The efforts to fish and preserve this food source lie in the delicate balance of Mother Nature and the lifelong dedication of a group of some pretty special people.

“You really have to want to be here, in Cordova,” I heard from more than just one person. “You don’t accidentally stumble or end up here. But if this place speaks to you, you might just never leave.”

This was one of the first things I learned when I visited Cordova, Alaska last summer as a guest of the Copper River Marketing Organization. I thought I knew the fish well, both as a cook and from my food marketing days, but my knowledge didn’t even touch the tip of the iceberg when it came to understanding sustainability, geography, the life span of salmon and how much work it takes to bring this noble fish to market.

I also could never have prepared myself for Alaska’s arresting beauty.

A huge part of what makes these salmon so special is their home. They spawn here, then travel outside of the Copper River to live and grow but make their way back after several years, traveling hundreds of miles to return. The river snakes via various tributaries, and it is this long passage that requires the salmon to store plenty of extra omega-3 fatty acids in their bodies. This is what makes them desirable, delicious, and worth preserving. More on that in a bit.

While there are 5 varieties of Alaskan salmon, Copper River salmon means King, Sockeye and Coho (or silver). Each variety has their own qualities in regards to shape, size, and abundance in terms of harvest. But if you ask me to pick a favorite, well, I can’t. I’ll take any of them, any day of the week.

And then there’s the sustainability. Rarely have I seen the idea and practice of sustainability in such a holistic form; it is everything these people do. It has to be if they are to preserve a species that supplies us food but takes years to grow. Their attempts are nothing short of miraculous.

Salmon are caught during something called a Run, with very distinct starting and stopping points set up during each run. Runs are determined by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, or ADF&G. The ADF&G set the run times, which are anywhere from 12 to 72 hours long and based on a very accurate fish count. Counts are made via underwater sonar, monitored by people in shifts, and fishcounts are also made from planes flying over fishing grounds. Based on how many fish escape into the wild and how many are returning to spawn determines just how many fish can be caught. This strict adherence guarantees that there will be enough fish not only for next year’s harvest but also for generations to come.

And then there’s Cordova itself. A small town at the base of the Copper River, it’s a rugged place with a vast waterfront that rests in front of deep green mountains. It’s serene in summer and not-so-forgiving in winter. I was reminded by the residents that my visit occurred during the best possible time of the year, giving me warm sunlight and tranquil winds which allowed me plenty of memorable photo moments. The late day sun never went down, allowing me plenty of beer time, too. I spent the first few nights with my curtains open, the novelty of sun at 1am making me smile until the effects of disturbed sleep took its toll by the third day. I eventually learned to make peace with a sun that never quite went away. It’s glorious and made me giddy.

And just who are these people who spend their days doing the hard work so that we can eat these fish? They’re wonderful people from all over, some of those same people who stopped by once and never left. They’re gracious, gregarious, elegant even. The opposite of the salty fisherman stereotype, at least to me. And they made me love Cordova and all that it is, or at least what I learned about her in my short time there. The magic of the land doesn’t stop with the earth – it flows straight through the residents.

I dream of returning one day, of drinking beer at 10:30pm in the sunlight, of learning more about Copper River Salmon, of finally pulling my own weight on Kim’s boat and not turning green and clammy (sorry, Kim!) and maybe to repay the generosity of Mother Nature and the people of Cordova, Alaska.

I’ll start by eating more fish.

Copper River Salmon season is underway. To find it near you, visit Copper River Salmon.org and click here. For disclosure purposes, I was a guest of Copper River last year and have done work for the California Avocado Commission which has worked with Copper River Salmon for cross-promotions. In fact, the big giant recipe on the main page is mine. All opinions expressed in this post are my own, photography is copyright me me me. Thank you!

I’m currently in Australia, attending Tasting Australia and having the time of my life. I’ve also had a few adventures along the way including The Ghan, I’ll be sure to share those with you shortly. In the meantime I will leave you with this photo of yesterday evening’s sunset, a glorious example of just how beautiful this country is. It’s breathtaking and I am having the time of my life. See you soon!

Will it be ok with you if I claim a compressed holiday schedule blended with a healthy dose of jet lag as to why I am only getting around to writing about my quick trip to Australia two weeks ago today? I came home after a 4-day trip and jumped immediately into 4 photo shoots. FOUR. The dust has settled, I’m reviewing my images and expanding my notes and wanted to share with you what a stellar time I had.

With an sleep mask, a bag full of magazines and two sets of headphones I boarded a V Australia flight from Los Angeles to Sydney (which was fabbbbbbulousss) to attend the Hamilton Island Great Barrier Feast, hosted by qualia resort in what must be one of the most beautiful parts of our planet.  Hamilton Island is a part of the Whitsundays, a collection of islands located off the central coast of Queensland, Australia. Rugged, verdant, with dark green peaks jetting out of teal blue water, it is a tropical paradise not far from the Great Barrier Reef. You might remember that this was the winner’s location for the Best Job In The World contest a few years back.  I see why. I was prepared for beauty, I wasn’t prepared for extreme beauty.

With 60 individually designed pavillions, qualia sprawls out over several hilly acres, making its way to the edge of the island at Pebble Beach. With dozens of awards under its belt, including 2011’s Australian Gourmet Traveller Award for Best Australia Resort as well as Best Spa, there’s a relaxed elegance to this entire place that I find right up my alley. Fusing a very laid back and carefree attitude with service of astronomic levels  provides the best of all worlds.  And driving around your own little golf cart certainly helps.

