Books | Miss at la Playa

Photographing food is one of the most difficult things, even using Instagram filters. It is not easy to capture the texture and consistency of dishes, as well as making the colours stand out. Most of the times the result is a disaster. Using a lot of light is essential, and even better if it’s natural light. Definition is also important, and slightly saturating the colors helps.

I follow on Tumblr several food blogs, I enjoy reading Telva’s cook books (they are really good), and I recently discovered Donna Hay‘s books, an Australian cook that makes excellent recipes presented in a fascinating way. Also, there are two fashion and gourmet blogs that fascinate me: JustAholic and Luxirare. Keep reading to know more about them (if you have to go to the fridge at the middle of the post, ok, I’ll understand it, I’ll probably do the same after finishing the post).

JustAholic
I’ve been following JustAholic, Aiala Hernando’s blog, for a couple of months now. She publishes posts with her outfits, and recipes with beautiful images. I discovered it when I asked for Instagram user recommendations, and someone sent me Aiala’s account, that now has more than 17000 followers. Her photographs are amazing. She usually uses a high angle, which is a good option to get nice photos.

Luxirare
I knew this blog for a long time now. It’s by Ji Kim, one of the most mysterious bloggers. Her haute cuisine recipes are marvellous. She photographs them and shows every detail, using cooking tools that seem to be from the future. She also designs the packaging of the products she ellaborates (from popcorn to caviar or luxury McDonald’s nuggets). She’s also a fashion designers and shares original DIY tutorials.
I know you want the bowl. Buy it here.

Donna Hay
Donna is an Australian cook that has published several best-selling cook books. She’s sold more than 3 million copies. She has her own TV show, and is Food Editor at Marie Claire since 2006. She also edits a bimonthly magazine. Her books (I love Simple dinners) are known for their fantastic photos and the easy recipes. In Simple Dinners, the photos are by William Meppem, and the styling is by Donna. Yes, food stylists exist.

Anna Tomàs, who I met in Milan on a trip with IED, has joined Mónica in Lady in Satin, handmade tailoring label with a very romantic style. Coloured threads, patterns, laces, blond laces and organza are their identity signs. They buy the materials at the haberdasheries that still survive on their neighborhood in Barcelona, markets, and little notion stores in London, Paris, New York, and Etsy.

Every piece is named after literary characters from stories by Lewis Carroll, Charlotte Brontë and Jane Austen, and they publish on their FB page beautiful and inspiring images with quotes from books and famous people, absolutely awesome. Carla is responsible for the visual image of the label. Anna is the one that composed the identity of the label, and Mónica is the true designer and sews all the clothes by herself. Her creations could be worn by the Crawley sisters in Downton Abbey, Keira Knightley in A Dangerous Method (I have to make a post about this movie costume design in Style me if you can, it is so good), Jane Eyre, Elizabeth Bennet, or people from XVIII century paintings.

You can buy their pieces at Etsy, or contact Mónica to get a custom made piece.

Lady in Satin, a great discovery for a Sunday morning, don’t you think? The perfect day to watch Pride and Prejudice (the movie by Joe Wright) or read Mansfield Park.