25 Tips for Shooting a Music Festival

Events & Experiences

Photographing a music festival is one of the best experiences you can have as a gig photographer. The opportunity to shoot a variety of artists in one location can be hugely rewarding and great for your portfolio. However, the days are long and demanding, and the schedule relentless. In this article, you will learn some of the best tips to help you make the most of your festival shoot and how to enjoy it!

Photography by Sanchali, The Schlagermove Parade, Hamburg

Festival Preparation

Making the most of your festival experience as a photographer is more than just turning up to the main stage and shooting. You’ll need to prepare for a very long day of shooting. Depending on the size of the festival the facilities for press and photographers can vary greatly. These days, unless you are shooting some of the big festivals, you’ll be lucky to get free water or somewhere to shelter.

Let’s look at preparing your kit bag:

1 – Camera

For most gig shoots you can get away with one body but if you can, take a 2nd body. If your primary body fails you might miss several days of photography. Also, a 2nd body with a different lens on will make switching focal lengths easier. If you don’t own one, borrow a body if you can. If you can’t borrow one, consider renting a 2nd body for a couple of days.

2 – Lenses

One of the big differences between shooting a gig at a local venue and a festival is that you will likely be a larger distance away from the stage. If you don’t have a fast, long focal length lens like a 70-200mm f/2.8, consider renting one from a company like Lenses For Hire.

3 – Batteries

Don’t expect there to be facilities where you can charge your camera batteries so make sure everything is fully charged and have a spare. It’s worth taking one of those portable battery packs to recharge items like your mobile phone or even your camera battery if it supports USB charging.

4 – Camera Bag

You will spend more time carrying around your camera gear than using it so be sure to pack everything into a comfortable bag that also allows you easy access. Choose a bag that has straps and supports in all the right places and will generally put up with most weather conditions.

Pack Other Equipment and Items

Typical gear for shooting a music festival

While camera equipment is arguably very important, packing these other items will make sure you are fully prepared.

5 – Lens Wipes and Micro Fibre Clothes

Whether it’s rain or flying beer, there is a good chance that your camera or lens might get wet. Keep a stock of lens wipes and microfiber clothes handy.

6 – Snacks

Though the variety of food and drink that can be found at festivals is mind-boggling these days, it can be expensive. Since the days can be long you could easily end up eating all 3 daily meals there. Save some cash and take your own water and food/snacks. Being hungry and thirsty will ruin your creativity and motivation, so stay fed and watered.

7 – Money

While taking your own food and drink will save you a lot of money, be sure to take some cash. It’s handy for emergencies when your own provisions run out, or you just want to treat yourself to a delicious cheeseburger or a refreshing summer drink.

Photography by Sanchali, Jungle Carnival, Hagenbecks Tierpark

Photography by Sanchali, Jungle Carnival, Hagenbecks Tierpark

8 – Clothing

When shooting a festival, the days are long and you will spend long periods of time either walking from stage to stage or standing about. You will want to wear very comfortable, but practical clothes. Comfortable walking boots, layered clothing, walking trousers, and waterproofs are your best friends. European festivals are well known for the mud and rain, and you will be miserable if you are soaked through and have muddy feet. If you are shooting on a sunny day, don’t forget sunblock.

Once you’ve got all your kit sorted, you need to have a plan.

Develop a Plan

Though you could just rock up to the gate and wonder about the festival for a few days, working out a few key items will allow you to better use the time you do have there.

9 – Work Out Your Schedule

Not all festivals will publish the running times of the acts, but you can at least review who you need to or want to shoot. Depending on the size, layout and running times of the festival, it may not be possible to photograph everyone. So, write a list of the artists that you either must and/or want to shoot. If there is a published running order with times please keep in mind this is always subject to change so be prepared to modify your schedule.

10 – Social Media Tags

If you are planning on sharing any of your images live from the festival now is the time to take note of any associated hashtags or account names. You probably won’t have a lot of time between artist performances so save yourself a bit of time and take note of some key social media tags. For each post, you’ll want to tag the band and the festival. Take a read of 12 Things To Do When Starting Out in Gig Photography for some tips on sharing your images.

