Exposing what dwells within.
La Vache Microcreamery handcrafts caramels right here in Charlottesville, VA. I was thrilled to spend a morning with Stephanie, learning about her process and the ingredients that go into her artisanal treats while styling and capturing lifestyle images for her marketing materials. And, of course, I had to sample all of the flavors. They are as delicious as they are beautiful. Pick up your own at Roxie Daisy, JM Stock Provisions, or directly from Stephanie through her website.
I love working on styled shoots. The meticulous detail and care that went into creating this image with Matt Thomas of Convoy speaks to the architect in me. Convoy created a brochure for Main Street Market featuring all of the businesses enveloped within its walls. I love how it turned out.
Delicious images captured in the last couple of months for Red Pump Kitchen, on Charlottesville's Downtown Mall. They've just released their new holiday cocktail menu...make your reservations immediately!
I loved working with the Virginia Distillery Company to capture images for their new website designed by ID Company. We shot the first image of the bottle and glass in the C&O bar, a classic Charlottesville spot with moody lighting. Bottles are always challenging; bottles in a dark space are especially challenging and this image made me push myself in an exciting way.
The distillery is located in Lovingston and will soon feature a visitor's center where the public can learn more about their Virginia Highland Malt Whiskey!
Chef Amalia Scatena at Pippin Hill Farm + Vineyards is so talented! I love being asked to photograph (and then eat!) her beaufiful food. Here are a few favorites from our photo session in August.
The Oakhurst Inn, opening late this fall, will have a cafe headed by chef Jeanette Peabody (formerly of Hamiltons'). I spent an afternoon with Jeanette photographing a few of the dishes she has planned for the menu...and tasting them, too! With food like this, guests aren't going to ever leave!
This has been such a busy spring + summer. Between producing our first publication at Beyond the Flavor, shooting more interiors and food than ever before, and growing a little human, it's no wonder that there has been no time to blog! I am hoping to get all caught up and share the fun projects I have been working on these last few months before the little man arrives in October. Until then, here's a peek at some of what's been happening since May...
See you soon!
AH
Since the launch of Beyond the Flavor in March 2012, Sarah and I have dreamed of creating a printed publication that celebrates our vibrant local food scene. With the help of some amazing people, we've done it.
Introducing Charlottesville COMMONS 2013...available for preorder here!
A good part of my winter was spent working with Heather Halsey, editor of The Scout Guide - Charlottesville, to create the fifth volume in the beautiful Charlottesville series. What a pleasure!!! Each photo shoot was so different, with a wonderful variety of people, spaces, and products to capture. Below are a few of my favorite spreads.
Be sure to pick up the new book, available in shops and restaurants all over Charlottesville! You're sure to find inspiration cover-to-cover.
Thank you, Heather, Susie and Christy for folding me into your awesome team! xoxo.
Our team: Heather Halsey + Andrea Hubbell. Many thanks to Cramer Photo for capturing my portrait. :)
Photographing a cookbook has been a dream of mine for four+ years now, ever since I created Bella Eats in 2008. I am thrilled and excited to be working with one of the best chefs in Charlottesville, Harrison Keevil, and my Beyond the Flavor partner, Sarah Cramer Shields, to create the first Brookville cookbook. Exciting things are in the works, friends! 2013 is off to a great start.
For a sneak peek of our first shoot, check in at Beyond the Flavor. And, please consider donating to our Kickstarter campaign! We'd be so grateful.
Most of you are aware of the project I co-founded at the beginning of 2012 -- Beyond the Flavor. Sarah Cramer Shields and I wanted to create a website dedicated to telling the stories of the people behind Charlottesville’s thriving food and drink scene with beautiful imagery and heartfelt words. We launched the site in March, asked food writer Megan Headley to start contributing August, and have published 50+ features, happenings, and other food-related posts in the site’s 10-month life. If you visit our Cheers to 2012 post you’ll see that we’ve been very busy!
So far, Beyond the Flavor's been a labor of love for us. While our incredible readers (that's you!) have filled us to the brim with gratitude and encouragement, we want to see the project grow and to become your #1 resource for everything food- and drink-related.
We have just launched a 28-day Kickstarter campaign in hopes of raising $20,000 to help pay for a website that goes far beyond its current blog format.
What can you expect? Features will still be front-and-center, but displayed with a browse-able carousel of images. You'll hear and learn from past contributors through our Checking In and Kitchen Skills departments. You'll get access to a searchable recipe index or can peruse the Flavor of the Month, Make This, and Drink This departments for inspiration. Interactive additions will allow you to submit and rate recipes too. An online dining guide will prove handy to anyone looking to dine out at one of our area's 200+ unique restaurants.
We hope that you'll consider donating so that we can keep doing what we know we are meant to be doing.
To read more about our project and to support Beyond the Flavor, view our Kickstarter campaign by clicking on the link below:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1120445816/beyond-the-flavor
Please feel free to share our project with friends and family, and thank you for your support!
