PRI Industry Event @ Citri San Marco
Chef's Garden Catering & Events co-hosted with PRI Productions to bring FIVE catering stations, and even more activations, to eventgoers for their event industry celebration at PRI's newly-acquired venue, Citri San Marco. Let me tell you, this was textbook extravaganza.
Jennifer and the Chef's Garden team really pulled out all the stops at this one – caviar mojitos, oysters Rockefeller bar, flaming donuts, steak frites station, and even an asian-inspired station serving lo mein with staff fully clad in a kimono! The cocktail waitress was once again in a piece of headwear that I could only describe as "mod neon lampshade" and there were even appearances from The Milk Man (Tanner, from Chef's Garden, to those in the know) and Morton's Salt Girl making a striking resemblance to the classic mascot and brandishing an umbrella of free-hanging giant pretzels for the taking. I was stricken with how fun these stations and activations were and for a moment I was wondering if my wife and I could have a second take at our wedding and have Jen plan it.
Once again, I am shooting in the dark – well, kind of, it's really bright from massive megatron displays, stage lighting, tons of ambient and string lighting, and plenty of light bouncing from disco-ball-lady and Jags-necklace-stilt-fella as seen in the Recap reel. I brought my trusty AD100 along to see if I could bounce it anywhere for some stills. I did manage to find a few spots, but most of the event was outside and away from any discernable walls or surfaces, so I had to use it sparingly.
This one really came into its own when I switched to video though. There was just so much going on that was so… odd? I had to switch over to capture the grandeur more effectively.
Event Highlights
- The Milk Man – Tanner's debut as the iconic character
- Morton's Salt Girl – Giant pretzel umbrella and all
- Caviar Mojito Bar – Luxurious and delicious
- Oysters Rockefeller Station – Fresh and elegant
- Flaming Donuts – Dramatic and delicious
- Steak Frites Station – Classic and satisfying
- Asian-Inspired Lo Mein – Staff in kimonos for authenticity
Photography Challenges
Like many Chef's Garden events, lighting was a creative challenge. The venue featured massive LED displays, stage lighting, and ambient string lights creating a dynamic but difficult environment for photography. I used my AD100 flash sparingly, bouncing it off nearby surfaces when possible, though the outdoor nature of much of the event limited my options.
The real magic happened when I switched to video. The movement, energy, and sheer spectacle of the activations were better captured in motion than in stills.