Food Porn lovers [General]
2008 Sep 18
Beautiful photography! The only thing that worries me is how misleading some of them can be. If you've ever eaten at the Mongolian Village you'll be shocked at how carefully assembled the dishes are here: www.eatinottawa.com
They'd never get away with posting these pictures inside the restaurant because patrons would point at them and say "How come mine doesn't look like this??" But then I guess all the fast food places are doing that already and getting away with it. "Suggested serving" and all that rot...
I love to be able to see what I'll be getting before I order it. If I were to ever create a website where people could post comments about local restaurants, I'd be sure to encourage the posting of photos! ;-)
They'd never get away with posting these pictures inside the restaurant because patrons would point at them and say "How come mine doesn't look like this??" But then I guess all the fast food places are doing that already and getting away with it. "Suggested serving" and all that rot...
I love to be able to see what I'll be getting before I order it. If I were to ever create a website where people could post comments about local restaurants, I'd be sure to encourage the posting of photos! ;-)
2008 Sep 19
I agree with Monty, great little business idea. It solves the problem of restaurants having a place to visualize their menu to the public. Now if only we had a place for the dining patrons to share comments about how the nicely pictured food actually tastes.... FreshFoodie.. maybe you could make one? ;-)
2008 Sep 19
The website "solves the problem of restaurants having a place to visualize their menu to the public."
Japanese restaurants are masters at visualizing their menus for the public.
They simply display plastic food mock-ups in their windows.
The ultimate in 'window shopping' !!
If implemented here I'm sure it would lead to ""Suggested serving" and all that rot... ". Just look at what the fast food industry does to visulise their menu items to the public.
Link ---> www.thewvsr.com <---
Japanese restaurants are masters at visualizing their menus for the public.
They simply display plastic food mock-ups in their windows.
The ultimate in 'window shopping' !!
If implemented here I'm sure it would lead to ""Suggested serving" and all that rot... ". Just look at what the fast food industry does to visulise their menu items to the public.
Link ---> www.thewvsr.com <---
2008 Sep 19
Harrysmom - Thanks for sharing this wonderful food porn site, it is great to have something like this that features Ottawa Restaurants.
Ok, that was my initial reaction…
But after further investigation and thought I have some issues with the website in question.
First, I have eaten at several of these Restaurants, and NOT ALL the food items photographed for the website look like what you are actually served in the Restaurant. Some are very close, like Prime 360. But like Fresh Foodie, I know that the photos for Mongolian Village doesn't compare nor does the New Debrovnik's Schnitzel... which I know that FF has a picture of elsewhere on the Ottawa Foodies Website, see www.ottawafoodies.com Of course, I understand that there is food staging coming into play, but I also see it as a case of misrepresentation.
If I used the website as it suggests with it’s mandate to aid me in selecting a restaurant, and then I order a dish based on the photo that I saw, and when it is served it looks significantly different, then I believe I would be somewhat disappointed. Maybe not to the point that I wouldn’t go back, especially if everything else about the restaurant was as per my minds-eye expectation (atmosphere, service, food flavour, etc). But I think I would still feel cheated somehow.
Also, after reading the website’s requirements, I don’t like the fact that this website has a “selection” process. Not everyone can be featured. I don’t like that concept. I would like to see food photos (especially professionally photographed ones) that realistically show the food from a variety of restaurants… not just high-end selected spots in Ottawa.
Like the others have mentioned, I'd much prefer to see a website that doesn't just encourage me to EatInOttawa, but also has Reviews, and Photos, and Forums for Honest and Open Discussion, somewhere where I could learn a lot about food in general, maybe a place where I could meet other OttawaFoodies. Now that would be a find!
;-)
Ok, that was my initial reaction…
But after further investigation and thought I have some issues with the website in question.
First, I have eaten at several of these Restaurants, and NOT ALL the food items photographed for the website look like what you are actually served in the Restaurant. Some are very close, like Prime 360. But like Fresh Foodie, I know that the photos for Mongolian Village doesn't compare nor does the New Debrovnik's Schnitzel... which I know that FF has a picture of elsewhere on the Ottawa Foodies Website, see www.ottawafoodies.com Of course, I understand that there is food staging coming into play, but I also see it as a case of misrepresentation.
