Meet Our Guest 'Grammer of the Week: @Dad_beets
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.
Photo: Instagram/dad_beets
This weekend on #TastyTakeovers we head to sunny Southern California and talk with Yahoo managing video programmer Nick Neves, a popular Instagrammer with more than 25,000 followers. We’re excited to find out how one of Yahoo’s own comes up with his crazy creations and the key to his mouth-watering photography. Check out the Q&A below!
Name/Instagram Handle: Nick Neves, @dad_beets
Yahoo Food: Tell us a bit about yourself!
Nick Neves: I’m a lifelong Californian – born in Northern California and currently living in Los Angeles. Somewhere in between, I graduated with a journalism degree from San Diego State (Go Aztecs!), where I met my beautiful wife @mysequinlife. Aside from my gig as a devoted husband, I’m also a proud papa to two crazy (but darn handsome) little dudes, ages 1 and 3. They take up the bulk of my time these days —and I wouldn’t have it any other way — but whenever possible I’m in the kitchen experimenting with new concepts and recipes (preferably with a glass of wine in hand and an hours-long playlist in the background — I’m a huge music geek, as well as a computer nerd). Outside of the house, I love riding my bike, relaxing on the beach, talking about going to the gym (but rarely doing it), family trips to the local park and/or farmers market, and obviously checking out the latest and greatest in the ever-growing L.A. food scene. Oh, I also have a full-time job. That I love. At Yahoo. (maybe you’ve heard of it?)
Nick Neves with his family in California. (Photo: Nick Neves)
What first got you interested in food and photography? Where do you draw inspiration from?
When I was living in San Diego (i.e. the college years), I worked for a couple years at this fancy schmancy waterfront restaurant that served “French-Inspired California Coastal Cuisine.” To this day I have no clue what that means, but the service was impeccable and the food was over-the-top ridiculous. It was a college job and paid the bills, but more than that it was a huge eye-opener and forever changed the way I look at food. From there, I started watching a ton of Food Network (the early years), reading whatever food literature I could get my hands on, and spending as much time as possible in the kitchen. Today, I draw inspiration mostly from blogs and fellow Instagrammers. I subscribe to more magazines than I have time to read, and I have a massive cookbook collection that mostly collects dust. I’m also a compulsive hoarder when it comes to restaurant takeout menus (as with most hoarding, I have no explanation as to why I do it). My travels across the globe have had a massive influence on my cooking — I try to keep a food journal wherever we go — as has the city of Los Angeles, which has an extremely diverse food culture and has come such a long way in the last 5-10 years.
Turkey pastrami, avocado, kimchi, egg and cheese sandwich smeared with Sriracha mayo. (Photo: Nick Neves)
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!
Let me start by saying I’m the furthest thing from a “photographer.” I don’t own a tripod and I’ve never used a lighting kit of any kind. Photography is truly an art and I have the utmost respect for those who do it well. Unfortunately, I’m not one of those people. That said, every food pic I post is taken with either my iPhone 6 or Canon DSLR (which is ancient in tech years). In terms of photo editing, I jump back and forth between VSCO Cam, Camera+ and Enlight. All my edits are done on the iPhone, regardless of which camera I use. As for tips: Natural light is awesome, flash is not. That’s probably not news to anyone, but it’s all I have to offer. Sorry.
Toasted coconut-macadamia nut waffles with caramelized bananas and agave. (Photo: Nick Neves)
Who are three of your favorite Instagrammers? What do you like about them?
@ladyandpups — First of all, the photography here is stunning (she just won the Saveur food blog award for “Best Photography,” so obviously I’m not the only one who thinks so). Her styling and aesthetic is pretty much perfect, and uniquely her own. I sort of feel like I’m being transported into another world when I browse her gallery. The food itself is also supremely creative and original — not something I’m going to see on a dozen other accounts. The dark, dry humor in every caption puts it over the top.
@halfbakedharvest — As it relates to food, I almost feel like she’s the female version of me. Is that weird? When I joined Pinterest, I think my first 15-20 pins were recipes from her blog. The food here is everything I crave, and everything I enjoy cooking in my own kitchen (with influences from all over the globe). Also, the photography is incredible. If she’s ever in L.A. and offering photography lessons, I’m signing up.