I began my mornings very early (I’m not one to miss a sunrise, especially when it rises over mountains that I can see from bed), usually with a short walk around the property and along the beach before heading to one of the pavilions for breakfast. The view each morning allowed me to absorb one of Australia’s most unique qualities: her light. Without getting too technical here (and boring you non-photographer, color-temperature measuring types), let me just say that the quality of light in Australia is beyond words. For this boy from The Golden State who has ample daylight most of the year, just seeing how the sun works down under was enough to cause me to snap photos, make notes, and marvel in its glory.

But really, let’s talk about those rooms.

I’m confident I’ve made enemies of friends and relatives after sharing via instagram and facebook my room. It’s been brought to my attention that in order to maintain these life-long valuable relationships I’ll need to bring them back to qualia, specifically this room. I’m a giver, consider it done. But you can easily see what I’m talking about when you see the room.

With apologies to housekeeping, a chair and power strip found their way into the massive tiled bathroom, where a sink counter became my temporary desk, the room doubling as a spontaneous office. It’s not that there wasn’t a proper desk on the other side of the suite, it’s just, well, I’ve always told myself I could live in a well-appointed luxurious bathroom, and I was pretty sure I was out to prove it.

One thing: bathing in not bathing with a view of the Whitsundays from a window like this. Don’t kid yourself. Human necessities become acts of grandeur.

Not that the rest of the room wasn’t worth it. Especially the bottle of Veuve Clicquot waiting for me.

As much as I could have hid in my room all day and night (with its own pool, thankyouverymuch), I loved getting out and meeting the other media attendees for lunch as the kick off for the Great Barrier Feast. If you’ll allow me to generalize here, here’s the thing about Australians: I love them. The whole bunch. Their spirit, their humor, their attitude, it’s all right by me. So I enjoyed a delicious lunch, sat back and listened to the lively conversation from Simon Thomsen, food writer and critic and emcee of the event. Also in attendance were James Halliday, Australia’s leading wine critic, Sally Webb, an editor from Murdoch, and many other journalists and editors, making for such a fantastic time. With all that food talk I was in heaven.

This year’s Great Barrier Feast was a weekend of amazing dinners, two Electrolux Masterclasses with Australian award-winning chef Dan Hunter, and plenty of delicious wines from Robert Oatley Vineyards selected by James Halliday. Not a stranger to the resort + food experience weekend, the Great Barrier Feast stands out above so many events in its ability to provide an experience that straddles education & excellent food with relaxation and pure chillness.  Try beating that.

Like a good American blogger I did my research on Chef Dan Hunter in lieu of making it to his restaurant Royal Mail in Dunkeld, Australia (that’ll be my next trip to Australia!) In a place seemingly near nothing (it’s 3 hours west of Melbourne), Dan creates cutting edge cuisine with a razor-sharp attention to ingredients and preparation. With impressive experience (spending time at Mugaritz in Spain as well as at some of the world’s finest restaurants), life at rural Royal Mail allows him to farm and grow his own produce, not to mention it also affords him the opportunity to walk to work and do his own thing. But what impressed me most was Dan’s singular vision and commitment to local ingredients. After enjoying Saturday night’s dinner prepared by Chef Dan and his team, I was eager to ask him about his vegetable-driven, beautifully plated dishes.

After explaining to him that my day job is as a food photographer, I asked him about aesthetics, something I’m pretty keen on.

Chef’s response: “I think food needs to seem untouched. I live in a very natural environment. I wake up in the morning, I open my bedroom curtains and I see trees and mountains, kangaroos, my dog. I have a shower, I have breakfast, I walk to work, I walk down a hill, across a creek, through a fruit orchard and I see clouds, trees, leaves, my vegetable garden. What I don’t see is structure. I see irregular, naturally occurring things. So when I put food on a plate, I’m putting natural things down and it seems silly to me to try to construct it too much. I say this to my chefs all the time: we want it to look untouched, as if the hand of man hasn’t been there. I mean, think of a forest with leaves on the ground, branches falling…it’s still beautiful. Imperfection in what we do and see are sometimes the most beautiful things.”

Speaking of nature, I may have gone off the food path with my request to tour the property with one of the lead gardeners. After walking around scratching my head with internal questions like “What on earth is this?” and “Oh wow look at that”, I knew I had to spend some time with someone who could answer my questions about the trees, plants and flowers. I said this place was paradise, right?

I must admit it was hard to leave qualia, but I was looking forward to my night in Sydney and checking out the new Darling Hotel.  If you’re thinking of attending the next Great Barrier Feast held again at qualia then lucky you. It’s a fantastic place. If you can break yourself away from that bathtub.

My blogger fine print: many thanks to qualia, V Australia, and everyone at Hamilton Island. Big California West Coast hugs to Michael Shah, Katie Cahill, Jill Colins (omgiloveyou!), Sophie Baker (omgiloveyoutoo!) and Debra Kelman Loew. As per FTC disclosure requirements, transportation and accommodations were provided.  Opinions expressed are authors own. All images © Matt Armendariz except tomato image in Chef Dan Hunter collage used by permission, © Andrea Francolini Photography.

I’m going to lay it all on the line, be completely honest, and just bare my soul for you here. I am dreading writing this post. Why? Because it’s too good. I mean, the food of Vancouver is just too good. Too good for me to find enough words to describe it, too good to not sound like a broken record as I try to find ways to tell you about it.

Perhaps I should just start with Paul.

Paul Done rocks. No other way to say it. And homeboy is TALL.

