Happy Christmas!

I know, sorry, I probably shouldn't mention those two words yet, but take pity on all of those who work a season ahead and have christmas in the summer. I actually enjoyed this christmas shoot for once mostly because I got to relish in a yummy Christmas lunch (and for someone who is now without a kitchen at home, entirely to the point of having the wash the dishes in the bath, this is a very welcome thing!). The shoot was for Country Living Magazine in the Farmers Journal with photographer Jack Caffery and thanks to Denise for her fab help once again.

Back from the abyss

Oops, where have I been?! Well, I pretty much haven't taken a breath since I finished working on Neven's series (and in fact I haven't even unpacked the boxes of gear yet, now that i think of it, darn)....What with 'operation move office' going on around lots of busy jobs and generally trying hard (but not always succeeding!) not to have a complete meltdown (agghh!)....But I'm back and there's lots to catch up on which I will try and do over the next couple of days. In the meantime, here's a mad snap of mad photographer Harry Weir on a mad shoot we did at Phelim Byrne's lovely and calm cookery school in wexford...d-e-e-p b-r-e-a-t-h-s a-n-d r-e-l-a-x...

Neven's Homechef filming - week 2

Well, I'm still alive against all the odds of filling up on way too much food, so I'm here to tell another tale. I can't say the same for the rest of the crew, but they're hanging on in there! Week 2 in Neven's kitchen & there has been lots of laughs (mostly at bad jokes like 'ceps on the beach' & 'time is of the vanilla essence'!), lots of cooking of course & lots & lots & lots more eating!

Micky the monkey, freaking us out during filming!

cameraman Billy chancing his arm at some spun sugar curls....darn, they're perfect!

Karen in the back kitchen isn't perfect after all then! Well, she is really!

oops...I'm spilling things too!

& the best bit.....everyone tucking into creme brulees, yum!

more home cooking with rachel allen

Thanks to series producer Emma Roberts Price from Cactus for sending on this official snap of Rachel for her new programme. Hope you're enjoying the series...

Neven's new TV series

Well, we've just finished filming our first week on Neven Maguire's new series...we've had a lot of giggles and eaten a LOT of food! Which reminds me, I did consider weighing myself before we started to see exactly how much I pile on...but to be honest the jeans will reveal all...and in fact, they already have! But I don't care..it's all totally worth it as you'll see when you watch the series in the new year. It's got a great catchy title to match Neven's new book (which is at the printers now, wooppee!)...HOMECHEF...which you may remember me testing here. Anyhow, here are some snaps from our first week...

Neven ready to get baking

The Irelands got talent panel of judges say yum!

the crew making their own samosas for lunch

Podge & Rodge overseeing some baking in the oven...don't ask!

Neven realises this camera operating lark could be for him!

Jewellery Shoot

This is the day when fruit met fashion! Jewellery designer Alice Moyon from Aliquo Boutique has a gorgeous new range of vintage beaded jewellery all set for next summer in bright poppy colours. She had the idea of complimenting the jewellery by shooting it on and with fruit for her promotional shots. The shoot was really fun as a gaggle of girls and came up with some really fun and colourful shots. I'll show you those once the range is launched but in the meantime here are some (very poor phone) snaps from the day...

Getting started on the brainstorming of ideas

choosing the clothes

Caoimhe looking gorgeous doing her thing

just had to show you the amazing shoes Caoimhe brought along!

Photographer: Cliona O'Flaherty
Jewellery Designer: Alice Moyon
Model: Caoimhe
Fashion Stylist: Jemma Connolly
Food Stylist: Me!
Make-up: Rachel Matthews

emergency services at the ready!

It's been one of those weeks....enjoy the weekend!

Rachel Allen - Home Cooking

I was excited to hear that Rachel's new series is about to start - I can't believe it has come around so quickly, having filmed it only a few months ago with Cactus TV.

Don't miss the first of the 13 parts tonight on RTE1 at 8.30pm. It also transmits on UKTV Good Food daily from the 21st Sept.

Totally Dublin

Ooh, how exciting...look what has made it to the front cover of this months Totally Dublin...

Gotta Get a Gateaux

I spotted these bright images on a truck on one of our grim days earlier this week. I styled these shots as part of Gateaux cakes repackaging sometime last year (or the year before even?) with photographer Peter Clayton. It's always exciting to see your work driving down the road!

Electric Picnic

(c) Lis Parsons

See you after the weekend!

Absolut Art

Well, I am finally resurfacing from a fantastic Vodka fueled evening at the preview of the Absolute Art Exhibition (as per yesterdays post). Here, ladies and gents is the finished creation...what do you think? It took hours, days in fact and a whole ton of icing...

Photographer & Creative Director: Cliona O'Flaherty
Fashion stylist: Aishling Farinella
Stylist assistant: Arsheen Qsaim
Food styling (& frilly tablecloth!): Moi
Hair: David & Anthony @ Toni & Guy
Make up: Julie Ann Ryan
Model: Maria Boardmam @ 1st Option

Here's a link to the exhibition site where you can see more creations by fabulous people like Chris Judge, Steve Doogan, Aisling Farinella, Rich Gilligan & DADDY to name a few. The collection is showing in an amazing new venue, the smock alley theatre, lower exchange st, templebar, daily between 5 & 10pm from September 5th - 20th. Admission is free, so go check it out for yourself.