@julesfood — She single-handedly keeps her local butcher in business. Her dog Ruby is the envy of every meat-eating man on the planet. Her photo gallery should be printed into a book and placed on the coffee table of bachelors everywhere. Jules brings it — unapologetically — day in and day out. It’s meat and potatoes on steroids (with an occasional burger, taco or waffled creation mixed in). She also posts like three times a day, which means she’s spending most of her life in the kitchen. In other words, she’s living the American dream.
What do you enjoy about Instagram compared to other online communities?
It’s fast, clean, easy to use, and it’s not a complete time suck like some other social media platforms. You can jump on for like 30 seconds while on the elevator, or zone out for 30 minutes at home on the couch (while your significant other watches “Real Housewives”). As with other online communities, it’s also a great way to keep in touch with my friends and family who live across the country. As it relates to strictly food, I think the food community on Instagram is unparalleled. I’ve met so many inspiring foodies and learned so much in the short time I’ve been using the app. It’s an amazingly simple way for people from all walks of life to express themselves and put their talents on display for the world to see. Also, I chatted with Thomas Keller once … from my living room. That’s pretty cool.
What’s the best thing you’ve eaten recently?
My wife and I travelled to Europe recently and decided to take a three-day detour to Morocco. I was already a huge fan of Moroccan food, but the meals we had in Marrakesh are some that I’ll never forget. The tagines, the chicken bastilla, the pastries, the mint tea — all so incredible (I even took a cooking class while the wife lounged at the spa). No way I can choose one specific dish that was the best, so I’ll just say all of it!
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 one is easy. My wife, my mother and my grandmother. These three women have been the most influential people in my life — they made me the person I am today — and to have them all sitting around the table at the same time would be my ultimate dream come true (with the kids, obviously). My grandmother passed away when I was a teenager, and my mother passed away a few years ago (three months before her first grandchild was born). This is all about family — the food at the table wouldn’t even matter. We could order pizza and I’d be perfectly happy. Or, better yet, maybe I’ll make them cook for me and I’ll take care of the dishes…
What’s the best dish you’ve ever made or the dish that you’re known for?
Hmm… I’m honestly my harshest critic, so you’ll never hear me use the word “best” when talking about my own food. If you asked my Instagram followers, though, they’d probably associate me with sandwiches and ridiculous waffled concoctions — many of which are just glorified sandwiches. I also pride myself on using unique ingredients and flavor combinations you might not see elsewhere. I love to have fun with my food. I mean, if you’re not having fun in the kitchen … what’s the point, right?
Neves’ amazing sushi waffle — avocado spicy tuna roll pressed in a waffle iron. (Photo: Nick Neves)
What does the new food revolution mean to you?
Los Angeles, to me, epitomizes the new food revolution (see: Roy Choi). It’s casual and approachable, without ever sacrificing quality. It’s innovative without being pretentious or over the top. Some of the best meals I’ve had in L.A. came from a food truck, or from a tiny restaurant in the back of the liquor store. Give me a picnic table, a tree stump, a curb — I don’t care. Just give me good food without the ego. I also think people are more educated than ever before when it comes to food. They’re more conscious about what they’re putting in their bodies, and the impact it has on the environment. People want local, organic, sustainable — it’s not just about price and portion size anymore. Lastly, with social media — and companies like Hatchery — there’s never been a better time to be an artisanal food maker or small business owner. I’m a total junkie when it comes to fancy food products – particularly spicy condiments — and make it a point to support these people every opportunity I get.
And last but not least — what’s your favorite food (if you had to pick one)?
I love Mexican and Asian food, and I’ve never met a sandwich or taco I didn’t like. I think they’re both the perfect food — breakfast, lunch or dinner. I’m fairly certain you could transform almost any meal into sandwich and/or taco form. It’s also an amazingly effective way to clean out the fridge or utilize leftovers (whether homemade or from a restaurant). All that said, sandwiches and tacos are more food “groups” than anything. If I had to pick one single ingredient that I couldn’t live without? Eggs!
Baked egg in a brioche bun sandwich. (Photo: Nick Neves)
Meet more foodies from the Instagram world:
Justin Schuble of @DC_foodporn
Learn how to nail the perfect #foodporn shot with @gilliehouston
