Words by Susanna Hayward
Photos courtesy of Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Modern Love Omaha
Before a plate is sent out on the floor, Chef Isa Chandra Moskowitz checks one thing: “Make sure that it looks good enough for Instagram.” Moskowitz’s restaurant, Modern Love, brought vegan delectables to Omaha in 2014. The Brooklyn native and cookbook author also brought her social media following; her Instagram, @ModernLoveOmaha, has over 12,700 followers, boosting dinner reservations with each post.
Want the same Insta-Foodie-Fame? Try these tips to get a double-tap every time.
1. Shoot in natural lighting. Moskowitz considers herself an amateur photographer, but her photos have a professional flair with the rich lighting. Whatever you do, don’t let your food hide in the shadows.
2. For the background, go au naturel. “Use clean, neutral colors for the background to make the food the focus of everything,” Moskowitz says. Set dishes on a simple surface. Think of using a wooden surface instead of a distracting ’50s diner pattern.
3. Use color to complement the food. Choose ingredients with a similar color scheme to balance the photo, but don’t overdo it. “I definitely like using color, but I look at color outside of the food as splashes,” Moskowitz says.
5. When in doubt, caption. “Sometimes I think, ‘Oh this is too much. The food speaks for itself,’” Moskowitz says. “But it’s hard to identify what’s going on in the picture, especially if someone’s not familiar with vegan food. So I think it should be descriptive, but not over the top.”
6. Pro tip: Use edible flowers on dishes for extra pop. Feeling swanky with your own cooking? Try cilantro flowers or baby pansies to top the dish off. “Even if it’s a plate of gravy, if you put some edible flowers on top, it makes the Instagram so much better,” Moskowitz says.
About Isa
Isa Chandra Moskowitz began her journey in vegan activism when she was 16, growing up in Brooklyn. “I’ve just always loved animals, and I was a vegetarian once I could cook,” Moskowitz says. “Once I realized the dairy industry was basically the veal industry, I went vegan.” In 2003, Moskowitz created “The Post Punk Kitchen,” a New York City public-access TV show and video series combining punk music with do-it-yourself vegan dishes. Moskowitz went on to become a best-selling author of nine cookbooks and is a vegan celebrity on Instagram.