This is Mr. Paul Done, Food Lover and PR Consultant Extraordinaire. See that beer? That’s a local craft beer enjoyed on the first day of a 2-day quick tour throughout Gastown, Yaletown and Kitsilano, not to mention a few other Vancouver neighborhoods and city sites. This man knows his city, knows his food, and kept me entertained beyond words. He was the perfect companion to take me on my tour and the kind of guy you just want to be around. And that beer was only one of the many glasses of beer, wine, and endless plates of food and tastings we had as we ran around Vancouver, both on foot and in a car.

Beer, wine, cheese, charcuterie. SALT IS MY DREAM COME TRUE.

And before I go any further, you do realize you can enter to win my itinerary, right? Correct. You can stop by and visit these places too, but only if you’re up for it. Because the level of awesomeness just kept overdoing itself again and again throughout my time in Vancouver.

Breakfast at Cafe Medina. GO, JUST GO. Trust me. Not like I need to tell you how awesome it is. Everyone knows.

Here’s what I’m not going to be doing in this post: I’m not going to be reviewing every single place I went to. That’d just be nutty. And unnecessary. Besides, I don’t do restaurant reviews. What I can hope to accomplish here is to convey the level of happiness, comfort, skill, and “right-on”ness (I made that up) that comes from the Vancouver culinary scene. It’s vibrant, youthful, daring, traditional, intelligent, focused, and meaningful. It’s both a culinary warm hug and a quick cheeky pinch.  Just enough to wake you up, I mean.

I dream of having Big Lou's Butcher Shop in my neighborhood. I really do.

It’s people who care about what they do and how they do it. It’s about an attention to detail that never feels fussy or stifling, and it’s an elegant casualness that is right up my alley. Vancouver has easily become a favorite spot for me and I can’t wait to return.

Nelson The Seagull and a view of Vancouver at dusk

And if you go, you simply must pay a visit to Granville Island Market. Walk around, check out the shops, snack a bit, eat some more, buy some gifts for friends and family, it truly is a fantastic way to spend some time.

Meat & Bread, 370 Cambie Street

Below is my list of places we visited. Some were more comprehensive than others; we sipped and nibbled at a few, I stuffed my face at others. But I can tell you that I’d easily return to every single one of them in a heartbeat, no hesitation.

I spent a lovely afternoon at Thierry Patisserie, 1059 Alberni St. Photographer John Sherlock was in the back shooting for the website. Double score!

Remember that you can enter to win one of three different Explore Like A Local Itineraries. Will you go the explorer route and select Mike’s trip and backpack your way through the National Parks of Québec? Or will you shop your way through Toronto? I know you really want to eat your way through Vancouver, right? Just be prepared to bring an empty stomach and have your mind blown away.

The Greedy Pig, 307 West Cordova Street

The Dirty Apron Cooking School and Delicatessen, 540 Beatty Street

Big Lou’s Butcher Shop, 260 Powell Street

Salt Tasting Room, 45 Blood Alley

Meat & Bread, 370 Cambie Street

The Irish Heather, 212 Carrall St

Save-On Meats, 43 West Hastings Street

L’Abattoir, 217 Carral St.

Boneta, Courtyard of 12 Water Street

Cork & Fin, 221 Carrall Street

Two Chefs and a Table, 305 Alexander Street

Nelson The Seagull, 315 Carrall Street

Bitter (opening soon and it’ll be gorgeous, I had a sneak peek) 18 West Hastings

Café Medina, 556 Beatty Street

Oakwood Canadian Bistro, 2741 West 4 Avenue

The Flying Pig Bistro, 1168 Hamilton Street

C Restaurant, 1600 Howe Street

Granville Island Market/ Edible Canada at the Market, 1596 Johnston Street

Thierrys Patisserie, 1059 Alberni St

Some scenes from Sav-On Meats. Great space!

Running through Yaletown and Kitsilano on a rainy afternoon. Also, please visit Oakwood Canadian Bistro. You must.

I cannot express my gratitude over meeting these gracious folks who make eating in Vancouver a very special thing. Clockwise Boneta's Neil Ingram, Chef Thierry Busset, Mike Shea of Oakwood, Chef Michel Laurent of Granville Island Market.

A very special thanks to the St. Regis Hotel for such excellent service and a wonderful room to lay my head (and rest my full belly) while in Vancouver. St. Regis is located at 602 Dunsmuir Street  in downtown Vancouver, BC. You can find them online here.

You’d think stuffing myself with Chinese food in Richmond would cause me to throw in the towel. No way. After a quick trip into Vancouver I was ready to jump into my tour of the Vancouver food cart scene with Michelle Ng, the founder of Foodie Tour. I could not have been in better hands on a rainy and extremely chilly day. Luckily, the amazing cuisine warmed me up as did the excellent company. My new friend Karima of  I Heart Big Flavour joined me on the food cart tour and this woman rocks my world. I’m glad I had a fellow blogger and Vancouverite to join me, she was invaluable! I love you, Karima!

Vancouver has taken a very proactive approach in the establishment of food carts, issuing annual licenses on a limited basis. Each year only a small amount of trucks are introduced after an extensive evaluation process, with vendor vying for space and permits to sell their food. The hopes are that in a few years there will be dozens and dozens of more mobile places to eat, but the city is in no rush to get there. Quality and control is paramount, even if it does create a few bottlenecks in the process. Those lucky enough to be selected hold the privilege in high esteem and it’s this dedication that translates to customers.

Our first stop with Michelle was at Japadog, a Vancouver institution that is now legendary. Put the Western hotdog with Japanese ingredients and out comes the Japadog, something that I can definitely support.  Our hotdog had Japanese mayo and nori and was pure heaven. Pace yourself, I said, we have several more places to eat. But I didn’t want to. I wanted to try them all.