11 – Getting There

Obviously, you know where the venue is but do you know how you are getting there? What are the parking restrictions? Do you need to pay for and get a parking permit in advance? How far are the stages from the car park? Take all these things into account and leave plenty of extra time.

12 – Collecting your Pass

Do you know where and from who you need to get your pass/ticket/wristband from? Sometimes your ticket will come in the mail, but your photo/pit pass will need to be collected on-site. Either way, give yourself plenty of time to sort this out. being stressed and anxious won’t help you resolve any issues more quickly.

13 – Site Map

If you can get a site map in advance so you can see where all the stages are this will help in the planning of your schedule

14 -Check Out Historical Photos

Unless this is the first year of a festival there will likely be a few images of the previous year’s somewhere on the internet, including the festivals own website. These images will help you understand what the layout looks like, key shooting locations, stage sizes etc.

At the Festival

You’ve done all your preparation, you arrive at the gate, get your pass and you’re in! Here are some things for you to think about:

Photography by Sanchali, The Schlagermove Parade, Hamburg

Be Social

No, this isn’t about checking your Facebook or Instagram feed while you’re there but your interactions with the other people that are working there. Some of the people you will find worth making friends with are:

15 – Fellow Photographers

You are unlikely to be the only photographer at a festival so there will always be someone to talk to when your hanging about the side of the stage waiting to get into the pit. Aside from it being a great way to do a bit of networking you can often pick up some useful information. By speaking to your fellow togs you might find out about schedule changes, cancellations, or even when the pyrotechnics in the front of the stage might go off! After you’ve done a few gigs and festivals you’ll start the see the same faces making the whole experience a bit more fun.

16 – Security

If you’ve read the article 12 Things To Do When Starting Out in Gig Photography, you’ll know how the value to the importance of the photographers’ relationship with security staff. While they are unlikely to give you access that you aren’t authorized to have, knowing your security staff will allow for an easier transition between stages and they are also a great source of useful information.

Tell the Whole Story

While the obvious draw for people when they come to a festival is the music, there is often so much more than going on.

17 – Check the Other Stages

Most festivals have a wide variety of acts on. Everything from circus performers, comedy acts, kids entertainers, DJs, open mic slots, etc. Make sure you go away from a festival with a wide range of photographs that help tell the story of the event.

Photography by Sanchali, Jungle Carnival, Hagenbecks Tierpark

Photography by Sanchali, Jungle Carnival, Hagenbecks Tierpark

18 – Shoot the Small Things

There is more to festival photography than getting an epic shot of a famous band. While you’re hanging about waiting for the next band or act to come on stage check to see if there is anything else worth photographing. For example, is there a collection of nice guitars or drums sitting on stage that makes for a good image?

Photography by Sanchali, Jungle Carnival, Hagenbecks Tierpark

19 – Photograph the Crowds

No festival photography story would be complete without shots of the crowd. The best time to shoot the crowd is just after a song has finished as this is the most likely time they will have their hands in the air. If you have a 2^nd body make sure you have your wide-angle lens on so you can quickly turn around from the main stage and grab that wide-angle crowd shot.

Photography by Sanchali, Jungle Carnival, Hagenbecks Tierpark

Photography by Sanchali, Jungle Carnival, Hagenbecks Tierpark

20 – Talk to People

While you are walking between stages be sure to have your camera ready. It’s always worth walking with a smile and stopping with a chat. You will meet some amazing people and because you are relaxed they will be giving you a much better image.

Don’t Just Shoot from the Pit

There’s no doubt that shooting from the pit will provide you with some great angles and opportunities to capture amazing images. But have you considered:

21 – Shooting from the Mixing Desk

The mixing desk is a great location to get those epic crowd and stage shots. Try standing in front of the desk area and holding your camera above your head (live view and a tilting screen really help here). It may also be possible to get into the mixing desk area. It’s often on an elevated platform giving you a much better shot.

