Chef Jacques Lamerde puts a different spin on junk food photography. He plates the cheap snacks as though they were gourmet dishes, showing that everything is in the eye of the beholder. Through his stunning arrangements, Lamerde essentially captures the feeling people get when they crave a chocolate bar or pizza pocket. Sometimes such snacks go down better than finer foods.
By shedding a different light on junk food photography, Lamerde is quickly gaining an avid following on Instagram. Each image is accompanied by a blurb as well, making them fit even more into an opulent setting. Neatorama writes, "His descriptions take things a step further, making the plates sound like something you'd see on a fine dining restaurant's menu, not just simple Pop Tarts or Hot Pockets."
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Junk Food Upscaling
- While junk food may be cheap and easy to obtain, there is a growing trend towards the creative and elegant showcasing of junk food that provides an opportunity for chefs and culinary innovators.
- Food Styling
- With the rise of food photography on social media and the internet, there is a growing trend of food styling as a creative and disruptive opportunity within the food industry.
- Comfort Food Renovation
- The transformation of unhealthy comfort food products into elegant, healthy, and contemporary dishes presents an opportunity for chefs to provide a fusion of traditional and innovative cuisine.
Sectors Adopting This
- Restaurant and Catering
- In the restaurant and catering industry, there is a growing opportunity to elevate common junk food items into gourmet dishes, appealing to customers' desire for creative and novel culinary experiences.
- Marketing and Advertising
- As social media platforms and food blogs become increasingly influential in shaping consumer preferences, there is a growing opportunity to use food photography and styling to promote innovative culinary products and experiences.
- Health and Wellness
- Health and wellness companies have the disruptive innovation opportunity to present creative and healthier alternatives to traditional junk food, leveraging the current obsession with both healthy eating and nostalgic comfort food.
