When I was a kid I watched a docu-news show about “The Secrets of Food Commercials” or something.  I learned that strawberries are enhanced with plain old drug store lipstick, hamburgers are NEVER videoed hot and the patties are always wet and turkeys are sliced raw and cooked on the spot with drape steamers.  I really wanted to be a food stylist when I grew up.  

Also, one of my college advertising professors had this story he LOVED to tell from an old ad shoot.  They were struggling to get the cup of coffee steaming enough to capture it on camera.  After opening all the windows of the cabin they rented for the shoot, letting in all that frigid Colorado air, still nothing.  Finally, a stroke of brilliance came from seeing one of the crew lighting up.  They stuck his lit cigarette behind the cup.  The smoke looked just like steam!  Phew.  A job well-done.  Until the cigarette caught the tablecloth on fire and they all died as the cabin went up in flames.*

Anyway, I don’t want to be a food stylist anymore.  I like my food real and not nailed to the table.

*Some of this story might be embellished/completely made-up.