On Tuesday, September 25, 2007, Bon Appetit Food Management Company and Duke Dining hosted it’s Eat Local Challenge. This is a special day where the university prepares all of its meals from farms and vendors that are within a 150 mile radius of the campus.

There was a plethora of colors, lighting fixtures and perfectly arranged entrees to behold. The unique twist to this photo shoot was that the event was held on Duke’s East and West Campus. Thanks to Katheldra Pinder (Training Director Bon Appétit at Duke University) I didn’t have to worry about getting to each location or getting lost because she drove me to where I needed to be.

As I walked around the West Campus facility I ran across two chefs making some of the largest Shish Kabobs that I had seen in a long time. These carefully balanced works of food art were fit for a king. They included ingredients such as Shitake Mushrooms, Green Peppers, Yellow Peppers as well as freshly cut poultry.

In the picture below, the worker is patiently waiting for the lunch crowd to arrive. The dinning hall and kitchen didn’t just contain food for a hearty appetite but it served up a visual feast for the eyes through its use of color in the decor.

Notice the inviting scene below? This is a section of the cafeteria of which the training director spoke proudly. After a brief break down of the history behind this functional yet beautiful display I learned that Duke University is the only place to have a “Stacked Salad Bar”.

Continuing the journey between East and West campus I was finally driven to East Campus. Below is a photo of a dedicated worker as he prepared the display. This photo was captured at the precise moment that someone tried to get his attention. Capturing the workers in both locations was challenging because everyone was moving around in preparation for the droves of hungry students that would come through the doors.

This is what I will call the mystery picture. However, just in case you can’t figure out what it is then I will share the story behind it. On the West Campus there is an immaculate dining hall. After taking a few shots of the hall I decided to capture a vantage point that most of us don’t pay attention to. That vantage point was looking straight up at the carefully placed chandeliers that covered the hall with a blanket of warm light.

Click on the video below to view the slideshow.

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THERE ARE MORE PICTURES TO VIEW AND THEY CAN BE SEEN IN THE FULL GALLERY.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

On Tuesday, 8/21/2007, Duke University and Bon Appetit Food Management Company held a cookout to welcome the freshman that make up the graduating class of 2011. On Monday, August 20 2007, I received an e-mail (thanks Roylee) asking if I was available for hire to capture this event. There were certain key shots that they wanted to get and the rest was left up to me. Over 3000 people attended this gathering. It was agreed that I would work from 3:30 p.m. up until around 6 p.m. just capturing as much of this event as possible. This blog only has a subset of the photos that were taken. However, at the end of this entry is the official link to the pictures that contain all the images that were submitted to Duke. I thank God for opening this door for me.

There was a staircase on the outside a building which was adjacent to the lot. Climbing to the top terrace allowed this view to be captured.

In the photo below are two of the most important men at the event

Left

Jim Wulforst, Director of Dining Services, Duke University

Right

John Engstrom, Regional Vice-President, Bon Appétit Management Company (foodservice provider at Duke)

In addition to this photo a really fun version of these two men were captured. Basically, I had them just go with the moment and was able to photographed them just having fun. (You’ll have to visit the full gallery to see it.)

The setting on the East Campus was a cozy, easygoing, tastefully country atomosphere. The hay bales in the picture below not only helped to set the mood but they functioned as carefully placed seats on which visitors could relax.

One of the highlights of the cookout was the smoked cow exhibit. Sections from the cow were skillfully carved and served to droves of hungry people. It was provided by “Harris Acres Farm” of Pinetops, NC.

Here are two of the culinary professionals that worked hard behind the scenes to help make the event successful. They worked side by side with about 48 other people and collectively they made the cookout a success. You’ve heard the saying that it takes a village to raise a child .. well it takes a small army of dedicated hardworking staff members to feed 3000 people.

As I walked around the grounds there were many family members enjoying their time on the Duke grounds. This woman and her child were gracious enough to allow me to capture a more intimate photo of the two of them sharing time together.

Although the focus of this event was to welcome the Freshman class of 2011 there was another message that Duke was sending. They wanted to show that they take recyling very seriously. There were large garbage cans provided for collecting plasticware, paper, scraps of food as well as silverware. Many people casually walked by each of the cans but inside lay what I call.. creative art. Not just a box of forks… but a masterpiece…. was to behold.

I call this piece “Forktitude”

In addition to the smoked cow, the lemonade stands, the roasted corn, the buffet beneath tent . . . . . the “Shady Grove Band” was featured to provide us with live music. Here is a shot of the female member of the band.

(more pictures of the members are provided in the larger gallery)

Click on the video below to view the slideshow that I presented to the coordinators of this event.

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Of course this blog entry contained a small selection of photos. The entire gallery of photos should be viewed in order to truly experience this outing.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE REST OF THE GALLERY