Photography by Sanchali, The Schlagermove Parade, Hamburg

22 – Shooting from Side of Stage

This area is typically more controlled than other areas, but if you can get access shooting from the side of the stage can give you some really interesting shots. Images of the band or artist playing to a massive crowd make for some great shots.

If neither of these locations are directly on your list of areas you can access it’s always worth introducing yourself to the stage manager or someone on the mixing desk. Tell them who you are, and what you’d like to do. It won’t always result in access, but if you don’t ask you’ll never know if you could have.

Photography by Sanchali, Jungle Carnival, Hagenbecks Tierpark

23 – Get Sharing!

Nothing beats being the first photographer to get an image out onto the internet. So, if you have the capability, get your images out into your social media channels as soon as you can. Make sure you tag the band and the festival as well. The sooner you get your images out the more likely the band or festival will also share it.

Back at Home or the Office

24 – Import, Backup, and Tag

You’ve just spent 3 days in a muddy field and shot over 2000 images. The first thing should do is to get those images onto your computer. Import them straight away into Lightroom (or just onto your hard drive) so you have another copy. You should then kick off your backup routine which should be robust enough that you will have another copy of the images, and if possible and offsite/cloud copy.

Once you have multiple copies of your image data be sure to take some time and tag all your images with some metadata. At a bare minimum, you should tag them with the festival name and the name of the band or artists. No one likes doing this but it will make image selection and search much easier.

If you’ve gone home every night or had your laptop, you should do this every day of the festival.

25 – Select and Process Like A Pro

Unless you have a specific requirement to publish a number of images of each band or artist, you should ideally only select 2 or 3 images for processing. Be hard on your own work and only select images that will really make the cut. After a few solid days of festival work, the thought of having to process hundreds of images will be daunting and you may struggle to start.

By selecting on a couple of images of each band and some crowd shots, the overall number of images you will process will seem much more manageable and achievable.

If your publication, festival, or a band come back to you for more images, process some more then. Hopefully, you will have tagged all your images so finding the right images will be easy. If you are using a program like Lightroom, most of the time you can copy the develop settings from one of your previously develop photos.

It’s Hard Work but Fun

Photography of a festival is hard work, but hopefully, the tips above will let you plan and execute your festival shoot a little more effectively. But most of all, just make sure you enjoy it!

Photography by Sanchali, Jungle Carnival, Hagenbecks Tierpark

Photography by Sanchali, Jungle Carnival, Hagenbecks Tierpark

Do you have any festival photography tips? Was there anything on that list that you hadn’t considered? Let me know in the comments below.

Post Courtesy: Improve Photography

Event: 1. The Schlagermove Parade, Hamburg.

2. Jungle Carnival, Hagenbecks Tierpark.

La Vinoteca Barcelona – Spanish Brunch Like No Other!

Events & Experiences, Travel and Food

Saturday Brunch at one of the island’s only upscale Spanish restaurants, La Vinoteca Barcelona! What can I say…Delicious! The food was gorgeous and plentiful and the drinks kept flowing. The idea of eating squid and calamari for the first time was fascinating (even though in the beginning I was slightly fearful).

La Vinoteca Barcelona / Café Amsterdam outdoor garden

Vibrant Restaurant and Lounge Interior

Great place for spending a Saturday afternoon with your friends over the world’s most admired wine (Torres wines)

The happy hostesses Daisy and Mary – they made me feel like family

The very charming Dragi at the smoking lounge upstairs

Love the wood work, and all the little details

My 10th brunch experience on the island, I went there on a recommendation from my friend Ryan, who also happens to be the restaurant manager there. La Vinoteca Barcelona has been making quite a stir on the Bahrain fine-dining scene since it opened its doors in early 2015, thanks to its unique culinary and oenological experience. The menu offers sublime Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on contemporary Spanish and Catalonian dishes.

Love the look of my table – it has been set up with Torres La Oscuridad Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Vinegar and El Silencio de Torres Picual, extra virgin olive oil

Chef Zablon cooking my lunch. I was pampered to death by this wonderful team

Here’s my first attempt at this hearty paella

Virgin Sangria

My tasting party began with Virgin Sangria (that’s a non-alcoholic sangria) – made with three different juices, apple, pineapple, and grape garnished with banana slice, cinnamon stick, orange and lemon slice.

