Biography
A self-confessed food nerd; Jackie works with food on all levels; styling, writing and consulting. With a long history in the restaurant industry from large 5 star hotels to boutique dining rooms, Jackie has taken the best of it to forge a career as a freelance food stylist and menu designer.
Having worked for Peter Rowland Catering with the key prestige clients of the Birdcage at the Melbourne Cup Carnival over the last two years, impressing the toughest of critics at the launch of the 2008 Age Good Food Guide and talking with people daily about what’s hot and not in the world of food; Jackie’s skills are expansive.
Food is a very competitive market place and taking it to the ‘next level’, is a requirement in 2011; Jackie loves nothing more than to help people achieve those goals with knowledge and passion.
Food and lifestyle stylist
• EARL Canteen - all publicity photos
• Bravada Films/Channel Nine - various television commercials
• Frankie magazine, Issues 11 and 12 - recipes and styling
• Black Swan dips - television commercial still shoot
• Healthy Habits sandwiches – POS sale cards
• Public Relations shots, Spring Racing Carnival, Emirates, L’Oreal, Myer, SAAB
• Vintage Cellars Members magazine - recipes, beverage matching and styling
• Many restaurants - website food images
• R&R Publications - ‘Food on the Run’ cook book
• Worlds longest Lunch - recipes, styling and photography
• Jenny Craig weight loss - assistant stylist
• Assistant stylist to Caroline Velik and Deb McLean
• Gourmet Traveller Magazine - work experience ‘Italian Desserts’ two day shoot
Writer
Author of http://www.eatingwithjack.blogspot.com/
http://www.ieatidrinkiwork.com.au/ contributing writer and feature blogger
Consultant
Cookery demonstrator - Prahran Market, Harvest Best of the Season
Menu design - seasonal and event basis
Project food consultant for major events
• food creative management; overall food design, costing, styling and management with your choice of caterer/chef
Food product development
Chef and restaurant profile development
Food trends education
• 2008 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival panellist on food blogs
• 2008 Meetings and Events Australia; professional development educational presentation on menu design and food trends
• 2007 RSVP ‘Taste makers’ panellist on food trends
Significant projects and clients
2010/11 EARL Canteen
• development and implementation
• menu design and creative
• styling for publication and store merchandising
2009/10 Prahran Market
• MFWF event styling
• cooking demonstrations
2008 Healthy Habits
• a total menu, food display, packaging and product review
• new recipe design and staff training
2008 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
• menu design and planning for Worlds Longest Lunch at Flemington racecourse; 1250 people
2008 Dairy Australia, Dairy Awards
• themed canapé menu, styling and design for 300 people
2007 and 2006 VRC Spring Racing Carnival
• full creative management of prestige clients of the Birdcage enclosure.
36 clients in total including; Emirates, Myer, L’Oreal, Motorola, Andrew McManus, Lavazza, SAAB, Herald and Weekly Times, The Age, The Sofitel
All menu, food and beverage design, operational planning and event supervision
2007 The Age Good Food Guide Launch
• menu design and planning for 500 chefs, restaurateurs and media
2007 L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival
• menu design and planning for multiples of events including the feature Deluxe Supper for 600 people with live action food stations
2007 Gourmet Traveller Ovarian Cancer Charity Ball
• menu planning with GT, 800 people event to their dish and image guidelines
Specialist Skills
• Extensive food knowledge of multiple cuisine styles and trends
• Advanced food and wine palate
• A stylised food and props eye; ‘what looks good and why’
• Strong local and international restaurant knowledge
• Food trend spotting and education
• Food service development; redesign an existing space
• Recipe writing and/or development
• Produce and prop sourcing
• Wine purchasing, negotiation and list development
• Food and theme ‘translation’ for major events, between client and chef
• Menu proofing and word smithing
• Strong understanding of dietary needs and allergies
Need help spelling food words?
Menu Checker was developed by me to work with Microsoft programs spell checking food words on menus