There’s no question that there is a plethora of chefs who are true artists of cuisine; look at any cooking show or competition. The art of cooking is alive and well and being passed on to new generations. But one Seattle based company has managed to preserve the art of cooking and connect it to visual art the way no one else has ever been able to do. The Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking has not only mastered the art (and science) of cooking, but they’ve created culinary artwork unlike any before them. The initial six-volume, 2,400+ page collection of recipes, science, and photography might seem overwhelming, but it welcomes the average person into the beauty of cooking. And the photography that complements the books is nothing short of extraordinary.
Earning a James Beard award and several years of calendars, Nathan Myhrvold has redefined the art of food photography. Combined with the Modernist Cuisine, Myhrvold photographs food as it is being created, the breakdown of recipes, and the art of cooking itself. Not only does Myhrvold explore cooking, but his photography explores the rawness of food itself. His photographs range from the final product, to options of creating a meal (or sandwich as some photographs explain), to the natural beauty of lettuce.
What is so exquisite about these books is the natural beauty of everything that is pictured. Yes, it may just be a collection of spices in ramekins, but the bigger picture shows us how spices integrate in all our cooking. Maybe it is just a strawberry thrown into liquid, or a cut out of a pressure cooker cooking up a pork shoulder; but Myhrvold has managed to take the natural art of cooking and make a beautiful collection of visual art that rivals the chefs that make these gastronomical masterpieces in the first place.
What is really great about Modernist Cuisine is that they haven’t stopped at the first collection. They recently released a series about bread making, which hopefully will include the beautiful artistry of Myhrvold. There are also several calendars that include his photography. Currently under works is a book, or collection of books, on pizza. Modernist Cuisine has managed to capture the art of cooking and the rawness of food into not only 50 lbs. of books, but also a stellar Instagram page (@modcuisine), and calendar. Even if cooking isn’t your thing, the photographs and exploration of food is beautiful.