Stand-out dishes at this outing were Fried Calamari, Patata Brava, Lucky Pepper and Octopus Croquettes (starter dish).

Lucky Pepper

Patata Brava

The verdict: A classic tapas dish – just like you’d find in Spain. What I (absolutely) loved tasting in this dish is the patata brava. This stuff is gooood. If you’re not aware, patatas bravas is basically crispy potatoes served in a spicy tomato sauce and garlic aioli…which kind of sounds a bit boring. But trust me, it’s amazing. This is a must for your Tapas table at La Vinoteca Barcelona, Bahrain.

The perfect classic crème brulee

What followed next was a surprise! My main dish for the day was a proper paella dish. Like I previously stated this was my first time eating calamari, squid and octopus, I immediately asked “What’s in this!?”

Traditional Spanish Paella

After careful consideration and much thought, I decided to dive in.

The verdict: If you’re looking to try the most authentic Spanish paella on the island, look no further. The Spanish rice made with freshly caught seafood including white fish, calamari, cuttlefish, mussels & shrimps will leave you drooling. What a meal! (Only if you are a Seafood fan)

Lemon pie passion fruit gelee, cardamom ice cream

My favorite – Cappuccino

A true Spanish experience – my tasting ended with a Lemon Pie (Homemade) topped with passion fruit gelee, served with cardamom ice cream and a signature cappuccino!

Final review: Good food, fantastic ambience and service (slightly pricey) but very effective overall de-stresser, and you get what you pay for.

La Vinoteca Barcelona Events:

Business Lunch: Mondays thru Thursdays from 12 noon till 3 pm get choice of 2 tapas + choice of main course + dessert for BD 9+

Afterwork at the wine bar: Every day except Sunday from 4 pm till 8 pm enjoy 30% discount on tapasand wine + Draft on Mondays from 4 to 12 midnight

Saturdays: Brunch from 12 to 5 pm

Location:

La Vinoteca Barcelona

19 Yousif Ahmed Al-Shirawi Avenue
Block 338, Adliya
Kingdom of Bahrain

Tel: +973 17 007 808

Cuisine: Spanish

Price Range: BHD40+

Website: http://www.vinotecabcn.com/

Facebook: VinotecaBH

Instagram: lavinotecabarcelona

Some more pictures and notes from my review below (Click on the pictures to read the stories)

Range of Torres wines

Stairway to the Smoking Lounge of the restaurant

The Gang for Dasha’s Birthday

Range of Torres wines

Vibrant restaurant interior

La Vinoteca outdoor garden

My Brunch today – cooking segment

Chef Zablon on the go

Micro Herbs

Don’t forget to register your feedback and LOVE here

35 of the finest Torres wines from Spain, America & Chile

The Birthday Gang

The very beautiful birthday girl

Happiness is seeing your Birthday plate entering the party hall

Bring on the Cake Mary

Happiness is seeing your Birthday plate entering the party hall

Awards and Recognition for La Vinoteca Barcelona

Stairway to Nature

My favorite girls Daisy and Mary

Sometimes big trends come on small plates..Birthday brownie with chocolate mousse

We could finally manage to get one right

A look upstairs at the smoking lounge

Love the view from here

Manuka Bahrain – Making life a little leafier and a little sweeter

Events & Experiences, Travel and Food

My 7th visit to a bakery store, (and a Botanical Salad Bar this time around) at Manuka Bahrain and it is better than ever. In fact, I ate one of my best sweet treats in 2017 so far. Manuka’s head chef Dilli and his merry band have put the bakery and salad bar in a great spot and I think this team are flying right now. The execution is 100% on-point, fully realising the wholesome, hearty, belly-thumping treats of Manuka.

