The Picture Kitchen

Food & Photography @ amazing places in the Liverpool, Preston, Chester, Manchester & Wirral

[thepicturekitch]

Vagabond N7 - Highbury & Islington

While I decided what to eat I endured a creamy soya chai latte, the flavour and spice really got my tastebuds tingling.

The interior of the cafe consists of stripped back walls, raw wooden tables and a slight industrial natural feel. I chose to sit in the garden which was just as beautiful and full of character. Bright flowers and a single rose, tables made from tree trunks and barrels and chairs pulled straight from the junk yard. Vintage frames sit upon the wall creating an Alice in wonderland atmosphere.

After my second chai latte I tucked into 'The Tree Hugger' silky sautéed potatoes, tasty roasted vegetables, thick buttery wholemeal bread, beans and two soft & runny perfectly poached eggs.

I then decided to get a cheeky chocolate brownie and share it with Rosana. Slightly crisp on the outside, smooth and rich on the inside. Perfect way to finish off my afternoon.

[thepicturekitch]

The Villa Italian

Greeted at the door to a lovely open and airy environment, we were seated straight away by the manager. The tables were understated yet sophisticated and the simple palette of whites ad a deep mahogany wood leave the food and service to sing. The menu presents a wide variety of Italian food and a great selection of antipasti and starters. After a bit of indecision due to the wide variety of delectable dishes I decided to share a fret mist as I particularly love Calamari. We also opted for a half and half 12 inch garlic bread, one side Mexican to add a bit of spice and one side super cheesy. When the food came it was presented with langoustine standing proudly, tasty and crisp. The main was even more impressive as the swordfish was literally the size of my head and tasted so fresh, juicy and meaty all at the same time. I just about managed to finish the thick cut, crispy zucchini chips. Hannah went for the ribeye which she described as succulent & Dale went for a slightly cremated sirloin ( he likes it like that). All served with a healthy portion of salad, selection of sauces and fries to boot.

I’m not sure how I did it but after seeing the dessert fridge & wide selection I went for a chocolate brownie, my it melted in the mouth and I was not disappointed. I can’t wait to return and sample some more of the menu or simply go back for another fresh, crisp mojito. Overall a great place and you certainly get what you pay for.

[thepicturekitch]

The Egg Cafe Liverpool 

I went to the egg cafe as I spotted it's beautiful hand painted decor. The colours were bright and appealing and this certainly represented the food they serve. As we progressed up the winding staircase the anticipation to see what was around the final corner built up. We were not disappointed by the the beautiful Mediterranean feel to the place and nonchalant atmosphere the light from the vintage windows created. Of course the array of dishes that graced the counter caught my eye. Such a variety, from colourful salad, chickpea curry, veggie burgers and even lasagne, I had forgotten all about breakfast! I decided to go for the chickpea curry with a selection of salad ( I know it was only 10 am but I couldn't resist). Charl went for a mix of soup and French toast. I think the guy who brought our food over was astonished at how much we ordered but I assured him the plates would be clear. I was not wrong either. Everything was so delicious especially the French toast. Thick slices of white bread, drenched in honey it was like biting into soft pillows of heaven that had a slight crisp around the edges. I would recommend the egg cafe not just for vegans and vegetarians but if your looking to relax, unwind and get away from a busy city then this is the perfect place to go.

[thepicturekitch]

Stratos Cocktail Bar

You won’t find anything similar to Stratos in Preston as it offers tasty food, amazing cocktails and great customer service all in the surroundings of a classy and contemporary atmosphere. Whether your looking to go for a drink or a posh meal then this is certainly the place to go. Quiet in the week and party central on the weekends. Tuck in to 3 tapas for £11.90, you may be thinking this won’t fill you up but believe me it will! I recommend the crunchy calamari, juicy wings and mouthwatering gnocchi. As the for the cocktail menu, it changes each season but if you fancy something specific you can just ask. My personal favourite is Coco Loco (coconut mojito) especially with the sunny season on its way its super refreshing and sweet. Stratos also offer a VIP service from the stunning room upstairs perfect for graduation or even a hen party.

[thepicturekitch]

The Senegalese Markets

I have a passion for clothing with an emotional connection. Garments that enter realms of wonder and enchantment really excite my creative juices. When I was in Africa I was enchanted by a maze of hustle and bussle. A market filled with folded materials guarded by little old women, roofed with tin and lined with eroded walls. Everyday I visited the market with my senegalese sisters, I created relationships with tailors, seamstresses and buyers. I walked through miles of material paved walls and I became entranced in another world of fashion. This experience changed the way I see the fashion world, it made me delve into a trend project using different textures and imagery that I wouldn’t have thought to use before. It’s experiences like this which cement within me an inspiration of culture, religion and surroundings to create beautiful and imaginative things.

