Meet Our Guest 'Grammer of the Week: @CravingsinAmsterdam
Each week we’re teaming up with a popular food-stagrammer who will take over our Instagram feed and fill it with their own delicious pics. This weekend on #TastyTakeovers, Paola Holthausen, the blogger behind Cravings In Amsterdam, is our guest. Learn her secret for taking delicious photos in the Q&A below and head over to @YahooFood on Instagram to watch her foodie adventures unfold all weekend long.
Paola Holthausen of the blog Cravings In Amsterdam. (Photo: Paola Holthausen)
Name/Instagram Handle: Paola Holthausen / @cravingsinamsterdam
Tell us a bit about yourself!
I am originally from Peru and now live in Amsterdam with my Dutch husband and our two cats. We met while we were both doing an internship in Dallas. I am now a full-time food blogger. My blog started as a way to share my cravings. They are so specific that my husband always jokes that I might be pregnant.
When I’m not cooking or eating, I’m biking around the city filling my basket with groceries and flowers for my next meal/picture. I have a very big sweet tooth. Since there are no 24/7 stores in Amsterdam, we have a candy drawer in our living room filled with cookies, sour gummies and chocolate for “candy emergencies.”
(Photo: Instagram/cravingsinamsterdam)
What first got you interested in food and photography? Where do you draw inspiration from?
Since I was a little girl, I would always help out in the kitchen. My mom is a very good cook and I learned a lot from her. When I finished my studies, I moved to Lyon for four months to follow a cooking course. Those months were such a treat for my taste buds and eyes. The way that the French prepare and plate food is just amazing.
I get inspiration from the countries I’ve lived in, what’s in season and the amazing Instagrammers I follow.
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!
I take my photos with my iPhone 6 and always work with natural light. For editing, I love using Snapseed to sharpen the picture. I’m always looking for the light, if it’s not in my kitchen I’ll set up everything on my little balcony. I have always all my props ready so when I’m done cooking I can shoot right away, because some food can start to look old very fast.
Market finds of the day. (Photo: Paola Holthausen)
Who are three of your favorite Instagrammers? What do you like about them?
Some of my favorites are @dennistheprescott, @foodgays, @linda_lomelino.
Dennis’ Instagram is filled with comfort food and his pictures always make me salivate. I love how colorful the pictures of the Foodgays are. Inspired by them, I’ve been using more edible flowers on my dishes. I love Linda’s use of light, she usually has very dark backgrounds and her shots are unbelievably beautiful. I want to eat all of her desserts.
What makes Amsterdam a great food city?
Amsterdam is home to people of more than 150 nationalities. It’s a melting pot of cultures and that also influences the food it has to offer. The food scene here is getting better every day.
The fall leaves changing color in Amsterdam. (Photo: Paola Holthausen)
What do you enjoy about Instagram compared to other online communities?
I like how visual it is and how easily you can connect with like-minded people. Instagram is also one of the reasons I am always hungry!
What’s the best thing you’ve eaten recently?
Figs. I’m taking advantage of the season as much as possible. I eat them at breakfast in yogurt or on toast, as a snack and can’t get enough of the combination of figs and cheese. I recently made a cheese platter for dinner with figs and cheeses I got at my local market. My husband and I devoured the whole thing in front of the TV.
Cheese platter for dinner with figs and cheeses from the local market. (Photo: Paola Holthausen)
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?
It would be for family and friends. I would try to sneak in more people of course. Having a 12-hour flight between me and the people I care about can be hard sometimes. I would make finger food, which I could make in advance so I could enjoy their company.
What’s the best dish you’ve ever made or the dish that you’re known for?
My husband really liked my heirloom tomato tart. I first oven-dried the tomatoes to prevent them from getting the filling soggy. I made the filling with Greek yogurt, goat cheese, and a swirl of basil and almond pesto.
Heirloom tomato tart filled with Greek yogurt, goat cheese, and a swirl of basil and almond pesto. (Photo: Paola Holthausen)
And last but not least—what’s your favorite food (if you had to pick one)?
I like Asian food a lot. I could eat dumplings for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And chocolate, preferably in cake form.
Pork & ginger potstickers. (Photo: Paola Holthausen)
For more drool-worthy Insta pics, visit our Instagram Food Porn board on Pinterest and get to pinning!
Meet more ‘grammers from our past takeovers:
Florida’s Grilled Cheese Social with Mackenzie Smith
Sarah Coates and The Sugar Hit!
Jeremy and Adrian also known as The Food Gays