The Entrance to the Botanical Salad Bar & Bakery

I was in there for Friday evening coffee with my friends Pieter and Sandra and were greeted by Hassan, one of the owners of Manuka. I was welcomed with their signature and all time favorite ”The Pistasha” (Pistachio and rose cookie). Things I absolutely loved (at first sight) about the place was it’s engraved rose wall interior that adds a unique character and elegance to the place and the meld of plants, wood, jute and bamboo that connects a natural aesthetic appeal to the place.

Gorgeous Manuka designed Coffee takeaway cups will perk you up immediately

As for eats, they had some amazing bakes in their menu, some of the must try items in their menu are the pistachio and rose cookie, nutella donut, chocolate cornflake crunch, honeycomb chocolate crunchy bars, and calling all coffee lovers..you’ve got to try their Cappuccino and Americano. (Loved the gorgeous Manuka designed coffee takeaway cups, adds some fun!)

Just look, and try to take in the beauty of this hypnotising river of smooth, lustrously luscious pink creamy frosting..sorry it’s half eaten!

Moist, chocolaty perfection. This is the chocolate cake you’ve been dreaming of!

Great selection of Cookie Jars sweeten their countertop

Move over cupcakes, there’s a new trend in town! Mini cakes are making a big statement on today’s dessert tables

Some more treats – Chocolate covered Honeycomb crunchie bars

Espresso Cookies – Looks like all you coffee lovers out there might want to give this one a try

Hello donut lovers!! Nutella Donuts with Nutella Glaze

Chocolate Cornflake Crunch – Our childhood favourite, with a grown-up, healthier twist. Surprising things you can do with cereal

My companion this week..this classic red velvet beauty

The engraved rose wall interior adds a unique character and elegance to the place

Just look at these lovely little take away boxes

Get to know your options!!

Amazing salad joint! Fresh, healthy, friendly, bright

A fundamental offering on the salad bar is the black rice aka the forbidden rice, a rarity in the food world. You might be wondering what black rice is and where you can find it. Here is your place!

What makes this place even more special is the Botanical Salad Bar where you can build your own salad. The salad bar looked ample and appetizing, but we definitely had no room for anything beyond the sweet snacks and coffee. So I decided to take a quick look at the options (for my review). Some of the exciting choices which make Manuka’s salad bar unique are the forbidden rice (aka black rice), wrapped vine leaves, green papaya and water-chestnuts. Next time I Visit Manuka, I will make sure to leave some space in my tummy to stuff in those greens.

So if you are looking for a fresh, healthy, friendly, bright location then this could be the place for you! For this much quality and beauty on the plate, it will be worth every penny.

Pure Baking, Pure Class. Take me back to Manuka!

Details

Manuka Bahrain, Botanical Salad Bar & Bakery

Open everyday

Jamal Al Deen Afghani Ave, Muharraq, Bahrain

(+973) 32111191-17003232

Timings: Sunday-Thursday : 4 pm – 10 pm Friday- Saturday: 12 pm – 10 pm

Instagram @manuka.bh

Some more pictures and notes from my review below.

My welcome Cookie…such a treat to feel welcomed

Perfect for any celebration, it’s moist and fudgy and will keep well for 4-5 days. Let me tell you I’m drooling right now!

Another central ingredient on the salad bar are these little bites of heaven! A great vegetarian appetizer made from tender vine leaves wrapped into little rolls and stuffed with rice and fresh herbs

Pistachio and rose cookies

Their signature and all time favorite ”The Pistasha”

Outside the entrance to the Botanical Salad Bar & Bakery

Nutella Donuts with Nutella Glaze

These healthy Oatmeal Cookies will feed your sweet tooth without sending you overboard into sugar land

Lovely break time treats

Get to know your options!!

The best of the best and an all time favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

Made with Love Cookies

Mixed Salad Greens

The Salad Galore

Some more colors and nutrition for your Salad

Beautiful from wall to ceiling – the bakery gets a gorgeous makeover with a sweeping bamboo canopy that feels cozy and private without being closed off.

I love this room divider.

The very courteous and camera-shy staff, Jackie.

