for the BBQ try this hamburger recipe from Ruth Pretty. Wouldn't it be great for stadiums to have this standard of food.

Classic hamburger with fries for Ruth Pretty cookbook

Prize winning cupcakes at NZ show | Murray Lloyd Photography

The highlight for me at the Levin A&P show last week was the Home Industry display.  In amongst the Christmas puddings, fruitcakes and scones were two entries for cupcakes. I was told this was only the second year cupcakes had been accepted, perhaps reflecting the slow pace of change away from the city (where all the talk has now switched to macaroons).

Other highlights were the  jams, and vegetable creations.  Outside in the pens was the usual fluttering of ribbons amongst the winning pigs, chickens, sheep and cattle. However  I noticed the prizewinning export lambs were not getting carried away by their win. For those technology buffs - I photographed the A&P show on an old Mamiya C330 Twin Lens Reflex camera using roll film.

Sign advertising home industries at Levin A&P show in New Zealand

Prize winning cupcakes at A&P Show in Levin, New Zealand.

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Heritage plums in NZ| Murray Lloyd Photography

I had the good luck to photograph an orchard teeming with an amazing variety of heritage plums and apples. I was familiar with plum names such as Billington, Greengage and Fortune but how about Keruru Gold, Hawera, Ox heart ( deeply complex and delicious flavour), Purple King, Luisa, Casselman and Cacak? And apples - Monty's Surprise  is currently being researched for cancer prevention properties. Victory Line Orchard in Levin is run by Mike and Frances Beech . They  sell the plums (and apples) only at Paraparaumu Market on Saturday morning. This is the place to see the difference between a Nonnetit Bastard, a Ballarat and an Italian prune, whilst also giving your support to a very unique orchard.

Michael Beech of Victory Line Orchard

Heritage plums

Heritage plums

Heritage Plums

Heritage Plums

Frances Beech with beehives

Frances Beech with honey from her beehives

Monty’s surprise apple

Walnuts and Granny Smith Apples | Murray Lloyd Photography

Expecting to find handfuls of ripe Damson plums on our tree recently I was shocked to find an empty tree, footsteps underneath and a plastic shopping bag flapping around.  Security has been discussed subsequently (has anyone got suggestions?). At least the Granny Smiths and walnuts are still to look forward to. This post has recipes for walnuts.

Ugly Carrot Personality | Murray Lloyd Photography

Carrot two

Carrot three

When given a fresh bag of garden produce from my father in law's garden it contain a bunch of misshapen carrots. Or possibly not. Although the produce would be rejected by supermarkets  for lack of size ugly veges like these are now becoming trendy. Surely they have other creative possibilities as well...I am seeing the 3 wise men at the moment.

Roti Jala at Kayu Manis Restaurant | Murray Lloyd Photography

Kayu Manis Restaurant

Kayu Manis Restaurant

Kayu Manis Restaurant

Roti Jala at Wellington Restaurant in New Zealand.

When photographing Roti Jala at Kayu Manis recently I was invited into the kitchen to see the pancake being made. After photographing the final dish, I had the pleasure of eating it. Unfortunately Kayu Manis has now closed so if If you are looking for full flavored Malaysian food in Wellington try Rasa in Cuba St.

Taj Mahal seen in Pakistan? | Murray Lloyd Photography

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Food Photos in Wgtn Restaurants|Murray Lloyd Photography

I love photographing food and it is always a pleasure to get involved with Wellington's restaurants and food scene. These images were all photographed on location with minimal props. David Burton's provided reviews and the photos were published in the Dominion Post Wine Guide.

Capri

Foxglove Restaurant

Kayu Manis

Las Margaritas

Dahra Korean Restaurant

Ortega Fish Shack

Queens Sally’s Deli

Red Ginger

Ruth Pretty

Ruth Pretty

Ruth Pretty

Ruth Pretty

Ruth Pretty venison kebabs

Shinobi Sushi

The Larder

Ruth Pretty Whitebait Recipe | Murray Lloyd Photography

Elusive as they are, whitebait always attract controversy. If it isn't about how many whitebait make a good fritter, it's a river-side turf war on the West Coast or environmentalists holding whitebait up as the poster children for polluted rivers. While West Coasters boast of one and three hundred kilo catches, this season half a cup is a good result from a few hours at the Waikanae River.

However the half cup could go toward this recipe from Ruth Pretty, and if  you miss out completely there is the mock whitebait recipe in old versions of the Edmonds Cookery Book.

West Coast Whitebait with zucchini ribbons

Shepherds Shemozle in Hunterville | Murray Lloyd Photography

Shepherd with dog

In Hunterville around Oct/Nov is one of the highlights on New Zealand's event calendar. The day features the Miss Hunterway Competition - "a beauty show for real bitches", a Dog barking sound off and the Shepherds' Shemozzle - a race pitting man and dog against other men and dogs along a fear factor type course (they do one for kids as well). In the past the notorious food stop has included - sheep eyes, pints of cream, bread buns, raw eggs, pints of beer, freshly dug carrots (with dirt), warm coca cola, bulls testicles, and vinegar. The food is expected to be forced down at the food stop as fast as possible by red-faced shepherds having just run/jumped and crawled several kilometers with their ever faithful dogs beside them all the way.

