R.E.S.P.E.C.T

Daphne looked great today, even though she was tired as hell. I guess we all are, but at least i don't go for days on end without resting.

There was once i caught her (with my eyes, not camera, a pity that..) at an angle where she reminded me of the korean actress Jeon Ji Jyun. enough said huh? (Think, My Sassy Girl). The straight hair and turtle neck she was wearing completed the image, albiet only in my mind. well i guess not everything needs to be digitised. the eye is by far the greatest lens ever made, by god! and it's powered by the greatest imaging sensor, the brain!

OK, now on to the main point of this entry.

I had the UTMOST pleasure today shooting Kevin Thornton's Culinary Workshop and Lunch at the Grand Hyatt.

Kevin is Irish with a son that had contracted a blood disorder. He is also a 2-star Michelin awarded chef with his restaurant called "Thorntons" in Dublin. He has also published a book of HIS OWN photographs of HIS OWN culinary creations and all proceeds from the sale of this book goes to the reaseach for blood disorders, as this organisation (can't remember the name) helped find a cure for his son, now 12 years old, and 100% recovered.

I had a look at his images. This, from an "amatuer". MY GOODNESS - in case you're wondering, yes, the shots are excellent. shoots with large and medium formats, and with a dSLR.. guess which one.. the S3 pro! ahhaha had a lovely chat with him a couple of days before, when he came up to me and started talking about photography.

I didn't know then that he was a photographer. I also didn't know he was a 2-star chef, as he wasn't preparing anything that day in the kitchen, just having a look see, so i thought he was just a normal chef that works in the kitchen. no airs whatsoever, he certainly didn't come across as someone who has achieved so much. such humility is so respectable, hence the title.

He has passion (two of them at least, cooking and photography), a family he loves, and the humility that hides the achievements to his name. there is no other word but: RESPECT.



He even preps his own vegies! Does it all himself, during the workshop. No assistants (unlike most chefs) except that he's a little messy so some one else was clearing his stuff, which i think he would rather not have, as the guy seemed more of a hindrance than help.

Ok.. photos:


Chef Thornton with his sea urchin cooling on a bucket of dry ice.


His scallop dish, need to find out the name of this dish - paiseh!


His book - SGD128. Sells for EUR100 in Ireland. Don't forget, all proceeds goes to his adopted charity.




Portraits of Thornton with his book.


And finally, self-portrait of the photographer!!

I AM INSPIRED by this man.