Our second stop was at Soho Road, and I shall tell you this: easily my favorite stop of the tour, hands down. I’m not sure if it was owner Sarb Mund’s jovial smile, the warm cup of chai on the rainy day, or the tandoor oven inside his truck that was busy firing naan and chicken. I’ve never seen a moveable tandoor, let alone inside a truck, and marveled as I watched skewered meat hang and cook, followed by naan dough as it cooked by sticking alongside the clay oven’s walls. He only serves a few things, but those few things are done exceptionally well, if not perfect. Yea, I’ll say they were perfect. The Butter Chicken Naan was heavenly, perfectly spiced and tender, with scoops of chopped cucumber and onion for contrast. Rolled up and served, this was perfect street food. Soho Road is on my list of places to immediately return to. Thank you, Sarb!

Our third stop of the day was at Finest At Sea, a food cart that specializes in wild caught seafood. Finest at Sea’s cart is an offshoot of their retail establishment, in business since 1977.  We tasted a Curried Halibut, Eggplant & Coleslaw Naan Wrap and washed it down with Green Tea with Ginger and Lime. You couldn’t have fresher, more exhilarating flavors if you tried. Absolutely spectacular.

The last on our stop was Tacofino, a favorite of locals who never shied away from sharing their faves. I’m going to admit that I was a weeeeeeeeeee bit incredulous about trying a taco so far from home, especially a Baja-style fish taco. Up until this point nothing in Vancouver has been less than amazing, would Tacofino be the first to disappoint? You’ll be happy to know that I can say “ABSOLUTELY NOT.” Crispy battered cod with a delicious tempura coating, chipotle mayo, shredded cabbage and salsa fresca on a tortilla met with complete approval from this man. It was exactly what a fish taco should be, minus the chilly rain that was pouring down. I can forgive you for that, Vancouver.  Sadly to say I missed the tasting of the Chocolate Diablo Cookie as I was completely stuffed and just couldn’t take one more bite but apparently it’s a favorite, too.

For more information on Michelle’s Foodie Tour please visit www.foodietour.ca. Public tours are available from April through November, with private tours available year round for 4 or more guests. Michelle’s twitter is here and her facebook is here. Thank you, Michelle, you are wonderful!

All these 15+ hour trips to Asia and it’s been less than 3 hours away this whole time?

Alright, ok, please don’t get out a map to prove me wrong. I’m being silly and I realize that nothing can compare to actually spending time eating from Hawker Stalls in Singapore or exploring a fish market in Busan.

Well, almost nothing.

I recently spent 2 days eating in Richmond, British Columbia as part of the Explore Like A Local Sweepstakes put on by Travel + Leisure and the Canadian Tourism Commission. They asked if I’d like to eat my way through any city in Canada and write about my experience in hopes of exciting others enough to enter to win my itinerary. I picked Vancouver – an easy trip up the West Coast of North America which would allow me to maximize my travel time. Part of this Vancouver experience would be visiting Richmond, British Columbia’s 4^th largest city and nestled directly next to Vancouver. While it’s no secret that Asian blood must run through my Latino veins (from where it comes from I have no idea!) but what I wasn’t prepared for was this town easily becoming one of my most favorite places on the planet.

Richmond, you rock.

To understand the food in Richmond you must have a quick lesson on demographics and history. Don’t worry, it’s quick. Richmond began to see many immigrants from Hong Kong and throughout Asia after World War II, with a great number flowing in during the 1990s. Currently, Richmond is 65% Asian, 49% of those are Chinese. You’ll find other Asian cultures as well, particularly Southeast Asian as well as a mix of other cultures from all over the world. But this predominately Chinese makeup means restaurants, stores, shops and markets all cater to an Asian population, and visiting and eating is pure heaven for a guy like me.

What you won’t find in Richmond is a central Asian neighborhood, a place that announces itself with a banner or red arches as a gateway to a Chinatown. Here Chinese culture here is woven into every aspect of living, reflected not only in its citizens but also through signage and everyday life. I have never felt more like a visitor in Asia than I did in Richmond, and considering I was still standing in North America my mind was blown away.

Then there’s the food. Oh my goodness, the food.  The New York Times said Richmond has “the best Chinese food outside China” and I’m not going to disagree. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my trips to Asia it’s this: food must be of a certain quality, taste good, be made and served properly…there are definitely standards. Richmond was no different. Each restaurant I visited seemed to outdo the last as I sampled Hong Kong-style comfort foods, Malaysian noodles, a Shanghainese dim sum as well as glorious food courts within 2 distinct Asian malls.

With my Tourism Richmond guide Stacey Chyau we headed to a few places to eat and it eventually became clear that I just couldn’t get enough of Richmond.

Lunch was a dim sum at Shanghai River Restaurant, 7831 Westminster Highway. Marvelous flavors, quite subtle and delicate, with cooks making handmade noodles in the kitchen. Quite possibly the best xiao long bao (soup dumpling) I’ve tasted, with perfect pork filling and enough steaming hot liquid inside to really satisfy. Other highlights included the jelly pork, a slab of gelatin and pork served cold as well as the unsweetened doughnut that’s dipped into slightly sweetened warm soy milk. Fantastic!

Later we headed to the Golden Village neighborhood for a visit to Alexandria Road, also known as Food Street. Get this: over 200 Asian restaurants within a 3-block radius. OVER 200! Yes yes yes yes yes. I’m already planning a trip to return. Our triplicate-dinner began at Cattle Café, 1020-8580 Alexandra Road, for a bowl of Laksa followed by Ginger Deep Fried Chicken Wings. We finished our meal at this bright, modern fun spot with Condensed Milk and Butter Toast. Think French Toast with lotus jam between two eggy slices and dipped in honey and yes, it was as fantastic as it sounds. We also dove into Bubble Waffles before finishing our Hong Kong-style Milk Tea & Coffee, a perfect combo of tea and coffee made with evaporated milk. Definitely East meets West.