[thepicturekitch]

A Cosy Side Street Sensation

  After all the hassle and bustle of a christmas time shopping trip my uncle and I came across a little cafe called The Aubergine Cafe. Its cosy outdoor set up and  charming little flower arrangement drew me right inside. After a quick look at the menu and a  prolonged look at the beautiful christmas decorations I decided I wanted nothing other than the big Bbq Pulled Pork Burger with jerusalem purée accompanied by authentic Moroccan tea. If you like little meme then this is definitely the place for you because they were placed all around the cafe. My favourite was ‘I can only please one person per day... Today’s not your day and tomorrow doesn't look good either’. After a short wait I tucked into my burger, my eyes lit up when it came, not only did it look amazing but the flavours entwined tremendously! The soft brioche bun was holding the juiciest pulled pork ever followed by crispy red cabbage and a mouthwatering jerusalem purée. The side of coleslaw didn't let the dish down either, Im very picky when it comes to coleslaw but I really enjoyed the creamy taste of this one. I can’t wait to come back to this little gem for afternoon tea and another slice of the zesty Jaffa cake sponge I scoffed in the car on the way home. 

[thepicturekitch]

Ham & Jam

The new place on the street corner. If you're a minimalist who loves a good brew or comforting coffee with a view of beautiful buildings then this is the place for you. Ham & Jam is unlike any other cafe in Preston because of it's raw and modern look. I spoke to the owner who told me that all their produce from the food to the handmade leather cushions are all sourced from around Lancashire. Not only this but they cater for people with allergies (winner for me being lactose intolerant). Lets just say its been a long time since I enjoyed a hazelnut cappuccino without feeling guilty. I’d say this is the perfect place to relax and wind down after a hard day of shopping.

[thepicturekitch]

I went to a bakery at 5am to take photographs of the bakers making fresh bread and cakes for the same day. I have to say it smelt amazing! The lighting in the kitchen was really good so I only needed a low ISO and fast shutter speed which was good for capturing the movement. I love the concentration in their faces when making the food and that is my main focus.

[thepicturekitch]

[thepicturekitch]

I edited these pictures on photoshop by increasing the contrast, I think this gives the picture more depth and brings out the different textures and colours.

[thepicturekitch]

For these pictures an ISO of 640, a slow shutter speed of 1/30, and an aperture of 2.8. This was because it was evening and quite dark. These setting meant that more light was let in through the lens making the picture brighter and more detailed. I particularly love the first picture as it shows the people in the kitchen smiling together and it reflects the atmosphere of the pancake place.

[thepicturekitch]

Unfortunately the lighting in Sound Food n Drink was very dull this meant the movements were blurred as I had to have a fast shutter speed to capture the images as he was moving very quickly, this created a blur as there wasn't enough light going into the camera lens.

[thepicturekitch]

I found that using my camera in Patisserie Valerie meant I had to use different settings. The photographs I took near the window only needed an ISO of 400 as there was light coming in through the window. This also meant using a shutter speed from 1/140 to 1/210 as the camera didn't need to let as much light in. However on the mug of coffee I used an ISO of 1000, with a slower shutter speed of 1/30, this was because there was less light, I found this created some noise in the background however the mug itself was very clear. In the picture of the macaroons I used a low ISO of 100 as I was using the flash. I also made the picture a little darker with the exposure compensation button and raised the aperture to 5.6, I did this in macro mode as it gave the picture more depth and texture. 

[thepicturekitch]

I found that using a faster shutter speed of 1/90 instead of 1/50 and an ISO of 400 made it easier to capture the steam off the hot food.

[thepicturekitch]

Before going to Sound Food n Drink I went to a cafe to test out my camera settings for different lighting, this way I would be more prepared and get better pictures. In these picture I altered the pictures using the exposure compensation button. I used +1/3 to make the picture lighter and -2/3 to make the picture darker. To see the exact settings just click on the pictures.

[thepicturekitch]

I then decided to capture two customers enjoying the pizza. I kept the ISO at 800 because of the dark conditions. I also had the aperture at 2.8 and a slow shutter speed however as it was very dark I found there was noise in the pictures, next time I work in dark conditions I will use a higher ISO setting and use the flash. It was also much harder to capture movement in the dark conditions.

[thepicturekitch]

The first place i decided to visit was Sound Food n Drink in Liverpool. They make their pizza's from scratch and I tried to capture the stages of it. For this set of pictures I set the ISO to 800 as the lighting was quite dull so I needed to let as much light in as possible. As this can cause more pixelation I also used the flash. The aperture was set to 2.8 and a slow shutter speed of 1/30 this also let more light in and made the photographs more clear.