THE DEN » Pisces

Trendspotting with Mariana Velasquez

Mary Dail — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:07:53 +0000

Every month in Food & Wine‘s column ‘Trendspotting,’ the editors highlight new ideas that are becoming more mainstream. Mariana Velasquez food styled both the December and January columns for the magazine. Certainly Scandinavia is en vogue these days – just ask Paul Lowe about his legions of adoring fans. And small-batch food businesses are popping up all over the place. Artisans are the new luxury-goods makers. When something is made in a small batch it has more heart and greater care. This is certainly the case with food – and that is a trend we can get behind. Oh and shout out to Ray Hom and Seth Smoot for shooting. Both are great photographers and great guys.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Mary Dail — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:50:18 +0000

The past year was a whirlwind of new projects, new friends and new faces. Below is a sampling of the images that Big Leo artists helped produce in 2011, and it represents only a small fraction of the projects that we took on. We are so grateful to be able to collaborate with so many creative people and look forward to a whole new season of making the best images come to life. Thank you everyone who was a part of so many successful teams. Happy New Year to all of our friends, clients, families and all! May 2012 bring joy and prosperity to each and every one of us!

One Fine Bird

Mary Dail — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:33:46 +0000

Only one week to go – sharpen those knives and dream of a turkey this beautiful, shot for Fine Cooking by the finest gentlemen Romulo Yanes and prepared by bird wrangler Mariana Velasquez. Two words: Butter. Roasted.

Food Styling for the Soul

Mary Dail — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:21:44 +0000

What is it about chicken soup? That magical liquid is the ultimate in comfort food. As the weather gets colder you just need to fire up the stove and boil down the chicken for some thick and creamy stock. From that base you can customize endlessly. Chicken soup with barley, mushrooms and greens, or maybe chicken soup with white beans, farro, and escarole… it all sounds good to us!

Mariana Velasquez has such a depth of knowledge of ingredients and their combinations – with a simple constraint of ‘chicken soup’ she was able to really get creative for Fine Cooking and make the most beautiful bowls. We may already be tired of the holidays but the chilly winter is always better with some soul-warming soup!

Abstract Wine

Mary Dail — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:14:26 +0000

Mariana Velasquez recently collaborated with photographer Joshua Kessler to produce this exquisite study of wine for the National Wine Institute of Argentina. Dreamlike colors, shapes and textures celebrate the country’s rich tradition of winemaking. Salud!

Whole Lives

Mason Adams — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:20:21 +0000

Mariana Velasquez styled these two new spreads for Whole Living magazine. One is by the food expert Shira Bocar on sardines – a surprisingly healthy ingredient for something that comes packed in a tin. The other image is from an article about food for longevity, as prepared in Okinawa. People there live so much longer because of their diet and lifestyle – they tend to work much later in life and stay in engaged in a community that respects people more as they grow older. This is very much the definition of a whole life – measured in diet and kind in all dealings with the people around us. Then not only will you live longer – but better.

Qream with an “H”

Mary Dail — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:06:13 +0000

{and an “M” and an “E”}! Photographer Hector Sanchez shot the deliciously dessert-like QREAM {with Q} liqueur this past spring and until it launched a couple of months later, mum was the word. Now that music producer and entrepreneur Pharrell’s strawberry and peach flavored beverages have officially taken the market by storm, the word is YUM.

Scrumptiously food styled by Mariana Velasquez and elegantly propped by Ed Gallagher, this veteran Big Leo trio created a look and feel of decadence in keeping with Pharrell’s desire to celebrate the independent and sophisticated modern day woman.

You don’t have to go further than Qream’s online recipe diary to unlock the potential of this delicately creamy drink. Enjoy finding out which flavor is your favorite!!

A major shout out goes to Yvette Ho, owner of Manhattan’s Panade, who developed the delicious dessert recipes and to creative director Mimi Valdes for a shoot full of unprecedented fun!

Splendid

Mason Adams — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:55:04 +0000

For the August issue of Better Homes and Gardens, Mariana Velasquez traveled all the way to the wilds of Columbus, Ohio with photographer Quentin Bacon. To the mythical land of ice cream socials – a place that only exists as a shimmering oasis in my heatstroke hallucinations. If anyone out there is planning something like this, email me immediately. I will also accept donations of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream.

Double Triple

Mason Adams — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:21:01 +0000

Hector and Mariana‘s take on beer, sausage, and mustard for the June 2011 issue of Food & Wine. Why yes, don’t mind if I do!

Upper Crust

Mason Adams — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:20:17 +0000

Mariana Velasquez was testing pie recipes when photographer Joshua Kessler asked about a collaboration. A sharp edit and voila! Looks delicious any way you slice it.