Second on our list included a stop at Claypot Hot Pot and BBQ, 105-8291 Alexandra Road. As it began to drizzle and the temperature dropped I could think of nothing better than a stop for Hot Pot. We mixed our condiments into the perfect dipping sauce as we waited for our giant pot filled with two liquids of our choice to arrive. Once on the table it bubbled as we dipped a variety of vegetables and meats like lamb, pork, chicken and crunchy fish skin into the hot liquid. And when I say hot I mean that on both fronts: the spicy liquid was an oily combination of black and pink peppercorns, entire chiles, chile oil and spices that needed to be spicy enough to season your meat once removed. Too much of the hot broth on your food rendered your mouth numb and not much use for a minute or two. When that happened my mouth found refuge in the much milder side of the pot that contained a very simple gingery broth meant for greens and veggies. I really dig this style of communal eating, even if my mouth was temporarily incapacitated!

The third spot on our Dine Around (don’t you just love that term?) was Jade Seafood Restaurant, 8511 Alexandra Road, a beautiful contemporary restaurant located upstairs in a shopping strip. This award-winning spot was packed with an older crowd enjoying a meal and was the perfect place to end the night. The roasted squab really hit the spot.

The next morning I was up bright and early to explore Yaohan Centre and pay a visit to Osaka, a grocery store that specializes in a whole variety of Asian cuisine. Like many Japanese markets, it was a sparkling, glistening superstore but my guides had to pull me away from this:

If there is a sambal, a gojuchang, a soy sauce, a vinegar, a sriracha, a chile paste or sauce that wasn’t on this aisle then chances are it doesn’t exist. Anywhere. This was nirvana right here and I wanted to stuff my suitcase with one of each. But I didn’t.

After our market visit it was off to Aberdeen Centre, 4151 Hzelbridge Way,  for more dim sum at Fisherman’s Terrace. Those who know me know I can’t pass up a congee EVER so luckily I was able to order a bowl to get my morning started.

A Richmond, Chinese food eye-opener? Light pastry wrapped around things like pork and roast beef. Delicately tender noodles. Things that are so exquisite and special I could cry. Flavors with finesse that I’ll obsess over until I return. Most interesting: A smoked salmon slice on top of ambrosia-style salad over a prawn chip with ribbons of Japanese mayo. This West Coast Fisherman’s Terrace original was unique and unexpected.

My last stop in Richmond was Park Place Mall, a very modern old-school Asian mall. Did that make sense? Old school in the sense that it’s what you’d see pre-sparkling modern Asian shopping center. Filled with herbal, tea, clothing and gadget shops, we were here to check out the humble food court, where I met with a representative and learned that the food court limits the type of restaurants located within so that it represents the best of the best: the best curry shop, the best noodle shop, the best dessert shop, the best bbq shop, the best candy shop, you get the picture. And let me tell you: this place had me hungry all over again.

Of course, there was one place inside Parker Place that everyone kept talking about. Non-stop. It seemed to be on everyone’s mind, a favorite of the locals that wasn’t quite a deli or restaurant but more of a butcher shop. I knew I had to investigate.

Ladies and gentleman, I give you the Parker Place Meat & BBQ shop. Also known as the happiest place on earth. Apologies to Disneyland.

OH. MY. GOD. There are no words to tell you just how delicious their Roast Pork is. It’s easily followed by their BBQ Pork. The long lines into this store easily tell you this pork is a local favorite, ordered freshly chopped in a pound or two, taken home and served with steamed rice and a few sides. Each piece of meat is a study in pork perfection: three distinct layers of meat, fat, and crunchy skin (the skin being thicker than you’d expect) resulting in a crackly brittle break that is a blessed contrast to the warm fat. No, I have tasted nothing better than this pork and felt like a glutton for downing more than my fair share so quickly post dim sum meal. You would have done the exact same. Trust me.

For Tourism Richmond click here, for more information about Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, visit their official page at http://www.richmond.ca/home.htm

Coming up: Vancouver

I want to tell you two things, my gentle readers:

1. Yes, this blog has been very light on food and recipes lately. I have been traveling and photographing quite a bit lately and my assignments have been occupying my time all over the place. Sonoma, Central America, Vancouver, Australia, and many points in between. Once I get my feet back on the ground I promise you I will return to recipes and food.
2. I AM THE LUCKIEST FREAKING MAN ON THE PLANET (next to my dad because he’s married to the most amazing mother on the planet).

This post relates to both of my points, particularly #2. Last month I returned to Jordan Vineyard and Winery in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley to spend two and a half glorious days photographing a variety of environments, products and food. It was harvest season, and just between you and me I seem to end up in some rather fantastic spots during that time of year, and no ma’am, I am not complaining. This year was no different.

You may remember when I wrote about working with Jordan Winery last year. You can read about that here. To work with such lovely people in a dream location is a blessing. This year my assignment was similar but incorporated so many new things that Jordan Winery has going on. I photographed a harvest luncheon as well as lots of bottles of wine and gorgeous food, yet my biggest challenge involved photographing a group of cows who did not want their moment in the spotlight.

Sometimes you hear us photographers talk about waiting for the light, sitting patiently for a perfect moment. I sat there waiting for cows. Indeed I did.

