The term culinary art refers to the process of cooking and arranging food. Some culinary art professionals may choose to specialize in preparing food from a certain region, such as Italian food or Japanese food. Other culinary artists might specialize in a particular type of food, such as entrees or baked goods.
The F&B retail industry in India is estimated to be worth $6 billion and has been growing at a rate of 35% per-annum for the last two years. A career in this industry is not just confined to cooking. Offshoots like food critiquing and writing, food styling, catering, food tasting, and food photography are gaining in popularity.
A food stylist works hand in glove with the food photographer, preparing, placing, arranging and garnishing the food. Food styling is like make up for food, to make it look more appealing.
Food stylists make food look appealing for pictures in magazines and advertisements. It involves making the colours and textures look appetising, using the right background and perfecting the props.
Food styling is a natural culmination of good culinary skills.
One has to be thoroughly knowledgeable about how to cook, how food behaves both, aesthetically and scientifically, etc.
Having a good aesthetic sense helps.
Food preparation
Food presentation
Technical knowledge
Creativity
Aesthetic sense
Patience
Stamina
Networking skills
Hotel management and catering technology and culinary arts
Photography
Advertising
Journalism
Saba Gaziyani, food photographer-cum-stylist
Shubhangi Dhaimade
Book publishers, magazines and advertising agencies.
Marketing kitchen equipment, table ware, crockery and glassware.
New restaurants or food chains
Super markets and retail stores
Food packaging industries
Television houses / film production houses
Assistant to a stylist where the remuneration can vary from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 per assignment.
Professionals can earn anything from Rs. 5,000 - 8,000 per day, going up to as much as Rs. 50,000 - 60,000 a day.