Friday, March 29, 2013

File Gumbo Ya Ya (2013) at Uncle Darrow's



Happy Friday Random Mealers! Today is a happy day because you can only get this random meal on a Friday or the weekend. We have for today the 2013 version of the File Gumbo Ya Ya. The presentation of the meal in my opinion is so much better from the last time I ate in 2011. Sometimes being random keeps you from eating what you enjoy. This random meal has so much flavor. We start with a bed of white rice and then layer in the most fantastic gumbo. I smile just thinking about it. The gumbo is a blend of Louisiana blue crab, shrimp, chicken and sausage. The ingredients are literally swimming in the gumbo. Now we add chicken drumstick wing and half of a crab to the concoction. Yes, we do get half a crab. Finally we add a scoop of jambalaya for the final BAMM!

Found at Uncle Darrow's in Marina Del Rey, California.

Sony RX1, 35mm, f2.0, 1/250, iso 100, +1.0ev

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Asiago Ranch Chicken Club at Wendy's



Today's random meal of the day is the Asiago Ranch Chicken Club sandwich. This random meal actually serves two purposes. One is that it feeds me, the other is a lighting challenge for my new camera. The funny thing about fast food is that the advertising for the food makes it look so good. Well, this sandwich can look fantastic if someone spent the time to make sure it looks good. Well, I digress because staged food photography is not what random meal of the day is about. The reason I choose this location in particular is because of the not so pleasing lighting conditions. First we get the tinge color cast producing compact fluorescent lights. Then we combine this with several large tinted windows. It is the one two combo knockout punch to make sure your food photo looks to be not so pleasing. I also shot JPEG and not RAW so I am a bit more limited in the color corrections option in post. The new camera white balance actually handles these lighting conditions a bit better.

On a tangent, I remember one Christmas when I actually changed out all the light bulbs in the living room of a relatives living room because I could not stand the tinge color of the compact fluorescent bulbs. The year before, we had many tinge color casted family photos. Well, this year, the pictures were spectacular. I considered the Verilux Compact Fluorescent bulbs as a bonus gift for hosting Christmas. ;)

Found at Wendy's in Lawndale, California.

Sony RX1, 35mm, f2.0, 1/160, iso 100, +0.3ev

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Steak Quesadilla at Pachanga Mexican Grill





The two tales of a steak quesadilla is our random meal of the day. The same quesadilla was photographed from both sides of the table. The first photo was backlit and the second was more traditionally lit. I normally only choose one side to photograph but since I decided to choose a seat with more natural light, I ended up sitting right next to the door. Every time someone would open the door, I would feel the breeze so I decided to switch to the other empty seat that was more shielded. Just when I was about to eat, I decided to photograph the random meal from the other side of the table. It was the perfect opportunity to test how my new camera exposes.

So Random Mealers, which photo do you prefer, photo one or photo two? Please leave a comment, thank you.

Found at Pachanga Mexican Grill in Manhattan Beach, California.

Sony RX1, 35mm, f2.0, 1/320, iso 100, +1.0ev
Sony RX1, 35mm, f2.0, 1/400, iso 100, +0.3ev

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Sesame Seed Bagel at Noah's Bagels



Some days I feel like an adventure, other times I go with the familiar. Our random meal of the day brings us a sesame seed bagel with cream cheese. Today my bagel is extra toasty and that is exactly how I like it.

Found at Noah's Bagels in El Segundo, California.

Sony RX1, 35mm, f4.0, 1/180, iso 800, +0.3ev

Monday, March 25, 2013

PB & B aka Peanut Butter & Bacon Sandwich at Custom Melt



This is a true random meal. What we have today is a PB & B Sandwich. The PB & B is a Peanut Butter & Bacon sandwich. I know, it just sounds totally random! Yet 23 days later, I still crave the sandwich. The sandwich starts with two slices of egg bread. We start by layering the egg bread with some fantastic crunchy peanut butter. We then add a later of boysenberry preserve. The sandwich is in essence a grilled cheese sandwich so we continue by adding some sharp cheddar to the mix. Finally we add the kicker, some thick cut applewood smoked bacon. Finally a sprinkle of sea salt is added before the sandwich is perfectly grilled and completes this random meal of the day

It is actually kind of funny when I tell people about the sandwich. They just give me this look... I smile and think you never know until you try. Sometimes it really is about the adventure and with this adventure, you can discover a whole new extraordinary world.

Found at Custom Melt in Moorpark, California.

Sony RX1, 35mm, f2.0, 1/100, iso 100, +1.3ev

Friday, March 8, 2013

Dry Rub Baby Back Pork Ribs at Pinkie's BBQ



Our random meal of the day brings us an order of some Dry Rub Baby Back Pork Ribs. This is actually half a rack. We have a side of Pinkie's Mac N Cheese and this amazing order of Grandma Hehe's Corn. There's bacon in the corn! Veggies never tasted so good.

Found at Pinkie's BBQ in Hermosa Beach, California.

Sony RX1, 35mm, f2.8, 1/80, iso 200, +1.0ev

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza at Papa Guido's Pizza



Our random meal of the day brings us a pepperoni and sausage pizza. Fresh piping hot pizza just hits the spot.

Found at Papa Guido's Pizza in Redondo Beach, California.

Sony RX1, 35mm, f2.0, 1/125, iso 100, +0.7ev

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Cuban Reuben Melt at Custom Melt



Our random meal of the day brings us an order of the Cuban Reuben Melt. This fantastic sandwich starts on a Cuban loaf. We then load a layer of slow roasted pork and then top this with another layer of pastrami. Two type of cheeses consisting of Jack and Swiss are then added to the melt. Finally the veggies are added and they consist of caramelized onions and pickles. I opted for no mustard. Sorry, I am just not a fan of mustard. Overall, this was just a fantastic melt.

On a photography note, it has been 8 and 1/2 months since I have last bought a camera. Well, after a bit of a debate, I finally bought a new toy and this was the first random meal with the new camera. This is actually photograph number 211 from the camera. :)

Found at Custom Melt in Moorpark, California.

Sony RX1, 35mm, f2.0, 1/100, iso 100, +1.0ev