Mini black forest cake and mini chocolate mousse cake – I absolutely LOVE everything miniature and was so happy to receive all the information about this new trend

The glass shelves of the bakery are always filled with miniature desserts ready to be picked up by visitors

Don’t just hand your cards and tips out – DROP THEM!

Here’s a peek at what we’re making!

Manuka’s adorable, and organised kitchen

The must-have Baking essentials

A peek into a baker’s kitchen

Gastronorm racks aka Bakery Trolley

We cut open a baker’s refrigerator to learn what it looks like inside!

The ever smiling Chef Dilli from Nepal preparing his honeycomb

Café Amsterdam – Enjoying the Summer Sunshine in Bahrain

Décor, Events & Experiences, Travel and Food

Located in Adliya alongside its sister restaurant La Vinoteca Barcelona, Café Amsterdam is based in a cozy and cute Dutch canal-style building reminiscent of the back streets of Amsterdam. The european architecture shouldn’t mislead you, this restaurant is located in the bohemian neighborhood in Manama, Bahrain.

In the heart of Bahrain’s fine dining neighbourhood, Café Amsterdam’s menu is built on modern European and New American cuisine. The menu includes innovative gastronomic creations, decadent desserts and original beverages. The award-winning Café Amsterdam offers a dining and nightlife experience under one roof with a sleek, state-of-the-art lounge, a bright and spacious glass conservatory and a lovely garden for al fresco dining.

Begin the day with breakfast in the light filled conservatory, lunch in the lofty dining room, after work in the snug and dinner on the expansive balcony overlooking the garden. Plus, catch all your favorite games in the sleek sports lounge!

I had my 9^th brunch at Café Amsterdam, whose kitchen is now purring along at a consistently high standard. Stand-out dishes at this outing were dazzling Barley Salad, Risotto al Pesto with cream pesto sauce, parmesan cheese and charcoal grilled chicken and their Passionfruit Cheesecake. A technically demanding (for heat in the summer) pineapple, coconut cream and kiwi mocktail ”Prince of the Middle East” was superb.

Buzzing at nighttime with regular live music events in their garden area, this is the perfect venue to enjoy a fantastic atmosphere and unwind with friends. So whenever you feel a craving for a true Dutch experience, you know your place in Bahrain.

The entrance from inside the restaurant

Wanderlusting: contemporary restaurant design, so bright & pretty

With its wooden panelling and beautiful orange bricks, this interior gives a very welcoming image of the place.

Restaurant or Gallery? Art is served up

The European Landmarks

The Mesmerising Fireplace

My favorite click – Loving the wall mirror

Up the stairs to the bar

The live music section in the restaurant by the railing for best views

Enjoying my healthy Barley Salad with pearl barley mango salsa and thai dressing and my Prince of the Middle East (Mocktail) by Bartender Tanmay

My main course – Risotto al Pesto with cream pesto sauce, parmesan cheese and charcoal grilled chicken by Chef Rahul

My Dessert – Passion fruit cheesecake by Pastry Chef Ajith

Full of modern elegance, Café Amsterdam’s design and decor is a tasteful combination of cozy-chic art-deco reminiscent of the late 1920s period.

Family-friendly Friday Brunch at Cafe Amsterdam

Checking the chicken for my risotto. This was my first attempt with charcoal. The flavor was exactly what I had imagined: smoky

It was another hugely successful day with brilliant, tasty & professional looking food. When there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.

The Entrance

Citi Fact Dining Awards for Best International Restaurant in Bahrain

The pretty reception area, beautiful combo of color and elegance

The fashionable interior

The restaurant has a seperate smoking area

Looking for a full bar service rather than just a bartender? Samson left, Laxman right

People

Cheerful Laxman pouring beer for a client

Taking really great food photos can be tougher than it looks

My main course – Risotto al Pesto with cream pesto sauce, parmesan cheese and charcoal grilled chicken

My Salad – Barley Prawn Salad with pearl barley mango salsa and thai dressing

My Mocktail – Prince of the Middle East made with pineapple, coconut cream, coconut syrup, mint leaves, kiwi and pomegranate seeds

Some extra shots

The very energetic kitchen & serving crew

Making crumble with Chef Suraj

Learning the method for how to fire grill chicken breasts.