Fishy Portrait of Mark Limarcher | Murray Lloyd Photography

Photographing food at Ortega Fish Shack  I was reminded of a portrait I photographed earlier this year. Mark Limacher (owner of Ortega)  was asked to provide a portrait to advertise a cooking class he was taking at Ruth Pretty Catering. To keep to the fishy theme of the restaurant Mark and Peter (chef at Ortega) decided to go the extra mile - this was the resulting photo.

Environmental Portrait of chef Mark Limarcher having fun

Food Photography on the Move | Murray Lloyd Photography

Events are always places you find food on the move. Recently I was providing photography at an event at the Langham Hotel in Auckland and pointed my camera at food on the move. The results of the photographs are always random using long exposures - maybe 15th or 1/8th of a second and panning the camera while keeping the food in focus. The photographs seem to suit this method as it matches the waiters streaming into the room delivering plates of fine New Zealand food to the awaiting guests.

Food on the move at the Langham Hotel in Auckland

Food on the move at Logan Brown Restaurant

Waiters carrying food at Pinot Noir Conference, an event in Wellington celebrating New Zealand Pinot noir

Tendertips Asparagus Photos | Murray Lloyd Photography

Asparagus, one of the harbingers of spring, reminds me of the difference between living here in Wellington and in a city like London. Instead of  year round supply we get proud announcements at Moore Wilson Fresh proclaiming the first arrivals from Tender Tips in Levin. The  photographs here show some of the Tender Tips operation.

Tendertips Asparagus sign in Levin, NZ.

Tentertips asparagus growing in Levin, NZ.

Fresh asparagus being sorted by hand in Levin at Tendertips Asparagus..

Fresh asparagus being sorted by hand in Levin at Tendertips Asparagus.

Freshly picked asparagus being processed in Levin at Tendertip Asparagus.

Freshly picked asparagus being processed in Levin at tendertips Asparagus.

Freshly picked asparagus being processed in Levin at Tendertip Asparagus.

Freshly picked asparagus being processed in Levin at Tendertips Asparagus.

Freshly picked asparagus being processed in Levin at Tendertip Asparagus..

Freshly picked asparagus being exported to Japan by Tendertip Asparagus in Levin

Playing with Food | Murray Lloyd Photography

A certain teenager in our house oozed creativity but was a reluctant participant in the kitchen. On some occasions the creative spirit rescued food disasters...a few years on a she was the top illustrator when she graduated from Massey University in Wellington. What is the lesson? Let children play with their food.

Hohepa Biodynamic Cheese in NZ | Murray Lloyd Photography

Multiple awards in the Cuisine cheese awards establish Hohepa as one of New Zealand's preeminent boutique cheese making operations. The staff at Hohepa could not have been more generous with their time while I photographed the cheese making operation in Hawkes Bay. I particularly like the vintage Danbo and the fenugreek flavoured cheese.

Bio dynamic cow

Bio dynamic cattle

Bio dynamic jersey cow

Mother cow licking new born calf

Calf at Hohepa

Milking at Hohepa

Bio dynamic cattle being milked

Milker at Hohepa Cheese

Milk at Hohepa Cheese

Packaging the cheese

Cutting cheese

Cumin flavoured cheese

Cutting mature cheese

Inacio Guimares the Cheese maker at Hohepa

Hohepa cheese

Dwali Festival Food in Wgtn | Murray Lloyd Photography

Flag flying at Dwali Festival in Wgtn, New Zealand.

For a slice of India in Wellington you could go to a restaurant but a more authentic experience is the local Diwali Festival held each year in Wellington and Auckland. Although nicknamed the 'festival of lights', for me the undoubted highlight is the food and the frenzy that goes with it.

Food at Dwali Festival in Wellington.

Food at Dwali Festival in Wellington.

Food being served at Dwali Festival in Wellington.

Food being served at Dwali Festival in Wellington.

Dancers at Dwali Festival in Wellington.

Women admiring saris at Dwali Festival, Wellington

Food Photography Tricks | Murray Lloyd Photography

Food photography of Minted Summer Pasta and Potatoes by Ruth Pretty.

"Can you eat the food you photograph?" or "what are all the tricks to make the food look so good?" are the two questions I am most often asked about as a food photographer. Surprise registers when I say pretty much the only thing used is a little olive oil .

The only time I can remember a trick is when we put raw new potatoes in a salad, as with cooked potatoes the skins slide off . I would say lighting, fresh ingredients and props are the  keys to a  strong food photograph however some food photographers try other approaches - check this video out