The Big Easy made Sun Valley's Paulette Phlipot's hard work as a professional photographer a big payoff. As a new member and during her first appearance at the International Association of Culinary Professionals' 30th annual conference in New Orleans, La., Phlipot won Best of Show with her photograph "In the Kitchen." The theme of this year's conference was "Rhythm on the Plate" and food photographers and stylists were challenged to capture motion and rhythm in a still photograph.
"The conference hosts the who's who in the food world," Phlipot said. "I was asked to contribute and was excited to have it hanging with the great caliber of work that was there."
The International Association of Culinary Professionals is a mix of culinary professionals such as historians and museum curators, as well as professionals from all areas of the food-and-beverage world and publishing houses.
"I photograph things that no one looks at twice," Phlipot said. "I love being challenged to capture the everyday image in an extraordinary way."
Phlipot captured her award-winning image in the summer of 2006 in the prep area of a private party in Sun Valley catered by the owners of The Catering Company.
"It was exciting because it wasn't a production for me but more like catching the production of a catering company," Phlipot said. "It helps to be tiny and tucked away in the corner. It's easy for me to get down low, and I don't want to interfere. Kitchens are intense and there's lots of catering in Sun Valley."
Phlipot is hired to do projects elsewhere, such as her latest work in the recently released cookbook "A Taste of Wyoming: Favorite Recipes from the Cowboy State." However, Phlipot finds it is important to stay in Sun Valley.
Phlipot was prepared with a portfolio of work in hand on her iTouch hand-held device and was able to show conference attendees her work, including the award-winning photograph. As a food photographer from Idaho, she said, people wondered about her.
"The thing is that this photograph was taken in my hometown and my backyard," Phlipot said. "You don't need to have exotic travels to come up with an award-winning photograph."
The International Association of Culinary Professionals asked its conference attendees to take part in a special project called Gumbo Gulch, which will trace the history and agriculture products related to gumbo, a tomato-based Cajun stew. Recognizing the need to rebuild New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, the International Association of Culinary Professionals will produce an exhibition for the Southern Food and Beverage Museum as well as publish a book, with proceeds going to The Culinary Trust's scholarship fund and the Southern Food and Beverage Museum.
On gumbo assignment at the farmers' market in New Orleans, Phlipot and a few of her conference cohorts went to capture images of New Orleans life, and Phlipot realized the effect of her winnings.
"People recognized me," Phlipot said. "Chuck Williams of Willams-Sonoma (a home and kitchen store) opened the market that day, and I had just been personally introduced to him. I have had an overwhelming response. The recognition took me up one more notch."
Photographer Paulette Phlipot’s image “In the Kitchen” won the Best of Show for Rhythm on the Plate category at the International Association of Culinary Professionals’ 30th annual conference in New Orleans.
Paulette Phlipot photo by Pro Photo’s Michele Schwartz
