Four-Day Gourmet in Myrtle Beach

Chef John Ondo and Photographer Helene Dujardin to Lead  Annual Food Photography and Cooking Workshop – May 13-17, 2014

A treasured photograph, like a painting by a revered master, captures the very essence of its subject in the most breathtaking fashion. The most humble food can look gloriously gourmet when the colors are vibrant, the arrangement on the plate is palatable, and the light illuminates the elements as the shadows give the image richness. Learn these skills from the masters themselves at the second season, four-day cooking, food styling and photography retreat with Helene Dujardin and chef John Ondo, taking place Tuesday, May 13 through Saturday, May 17 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Chef John Ondo, a native of Charleston, opened his inviting community-style restaurant Lana nine years ago, creating his own interpretations of classic dishes focused on the techniques and seasonings of the Mediterranean that he’s encountered on his adventurous travels. When he’s not in the frontline of the kitchen, you can catch him cruising through the Low Country on his beloved Ducati. Photographer Helene Dujardin was raised in the mountains of Provence, France and moved to the U.S. in the late 1990s. As Senior Photographer for Oxmoor House [the cookbook division of Time Inc.] and creator of the award-winning site “Tartelette” [for which she was named one of “Eight of the Very Best Food Bloggers” by Forbes.com], Helene dedicates herself to the craft of food photography. She has photographed numerous national magazine features and cookbooks to date.

Thirteen attendees will learn everything from camera basics and styling processes as Dujardin leads the workshop out of the “studio/home” and into the “field” to explore various locales for photo sessions set against the idyllic backdrop of South Carolina’s stunning coast. Students will spend time with chef Ondo in the kitchen and learn through various small-group cooking classes. These intimate, interactive culinary sessions will cover an array of dishes and topics, whether teaching the essential steps of Ondo’s signature Gnocchi, mastering perfectly seared Lamb, or exploring the time-honored art of cast iron skillet cooking. Through the personal guidance of both chef Ondo and Dujardin, attendees will develop their own creative process for cooking, styling, shooting and editing their photographic culinary stories.

Details: Participants with all levels of experience are welcome and encouraged to sign up. Space is limited with 13. The package fee of $1,850 includes: 4 nights accommodation; 3 days of technical and practical instruction with cooking, food styling, composition, prop styling and photo sessions; all meals, snacks and refreshments; and reception cocktails and appetizers on your arrival. There will be no refunds and full payment is due upon registration. The fee does not include travel fares to and from the workshop. Participants must bring their own cameras. To learn more and register, please click here.

For a full list of simoneink’s current clients, ranging from the South to the North, please click here.