Over the course of 2 days, I’d stop by but the cows would not cooperate. I was assured they’d come when food was brought to them but these cows, well, they ain’t dumb. They took one look at me and hightailed it over the hill, Big Mama never missing a moment to look back at me and give me that look THAT ONLY MOTHERS CAN GIVE. AND MOTHERS READING THIS, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT AND DON’T TRY TO PRETEND YOU DON’T BECAUSE I KNOW YOU USE IT ON YOUR KIDS 289,471 TIMES A DAY.

It’s that look that says “You’ve pushed me too far. Keep pushing and see what happens.”

Needless to say I didn’t push. I’m no dummy.

On the last day, my only moment to photograph these beautiful animals, I instructed those around me (including my assistant Rick) to stay far back. The cows were still avoiding me and in one last ditch effort at levity, realizing I may not complete everything I came her for, I desperately addressed the group.

“Ok ladies, work with me on this! I need you to smile, look directly at me, chew slowly but don’t eat it completely, then take another bite but do this like 3 times in a row. Remember to look at the camera! You’re not eating for real, just for the camera! Go slowly, y’all are gorgeous!”

It’s nothing I haven’t said to someone as I coach them in a photo. And you know what happened? That’s right. It worked.

Big Mama came closer to me, looked directly in the camera, and began eating, taking small bites and repositioning her head after every camera click.

She gave me exactly what I came for, doing the job of a supermodel that has posed for photoshoots for years. Who knows, maybe she has. She never said.

I got my close ups, snapped dozens of photos, put my camera back down and looked at her and said “Thank you. I got what I needed. You are amazing. That’s a wrap!”

The second I said that she turned around, corralled the herd and walked away.

I really had a moment with her.

Speaking of moments, let’s take a look at how I spent my time at Jordan, shall we?

Why am I sad? It’s not because Call Time was 7am because you probably know I’m a SER (that’s Super Early Riser). I was sad because I was freezing!

One big shot involved a beautiful buffet table of amazing food from Executive Chef Todd Knoll. Here I am framing the scene and deciding if I’ll be able to complete it before the light and shadows move. Shooting with natural light means you have to think fast, and if I throw up Photographer Hand Signals like this it will distract everyone from the fact that I am taking sips of wine at 10:38am. KIDDING!!!! I really waited until 11:59am.

I never work without my X-Rite Color Checker Passport. It ensures color accuracy throughout the day as the light changes. What else changes? My waistline, apparently. CHECK OUT THAT BELLY! Ugh. Time for sit-ups.

After we photographed the entire table I went handheld for some details shots. I want you to look at the surroundings. Can you believe how beautiful it is there? Unreal.

Here I am photographing Chef Todd Knoll. Word on the streets is that he used to model back in the day which makes my job that much easier. And I didn’t have to wrangle him like I did those animals earlier.

I’ve earned the reputation as The Most Difficult Person To Work With Ever.* Here I am yelling at everyone. And on the left is my assistant Rick setting up a shot in the dining room. LOOK AT THOSE DOORS. Swoon.

*I’m only kidding. I’m generally easy to work with, I swear. Just DO NOT run your mouth during The Golden Coffee Hour, 6am-7am. Or is it 5am-6am? It’s generally the first hour I wake up. Let’s keep it quiet, y’all. Much appreciated. After that you can talk as much as you want. I know I will.

Here is a video created by Jordan Winery about our Harvest Table shoot. It’s a wonderful glimpse into the process and really exemplifies teamwork. It’s not often that there’s a seamless effort on a shoot, but then that’s Jordan for you. They are amazing and if you ever have a chance to visit them I highly recommend it.

(many of my images appear in the opening collage credits, too!)

Make sure to visit Jordan Winery’s blog, too! Right now there’s a photo contest happening and you should enter. You really should!

Big giant thanks to Lisa Mattson of Jordan Winery and the entire team. You are all so special and I can’t wait to see you again! And thank you to Rick for the BTS photos!

And thank you, ladies!

Hi friends! Color me giddy, thrilled and senselessly excited: I’m partnering up with the fine folks at Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure (American Express Publishing) and the Canadian Tourism Commission to announce a rather jam-packed event I’m participating in.  I am still putting the final details on everything but can finally announce it!

When I was asked by the great folks at Food & Wine Magazine if I’d like to sign on for a this project my answer was an immediate yes. As a traveler I am the first to sheepishly admit that I have never been to Canada.

Never.

Ok, I’m glad I got that off my chest. I’m embarrassed by the fact that I’ve been all over the world yet have never set foot in my neighbor’s country. Flown over countless times, stood right next to it, known and loved many of her inhabitants, and yet this boy has never taken the time to explore all it has to offer. I’m glad I have an opportunity to change that.

Here’s where the Canadian Tourism Commission and their new site Explore Canada Like A Local comes in.  I created my own list (I’m still adding to it as we speak!) on this new site of places I’d like to visit. I was given free reign and the option to pick any place in Canada. I decided on Vancouver for a few reasons (Chinese cuisine and sustainable seafood the two chief items) and then began to compile my list. It’s pretty thorough but me? I’m always up for a challenge. With camera and empty stomach in tow I’m going to work my way through them like a champion.

But here’s where things get really exciting. Not only will I be blogging about my trip to these fantastic places but you can actually enter the Explore Canada Like A Local Sweepstakes and win my trip! Of course you can select the two others bloggers participating if you’re more of the backpacking and adventure type but really, we’ve got some eating to do, right? The winner will receive an all-expenses paid trip to be as much of a glutton as I am, following my itinerary along the way.

And if you wanna check that out you can do so right here.

I’ll be heading to Vancouver mid-November to begin my exploration so check back to see the images, tweets, and reports on my visit. The sweepstakes is open now and ends December 15, 2011.