Absolut Original

I was thrilled when photographer Cliona O'Flaherty asked me to get involved in work she was commissioned to do for the Absolut Original Exhibition (for the Absolut Fringe Festival). Not just because it involved all things cake, pink and girlie but also because it was to be a first food & fashion collaboration with fabulous stylist Aisling Farinella (ok, and also because I got the get my sewing machine out!)

Cliona (along with 15 other artists) was given the same brief Andy Warhol was in 1985 to 'be inspired by the absolut bottle'. The small print are curating the exhibition and after the festival each piece will be submitted for inclusion in the International Absolut art collection in Stockholm. How exciting!

Anyhow, I won't reveal the finished masterpiece just yet (the preview exhibition is tonight so I'll tell you more tomorrow, absolut hangover dependant!) but here's some very early stages of work in progress snaps in the meantime...

Finger Lickin' Chicken

Here are some snaps from a recent shoot with photographer Peter Clayton. The clients brief was basically to make a roast chicken look as good as possible...plump & delicious and crisp & golden. Now this is always a mean feat with a chicken who doesn't want to co-operate and would rather cook really unevenly, become soggy in places and generally wrinkle all over. Anyhow, between my last minute emergency chicken skin grafts and Peters fab lighting I think we managed to pull it off.

Peter doing his magic on the old bird

Dolly bird herself

have a good bank holiday weekend!

(c) Lis Parsons

location location location

Our house extension has just started (horrah!) and as things are 'getting worse before they get better' I have to look at pictures of nice houses so I can at least dream I'm not living in hell. Here are some snaps I've dug out from features I've worked on for Food & Wine magazine (with photographer Cliona O'Flaherty and table settings by her assistant Aoife Herrity). I often get to work in lovely locations that inspire me and of course make me dream of the 'one day'. As well as the acres of props I drag along to shoots, working in locations like these unearths some other real beauties.

pasta feature

(c) Jack Caffrey

The husband made me a really yummy smoked salmon pasta for my tea last night and it reminded me of this delicious recipe of Neven Maguires in Country Living magazine (styled by yours truely)...just need to get the secret recipe out of Mart now!

Trout & Baby Spinach Linguini

Serves 4

300g trout fillets
2 tsp olive oil
1 tbsp lime juice
50g baby spinach
6 spring onions, finely sliced
400g linguini
2 tbsp chopped dill
DRESSING
100ml extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
100ml orange juice
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp chopped chives
1 tbsp finely diced red onion
crusty bread, to serve
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat the grill on a high heat. Brush the trout with the oil, squeeze the lime juice over and season. Grill for 6-8 minutes and then leave to cool slightly. When cool enough to handle, remove the skin and any bones. Then flake the fish into large pieces and mix with the spinach, spring onions and half of the dill.

Next, cook the linguini in a large pan of boiling, salted water for 8-10 minutes or until al dente. Drain well.

In the meantime, prepare the dressing. Whisk all the ingredients together in a small bowl and season to taste.

Toss the dressing through the pasta and then gently toss the trout mixture through also.

Arrange the linguini on serving plates, garnish with the remaining dill and serve with crusty bread.

some old photos

I have just come across these photos which I forgot to post from a shoot a few months back. Phelim Byrne, a wexford chef with his own successful cookery school worked on recipes for Supervalu and photographer Harry Weir and I headed to the school to shoot the food.

very strange artists palette!

we turned Phelims school into a movie set by the looks of things!

obviously becoming delirious with tiredness at this stage

phelim hard at work

Phelims cookery school....good job team (me, Phelim & Harry)

In Season...cod & beetroot

Uuuummm... Baked Cod & Beetroot. From Food & Wine Magazine...recipe by Hugo Arnold, shot by Cliona O'Flaherty, food & prop styled by moi...

8 small-sized beetroot
Olive oil
1kg prime cod fillet (ask for four thick
pieces, avoiding the tail end if possible)
4 tablespoons chopped dill
1 lemon, quartered

Pre-heat oven to 180C/gas mark 4.

Peel and quarter the beetroot, toss with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and place on a shallow roasting tray in the top of the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until just tender.

Push the beetroot to one end of the tray, coat the fish in olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and place at the other end. Return to the oven for 10 minutes, or until the fish is cooked.

Toss the beetroot with the dill. Serve the baked fish and beetroot with a piece of lemon.

food for thought

With the continued frustration of not having a proper kitchen at home still (due to long suffering renovations!), I have just realised my bedside stack of reading material is littered with food mags, articles and books....The husband is going to be one well fed man once that kitchen is fitted! Anyhow, not on the light side of the reading are these two thought provoking books. Really interesting (if not shocking) reads that I've been dipping in and out of lately. They certainly give you a conscience about the impact the food industry and your own shopping and eating habits are having on the world....Not very light bedtime reading but very interesting.