Chef Rahul taught me how to make this grilled chicken for rissoto

Got some ideas from Ryan (Restaurant Manager, Cafe Amsterdam)

The DJ section of the restaurant

Restaurant view from the bar upstairs

The railings had the most beautiful floral arrangements of colors.

Great spot. If you want a drink and some privacy, try the comfy couches across from the bar upstairs.

The railings had the most beautiful floral arrangements of colors.

Up the stairs to the bar

Wanderlusting: contemporary restaurant design, so bright & pretty

Full of modern elegance, Café Amsterdam’s design and decor is a tasteful combination of cozy-chic art-deco reminiscent of the late 1920s period.

Restaurant or Gallery? Art is served up

The European Landmarks

The Mesmerising Fireplace

Bold, vibrant colors are stunningly applied in the restaurant

Restaurant Info

Serves Alcohol
Good for: Brunch and Dinner
Separate Smoking Available
Outdoor Garden Seating
Good for Groups and Business Meeting
Good for Bloggers and Writers
Private space for Reading
Live Music

For booking & info: Call 0097317007404

Website: http://www.cafeamst.com/

Instagram: @cafeamsterdam

Facebook: CafeAmsterdamBH

Hashtag: #cafeamsterdambh

Restaurant Hours

Sunday: 12pm-2am

Monday: 12pm-2am

Tuesday: 12pm-2am

Wednesday: 12pm-2am

Thursday: 12pm-2am

Friday: 8am-2am

Saturday: 8am-2am

Restaurant Menu

Fond of Fondant

Artist, Events & Experiences

“Cakes are special. Every birthday, every celebration ends with something sweet, a cake, and people remember. It’s all about the memories.” – Buddy Valastro

Last week I went to a wonderful cake decorating workshop at Cakes and Bakes. I was invited to join my super talented baker friend Lamia. This workshop was created specially to teach the students how to decorate their own cake using fondant, icing, piping techniques in simple easy step by step methods.

The workshop was held at her studio in 5th Avenue (Busaiteen Road), where they pour their hearts into every cake they bake. From the design concept to the very last decoration, every detail is handled with love.

The very talented Lamia

The studio has a very positive vibe, it’s peaceful, cozzy & bright and a true reflection of Lamia’s passion and artistry.

The glass shelves of the shop are filled with finished cakes ready to be picked up. For the visitor looking for a quick snack, pastry carts are always filled with sweet delights.

Croquembouche

The very cheerful staff, Jenny. She was so happy to take some of my pictures

Most of the participating students at the workshop were first-timers except for a couple of them. I was a first-timer myself, as I was covering a cake making event for the first time.

The instructors for the workshop were Lamia herself and Chef Prasad (who by the way makes all my cakes). They are magnificent cake decorators, they can cover a cake in five minutes flat with no rips, no flaws and no swear words. I have no idea whether they are magicians, ninjas, or just purely brilliant decorators, but all I know is that I’m not one of them 😀

The workshop started with an introduction session where the lovely participants introduced themselves. It was such an interesting set of people- we had school-going students, a couple of food professionals, college students, some home-bakers, bloggers, and also someone who was there to make a cake for her brother’s birthday.

The instructors Chef Prasad and Lamia with the participants

The first step demonstrated was making of homemade fondant from scratch. Buying fondant can be expensive and sometimes you never get enough to cover your cake.

Students were given access to the kitchen of the studio where the instructors taught them to make the perfect fondant for their respective cakes.

The Kitchen

INGREDIENTS used to make the fondant:

Gelatin
Water
Glucose
Glycerine
Shortening
Powdered Sugar

Covering a cake in fondant can be a bit tricky if one is new to this. The students followed the tips very well, it took a little trial and error, but eventually we achieved the look we wanted!

After covering the cake in fondant, the next step demonstrated was making of fondant ribbons and fondant flowers.