If I used the website as it suggests with it’s mandate to aid me in selecting a restaurant, and then I order a dish based on the photo that I saw, and when it is served it looks significantly different, then I believe I would be somewhat disappointed. Maybe not to the point that I wouldn’t go back, especially if everything else about the restaurant was as per my minds-eye expectation (atmosphere, service, food flavour, etc). But I think I would still feel cheated somehow.
Also, after reading the website’s requirements, I don’t like the fact that this website has a “selection” process. Not everyone can be featured. I don’t like that concept. I would like to see food photos (especially professionally photographed ones) that realistically show the food from a variety of restaurants… not just high-end selected spots in Ottawa.
Like the others have mentioned, I'd much prefer to see a website that doesn't just encourage me to EatInOttawa, but also has Reviews, and Photos, and Forums for Honest and Open Discussion, somewhere where I could learn a lot about food in general, maybe a place where I could meet other OttawaFoodies. Now that would be a find!
;-)
2008 Sep 19
^ New Dubrovnik's veal schnitzel looks exactly like that except it's missing the side of spaztel/potatoes/noodles and scoop of mashed carrots/turnip. The photo FF has is hunter schnitzel which is grilled tenderloin with mushroom wine sauce. Slightly different dishes. If you look at the plates you can tell they're the same ones they serve dishes on in the restaurant. In fact, I think the photos somewhat short changes them as the full meal is much heartier than that lone schnitzel!
Just thought I'd come to their defense, I've eaten there a lot :P
Just thought I'd come to their defense, I've eaten there a lot :P
2008 Sep 19
Monty - I love German and Eastern European food, and of course the New Dubrovnik is one of Ottawa's best sources... and I would definitely defend them, BUT...
Well you know already.
Although the photo presented is technically beautiful, I still prefer to drool over Fresh Foodie's realistic photo. I think it sad that their site has opted to sacrifice food for the sake of art... why is it that the "good stuff" is MIA? I think that says a lot... ultimately they are an artsy site, and not a foodie site.
.
.
.
.
.
;-P
Right back at ya.
Well you know already.
Although the photo presented is technically beautiful, I still prefer to drool over Fresh Foodie's realistic photo. I think it sad that their site has opted to sacrifice food for the sake of art... why is it that the "good stuff" is MIA? I think that says a lot... ultimately they are an artsy site, and not a foodie site.
.
.
.
.
.
;-P
Right back at ya.
2008 Sep 19
That was my point though, that it is realistic. If any potential customer saw the photo, went to the restaurant and ordered the dish - in my opinion they would not be disappointed.
Food is art! I guess we'll agree to disagree.
I just discovered West End Station thanks to this site. I've driven by a million times and never once thought to try it.
Food is art! I guess we'll agree to disagree.
I just discovered West End Station thanks to this site. I've driven by a million times and never once thought to try it.
2008 Sep 24
Just to clear up any confusion. Food&Think is talking about tastespotting.com and Ashley is talking about eatinottawa.com -- the original topic of this thread.
The former contains user-uploaded photos (typically from bloggers trying to encourage visitors to their blog) and the latter contains promotional items. Both are quite beautiful to look at!
The former contains user-uploaded photos (typically from bloggers trying to encourage visitors to their blog) and the latter contains promotional items. Both are quite beautiful to look at!
2008 Sep 24
Fresh Foodie - LOL, yes for sure that was a mix-up, you were absolutely right, I was responding to Mmmfood`s post above mine. Thanks for pointing that out.
When it comes to food porn tastespotting.com IMO is more what I`d be interested in vs eatinottawa.com, because I like the fact that the food is in a "more natural" set-up generally and contributed by true food lovers, not a restaurant promoting their establishment with "staged" photos... but that said, both have food photos that are drool-worthy.
When it comes to food porn tastespotting.com IMO is more what I`d be interested in vs eatinottawa.com, because I like the fact that the food is in a "more natural" set-up generally and contributed by true food lovers, not a restaurant promoting their establishment with "staged" photos... but that said, both have food photos that are drool-worthy.
Harrysmom
"Gastro porn makes its debut in Ottawa, yum yum" link:
www.eatinottawa.com