Meet Our Guest 'Grammer of the Week: @College_housewife
Are you as obsessed with Instagram #foodporn as we are? Love to document all of your #eeeeeats? Every week we’re teaming up with a popular food-stagrammer who will be taking over our feed to fill it with some of their own delicious pics. Head over to @YahooFood, give us a follow, and check out the #TastyTakeovers tag to watch their foodie adventures unfold all weekend long.
This weekend on #TastyTakeovers we turn to Elizabeth Van Lierde of the food blog The Whisking Kitchen. The popular food Instagrammer has over 191,000 followers and although she is a senior at the University of Northern Colorado, the 22-year-old eats nothing like your typical college student. Check out her Q&A and see what she’s cooking up in her student apartment!
Name/Instagram handle: Elizabeth Van Lierde, @college_housewife
Yahoo Food: Tell us a bit about yourself!
Elizabeth Van Lierde: I am a Southern California girl at heart living in Colorado finishing up my senior year of college at the University of Northern Colorado. I am a communication studies major with a minor in hospitality management. This summer I am posted in Aspen, Colo., interning for an event design company called Bluebird Productions. When I’m not whisking through the kitchen I love getting out for a good hike, going out to dinner with friends and family and traveling whenever I get the chance. Fun fact: I’m kind of known for busting out a funny opera high note or an Etta James song at any point in time; my friends think I’m pretty nutty for it.
(All photos courtesy of Elizabeth Van Lierde)
What first got you interested in food and photography? Where do you draw inspiration from?
Well as far as food goes, when I was 18, I got hired on at my local Williams Sonoma for the holiday season and sort of fell in love with all things gourmet. The copper pots, truffle oil, Le Creuset dutch ovens, you name it and I was pretty much drooling over it. From there I just taught myself to cook little by little. And for photography, I can’t really remember a time that I didn’t have my camera around my neck. After being photo editor for my yearbook in high school I knew I had found my passion in life. Connecting the two together has just been a beautiful love child. Most of my inspiration comes from my friends and family to keep cooking and trying new things. Pinterest of course! Reading other food blogs and cookbooks as much as possible!
How do you take your photos (with a camera or phone)? What are your favorite photo editing tools and/or tips for taking exceptional food photos? Give us the scoop!
The biggest piece of advice I can give is natural lighting. If it’s dark outside or in a restaurant I usually don’t even attempt taking a photo and when I do, I am always near a window. I use my iPhone 6 to take most of my photos that are out and about at restaurants and for recipes at home I use my DSLR. I use VSCO cam to edit photos on my phone because they have great filters that are tailored specifically for food! On my computer I use Adobe Photoshop for more professional editing.
Who are three of your favorite Instagrammers? What do you like about them?
@Thebrokenbread, Kristan produces the most beautiful food combinations around each of the four seasons. Not only does she produce delicious dishes but she has the most beautiful, rustic food-styling aesthetic. She makes amazing fresh fruit desserts like strawberry muffins, persimmon scones, and blackberry chocolate chip ice cream.
@Thedaleyplate Dale is a South African beauty living in Mississippi creating beautiful dishes. Dale’s recipes always make me insanely hungry and she is also so talented behind the camera. All of her photos are taken with her iPhone but they look magazine-ready! I don’t know how she does it, but she’s got skill! Also she features her chocolate lab pup, Tempi, that will make your heart melt! Food and puppies are a perfect Instagram combo.
@Foodgays Jeremy and Adrian are a dynamic duo feeding Instagram with some killer foods. There photos put you in such a great mood! There feed is filled with bright colors, mouthwatering foods, and amazing styling! Have I mentioned there macaroni and cheese eggs Benedict.. sorry, I’ve gotta go wipe my drool…
What do you enjoy about Instagram compared to other online communities?
When it comes to Instagram I love how instantaneously it can keep people around the world connected. Especially on holidays. This Thanksgiving I posted a photo of my green bean casserole and I couldn’t help but think of all the other people around America that were posting the same thing. Food brings people together as it is but Instagram connects people on a new delicious level.
What’s the best thing you’ve eaten recently?
A few weeks ago I ate at the Hyatt Regency in Denver and for dessert and I had the most decadent carrot cake. It had three crazy moist layers with a cream cheese icing in between and on top was the most delicious toasted marshmallow topping with chopped pecans and caramel sauce, mega yum!
If you could throw a dream dinner party for any three people — living or dead — who would they be and what would you cook for them?
This question is so tough! I absolutely love cooking for my friends and family in my life and I think if I had the chance to invite anyone I would invite my great grandfather Marcel over because he was such an amazing and creative man. I never got the chance to meet him. Second would be my boyfriend’s mother. She passed away from cancer soon after I met her and I would have loved to have gotten to know her and cook her a warm meal. Third is Taylor Swift. I publicly announced on Instagram once inviting her over for dinner. Basically I love her and I feel like we would get along instantly. Offer still stands, Taylor! I would do a humongous smoked gouda fondue party and pie for dessert.
What’s the best dish you’ve ever made or the dish that you’re known for?
Definitely peach blueberry pie. In the summer months it’s the dish that I make the most. Big juicy peaches, a dash of cinnamon, and fresh blueberries are a great combo! One of my favorite things to post on Instagram are different pies, most people love pie and I seem to get a great response.
What does the new food revolution mean to you?
When I think of “the new food revolution,” I think of cooking fresh wholesome food at home. I’m not a fan of all the additives in fast food chains and student school lunches. I also strongly believe in educating our children about healthy food choices and adequate portions. Little things can make a huge difference! Even in my little student apartment I have a small herb garden growing on my window sill. If I do go out to eat or for coffee I love visiting small coffee shops (this is where I take all my latte art photos!) and restaurants.
And last but not least—what’s your favorite food (if you had to pick one)?
Ice cream. Any flavor, any time, anywhere.
More ‘grammers from our past takeovers:
Berlin blogger Meike Peters of @eatinmykitchen