Warmly,
Andrea
*Watch this video to learn more about our project!
I've done a horrible job of keeping up with images from our features on Beyond the Flavor over here on the Andrea Hubbell blog. Be sure to check out these amazing people and their delicious recipes!
And, if you're not familiar with Beyond the Flavor, here's what we're all about: Our mission is to inspire readers with the stories of Charlottesville's farmers, chefs, winemakers, and artisans told through beautiful photographs and evocative words, most often centered around their preparation and sharing of a meaningful meal. By documenting who makes up this town that's so dedicated to the locavore movement, we aim to be the visual voice for everyone who believes that ideal nourishment comes from the earth, people, and passion within our own communities. (thank you, Megan Headley, for summing us up so perfectly.)
Now, go eat!
Michael McCarthy, with Pizza and Chesapeake Baked Oysters
Leni Sorensen, with Pinto Bean Soup and Cracklin Cornbread
It was a whirlwind to get out of Charlottesville (sort of) on time. Brian and I let out a deep sigh of relief as our car followed the Shields' to the Northern Neck. We arrived at dusk, after a quick stop for fresh oysters, the pink sky reflecting in the windows of the 19th century house evidence of a just-set sun. Sarah quickly showed us around, in the back door and out the front to admire the expansive river view. Circling around the back again we carefully stepped through the woods to the dock on the quieter inlet, the sky now a brilliant royal blue.
In the house Matt had a crackling fire going in the kitchen and oysters out, ready to be shucked. The dogs watched patiently as one by one the creatures were released from their shells, their briney juice mingling with the tang of fresh lemon. We each downed our share, then set to work preparing dinner.
With another fire roaring in the living room, we all settled in with a dinner inspired by Beyond the Flavor; steaks with avocado + jalepeno salad and potatoes roasted in duck fat. The red wine flowed and the dogs finally settled in, satisfied that we were there to stay, and eventually joining us on the furniture.
The next morning brought sunshine and warmth, and the opportunity to fully explore and get acquainted with the house Sarah's known her entire life. Charming and modest, without the modern conveniences of heat or dishwasher, the house forced us to get back to basics. We donned extra layers and fuzzy slippers and made our way downstairs to the waiting pot of coffee.
After a Hubbell breakfast of cheesy polenta, home-cured bacon, arugula, mushrooms, and a poached egg, we took turns at the sink washing away the remains of a very satisfying meal. The dogs had the run of the property, and convinced us that it was time to make our way down to the dock for a swim.
Back inside, a few hours and bottles of champagne and VA cider later, we started prepping for an early evening meal. Butternut squash roasted until completely tender while beets and carrots were sliced for salad. The perfect fall lasagne was assembled and baked as brussels sprouts married bacon in a saute pan on the gas range.
With such perfect weather, and knowing that there would be few opportunities to eat outside until Spring, we set up a table out on the lawn. The sun set as we dug into the bubbling pan and clinked glasses in celebration of a very relaxing day. More about this meal, photographed for a magazine, soon.
The next morning brought even more warmth and the desire for coffee on the dock. Inside, Team Shields prepared breakfast; kalamata toast with roasted garlicky tomatoes + thyme, sauteed mushrooms, Hubbell bacon, and a poached egg. There may have been ginger cake for dessert, too.
With just a couple of hours remaining before packing up the cars for our drive home, Matt shucked the last of the oysters on the dock as the dogs swam laps around us. With sweatshirt sleeves pushed up we all exclaimed over the warmth of the November Sunday, wishing we could stay for just one more day. Promises were made for more weekends like this one in 2013, and we're holding the Shields to it.
Thank you Matt, Sarah, Charley, and Crosby for sharing with the Hubbells a place so dear to your hearts. We are so grateful.
We're pretty excited about Cider Week Virginia at Beyond the Flavor! So much so that we organized a Cider Cocktail Crawl through Charlottesville to test out the specialty drinks local restaurants have created using Virginia cider. Somebody had to do it!
Look for the current issue of Edible Blue Ridge, on stands now, featuring a holiday dinner with chef Tucker Yoder of the Clifton Inn! Featuring two local farmer couples and Tucker's adorable family, this was a really fun event to photograph. Thanks for including me, Edible Blue Ridge!
We had such fun getting to know the guys behind Potter's Craft Cider, Dan and Tim. They were the sweetest hosts, and made us the best cider-braised chicken, duck fat potatoes, and greens. It was the perfect meal for a beautiful fall afternoon. Read their full story on Beyond the Flavor!
I feel so, so lucky to have spent the afternoon with Dean Maupin and his adorable family, as well as two of my favorite ladies, Sarah + Megan. Read the whole story on Beyond the Flavor!
There is a new post on Bella Eats today...Fig Tart with Lemon Cream!
We had quite a week celebrating Virginia's Bounty! Read all about the petite verdot harvest at Blenheim Vineyards, the Morven Kitchen Garden at UVA, and the Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello on Beyond the Flavor!