See you in Vancouver! (Kari, get ready. Please.)

*******************************

You guys know I’m on twitter right? You can also find me on Facebook where I tend to post embarrassing things about myself or worse, where people put photos of me caught off-guard or bent over looking fat on my Wall. God bless social media.

If you tried texting, calling or emailing me last week chances are you a) never heard back from me or b) reached my voicemail. This was fully intentional as I took some time to head to Palm Springs with the hubby and 3 of the world’s greatest women who just also happen to be our best friends. I purposely unplugged as much as possible, recharged my spirit and spent 5 days just being a lazysonofagun. It’s been exactly 1 year ago since the last time I did anything like this, and I’m continually amazed how a few days with people you love – I mean truly madly love – can erase the crazy from 12 months of everyday life.

Something magical happened when we were together. While my housemates all happen to be powerhouses of blogging and writing, there was an effort made to relax and have fun. We fell into a very relaxed vibe that touched on shoptalk, motivation, sharing dreams and experiences, and aligning goals for the future. No, this wasn’t the booze talking, quite the opposite. We were in a space where dreams were allowed to bubble up to the surface, a place where ideas intersected and became actions. In a sense, we created a salon, to borrow the lovely Brooke Burton’s idea of what our trip became. It also involved wigs. But more on that much later

My re-entry into reality was not only smooth but welcomed, and that’s how you know it went well. I felt as if I learned about my friends and myself this past week as new ideas swirling around and found a home.  As I began to assemble my photo collage I thought I would share the things I learned and am still learning. While it’s not exactly food related I still think it’s worth sharing. I hope you agree!

10.  Have your own salon
While you’re correct in thinking curlers and perms, I’m referring to the old 17th century term as an event where people gathered to learn more about each other. Sure, they were fussy and ornate and a tad pretentious, but no other word seemed to come to mind for our trip, and trust me, there was nothing fussy nor pretentious about our gathering. But it made me realize how wonderful it felt to be with other food bloggers discussing our craft without limits– no tracks, no panel on ethics or paid posts, no corporate sponsors, no seminars or entry fees. It was a good old-fashioned get-together, something I think should happen much more often. Go for it, I say. Call up your friends and enjoy each other. You’ll learn so much.

9. Silliness Is An Asset
I’m the first to admit I’m silly, loud, obnoxious. But there’s something so refreshing, so liberating about being able to just be silly with your friends. There’s photographic evidence that will most likely surface one day, but here’s an example.

Kids shouldn’t be the only ones who get to play dress up. Are you with me?

8. Make A Non-Agenda. Let it Be.
Step back and take a look at how micro-managed our lives are. Playdates, meetings, errands, deadlines, conferences, book proposals, travel, 9-to-5’s, I could go on. And while we need structure to keep things orderly we can certainly unplug from that grid now and then. And when we do it’s miraculous. Restorative. So give yourself a day, an hour, whatever you can spare to do nothing, to just be. Do that with friends and family and it gets even better.

7. Cooking Together Strengthens You. It Saves Your Wallet.
When you put people that love to cook in one house for a few days you’re bound to create some memorable meals. And we did, all for a significant amount cheaper than dining out. And it was natural, fun, easy, but bonding in a way I wasn’t expecting. I cannot wait to cook again with my friends!

6. Laugh As If Your Life Depends On It. Cuz It Does.
We all know laughing is good for our bodies. And while this does relate to #2 it also goes much further. We laughed until we were cried and melted away the stress of everyday life. Easing blood pressure, increasing brain activity, boosting immunity, releasing endorphins, there’s a reason why they say laughter is the best medicine.

5. Wear Sunscreen
As a child of the 70s (we had bain de soleil commercials, for pete’s sake!) who is now on the precipice of middle age, I’m allowed to wave the finger and tell you to wear sunscreen. No, there are no exceptions. A little sun is fine  but too much? No bueno. Wear it.

4. Appreciate The Silence.
You’d think with all the laughing and silliness that there’d be no moment for peace and stillness. Not the case. You know you are in stellar company when you can just sit with others and read, play on a laptop, stare at the mountains, etc., all in silence. It’s pretty powerful.

3. Tell Your Friends How Much They Matter. Do It Now.
If you are reading this I’m issuing you an order: send an email, make a phone call, text a message, write a postcard — whatever! — to a friend and let them know how important they are to you. Without being morose let me just say that there have been plenty of great people around me lately who have left this planet for brighter pastures and yes, it’s inevitable. It’s life. Please don’t wait to tell someone what they mean to you. Do it today.

2. Close The Laptop. Play A Game.
Curiously enough, the internet went out the last day of our mini-vacation. For a group of connected bloggers this surely spelled frustration but you know what? We were fine. Totally fine. Because a) we had our phones which were mini-computers anyway and b) we made an effort to not spend so much time plastered to an LCD screen. We made sure to bring tons of games (Uno, anyone?) and realized two things:

1. Gaby Dalkin completely turns into an astute, savvy, and competitive card player you’ll be intimidated by. You’ve been warned.

2. No amount of tweeting, facebooking, or checking in will ever compare to sitting face to face at a table with people. Never. Ever. And I’m a social media hound so trust me when I say this. I mean it.

1. Cherish Your Friends. Most Importantly, Be A Friend.
I’ve already begged you to call someone and tell them you love them. But I’m closing out my list because I realized one little thing: to have friends you must be a friend. Make yourself available, listen, look into the eyes of your friend, and be there. Truly be there. You don’t have to say a word, just lend a hand and an ear. Quit talking about yourself, what you’re doing, where you’re going, how “blessed and honored and humbled” you are* and just be there for someone. The rewards are greater than anything else in this world.

