Last Monday, May 7th, the Rhode Island chapter of The American Institute of Wine & Food held their Second Annual Chef Smackdown and I was fortunate enough to be there as a guest and photograph the event. Not only was I out in the ballroom of the beautiful Belle Mer in Newport, but I was also allowed "backstage" to capture all the chefs and kitchen staff in action. I've been behind other stages before at theaters and on film sets, but as anyone who knows of my extreme love for food and drink would know, this was a real treat for me.

After living in New York for over ten years and having the good fortune to frequent some of the best of the best restaurants there (and in my opinon some of the best in the country) when I decided to make southern New England my home again I was a little worried I'd have to drive down to the city for dinner more often than not. That fear was completely unfounded. RI restaurants put most of the country to shame. And these chefs are the reason why.

I'd love to do more food photography, and I don't only mean the food itself. While the plates are beautifully presented, I'd rather taste them then stare at them. There is a definite theater to a professional kitchen, a choreography that the experienced players dance well. And believe me, it's a lot more interesting than what goes on on a movie set, that's for sure.