*yes, I’m guilty of all of the above.

Hi folks! Just back from a super quick trip to New York City where we ate way too much food and slept way too little. As always it was a jam-packed few days as we said goodbye to this guy who just recently moved to California. Their loss is our gain! It was fantastic to see Lisa Fain of Homesick Texan and chat about her new book, give Deb of Smitten Kitchen a giant hug, laugh until I cried with Maggy and Pam of Three Many Cooks, enjoy some quality time with Justin Schwartz of Wiley and Just Cook NYC,  get in face time with the woman-I-love-named-Deb-Puchalla and meet new friends (Hi Sara!). Whew! Did I leave anyone out?  We also had a wonderful meeting with someone very very very special over breakfast (more on that later!) and suffice it to say a dream is coming true.

After all this time we finally met Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan of Apartment Therapy: The Kitchn. and I am horrified that I initially forgot to include this in this here blog post. This is what happens when I sit on the other side of the table away from her shoving pork buns in my face. It’s a mistake I will never make again. Will you forgive me, Sara Kate?

We also finally – finally! – met Andrew and Carrie Purcell of Pictures and Pancakes. A husband and wife team that consists of a food photographer and food stylist (hey, sounding familiar?), I could have sat at their table for another 6 ½ hours with them. Truly special people and Andrew’s work blows my mind. Carrie’s too. We love them.

And the cherry on top? Linda and Jurek. Linda, thank you so much. You are amazing.

So much of our visit revolved around the discussion of books. I can’t wait to see yours! Have you finished yours yet? When does yours hit the street? What’s your next idea? When are you going to write one? It turns out that so many of our friends are in the book-writing process and that makes me happy. As an author and photographer I must say that working on book projects make me the happiest. There is a special satisfaction that comes from working on books, a pace that is still fast and quick but a bit more loose and playful. It’s a group effort, equally distributed between the photographer, the food stylist, the prop stylist, the writer, the editor and the coffeemaker. And I love every minute of it.

We recently finished shooting two projects back-to-back, one for Jenny Flake of Picky Palate and another for Jess Goldman of Sodium Girl. Next month we’re heading to Belize to photograph another cookbook and I absolutely cannot wait. And the ink is still drying on the contract I signed for my next book, it’s nothing like my first so you can knock it off with the stick jokes. (I’m kidding! I love the stick jokes, it’s just that this next book is technical and is certainly not On-A-Stick Part 2!) There are a few additional book photography projects floating around as well and I do hope to get them on the calendar. It’s some of the most rewarding work!

Working on Jenny's book and the prop room in action!

This past year a few books I shot came out but none gets more use than Susan Russo’s Encyclopedia Of Sandwiches. It’s one thing to photograph a book, it’s another thing to actually keep it handy because you cook from it. And I’m not sure where this quote that appears on Amazon came from, but it makes me laugh:

“Let the record show that Matt is a true sandwich champion for trying every single sandwich in this book at least once—and some more times than he’d care to admit.”

Did I write that? Somebody did and it makes me look like a glutton! But it’s true. And because I actually tried every sandwich it’s why I keep coming back to Susan’s book. Which is what I wanted to write about today but I was too busy talking about NYC and myself. Go figure.

I’ve got a list of my top 5 sandwiches from the book, somewhere in that list is Campanile’s Fresh Burrata Grilled Cheese. It’s not the easiest sandwich to make but it’s one of the tastiest. The salsa verde is what rocks this sandwich. Or maybe it’s the burrata. Or the chick peas? Ok, whatever it is it will be dinner tonight. Again. Because I love this sandwich so much. Thank you, Susan!

Campanile’s Fresh Burrata Grilled Cheese

3-4 garlic cloves, sliced
8 ounces cherry tomatoes
olive oil for drizzling
salt and freshly ground black pepper
salsa verde (see below)
1 pound burrata cheese
4 ounces chick peas
4 slices prosciutto
4 slices white sourdough bread

Salsa Verde:
3 or 4 (3-inch-long) salt-packed anchovies, rinsed well, backbone removed, and finely chopped (about 1 tablespoon)
2 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon capers, rinsed and finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons coarsely chopped fresh marjoram leaves
1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoon coarsely chopped fresh mint leaves
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1-2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees.

2. For the salsa verde: Using a mortal and pestle, pulverize the anchovies, capers, garlic, and salt to a smooth paste. (If you don’t have one, thinly chop the ingredients and smash with a knife to puree or chop in a small food processor.) Add the parsley, marjoram, and mint and continue pulverizing to break down the herbs. Slowly add the olive oil stirring well to combine. Season with salt and lemon juice, to taste, just before serving.

3. Boil garlic slices in cold water and cover over medium heat. Drain the garlic and return to the pan; add cold water and cover again. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Drain water and pat garlic dry. In same pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Fry garlic slices 1-2 minutes, being careful not to burn them.

4. Spread cherry tomatoes on a small baking sheet. Drizzle with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast for 10 minutes. Remove and let cool.

5. Cut the burrata into 1/4-inch thick slices. Grill or toast bread slices. Run one side of each bread slice with garlic and place it garlic side up on a serving palate.

6. To assemble sandwiches: Place 2-3 pieces of cheese on each bread slice. Toss cherry tomatoes and chickpeas in the salsa verde and place 1/4 of the mixture on top of the cheese. Top with one slice of prosciutto and a sprinkle of the fried garlic chips.

Encyclopedia of Sandwiches by Susan Russo, Quirk Publishing. Photo by me.