Adding the coloring

Using a rolling pin to roll out fondant ribbon

Rolling out and cutting fondant with mini fondant cutter

Creating fun design and patterns on the ribbon

Gluing the fondant ribbon

A fun way to add pizzazz to your cake is by adding a fondant ribbon or a fondant bow. A ribbon adds a touch of cuteness and is actually quite versatile to use. The participants were instructed to colour the paste to the shade that they wanted. They were also given the alternative to play around and create fun design and patterns on the ribbon.

Once the ribbon was done, it was time to try our hands on some flower stunts. These fondant flowers are whimsical, modern and fun — in addition to being fast and easy to create! They’ll wow your friends, family and clients.

MATERIALS used to make the fondant flower:

Fondant color
Ball tool
Fondant roller
Foam board
Circle cutters in various sizes
Rose flower cutters in various sizes
Luster dust
Paint pallet
Plastic Gloves

Using fondant decorating modelling tool to shape fondant flower

Fondant flowers bring a fresh and beautiful feel to cakes for any occasion, from a birthday bash to a wedding. Not just that, they also add a sudden elegance to your cake.

Fondant cut outs

Using fondant flower cutters

Here the participants made sure they know which cutters they plan to use. For the flowers, they were instructed on making three petals.

When all of the petals were finished, they were left to dry for just a few minutes. They are easier to work with if you wait a few minutes. Once they had dried slightly, they were stacked from largest to smallest using a small drop of water.

Piping Techniques

After the flowers were done, Chef Prasad took over and demonstrated Piping Techniques to the students and how to pipe dots and beads using royal icing.

Royal Icing for Piping

Make a piping cone out of Parchment Paper

Once again students were were given the way out to pipe in their choice of colour.

Printable Practice Sheet

Each participant was given a printable practice sheet to practice the piping pattern of their choice that would go on their respective cakes.

The practice went on for some other minutes and then the most dreaded moment came. As most of them were piping for the first time, piping on the real cake was the real deal. They were hesitant to perform any tests on the cake. For those who were more hesitant, to ease the situation, Lamia had to step forward. With her humor and a little bit of guidance, she was able to help them break free from hesitation, fear, and self-doubt.

We could finally see some designs on the surface of the cakes 🙂

The workshop started at 9.00 and finished spot on 13.00hrs. At the end of the workshop all participants were awarded with Certificates of Attendance and they also got to take home the cakes they made at the workshop.

The Workshop ended with light refreshments

Materials provided during the workshop:

Round Chocolate Cake
Fondant
Fondant Color
Cake Decorating Supplies
Waxed paper
Long metal ruler, pencil, craft knife or scalpel and cutting mat
Rolling pin
Plastic fondant smoother
Flexible fondant smoothers
Sharp knife and/or scalpel
Pizza cutter/wheel
Pin or acupuncture needle – For removing air bubbles
Setup boards
Paintbrushes
Grippy/non slip mat
Paper piping bag
Piping design
Apron

Fondant Color

SK Professional Colour Kit

Fondant & Gumpaste Cutters

Rolling pin

More about the workshop

DURATION:
4 hours

The workshop included:

Covering a chocolate cake with fondant
Basic piping skills
Fondant flower decoration

Upcoming Workshops by Cakes and Bakes – will be updated soon (keep following this space)

Cakes & Bakes Locations

Shop No. 252-252A
5th Avenue (Busaiteen Road)
Area 222
Muharraq

Phone: 39333466/7704-0477

Instagram: cakesandbakes_bhr

Facebook: facebook.com/Cakes&Bakes

Twitter: twitter.com/@Cakes&Bakes

Cake they made for me

Our Anniversary Cake

My anniversary cake, our daughter’s rice eating ceremony cake, her half birthday cake, and the many cupcakes we ordered for many different special occasions, were so beautiful we made it the centrepiece of the events! It was not only a true work of art, but absolutely delicious.

Our baby’s half birthday cake

The Rice eating ceremony cake

We are cake lovers and these were one of the best we’ve had yet!”

Thank you for never saying NO to any of our last minute changes! And hope to be a part of many more such classes and workshops..

XoXo

~Sanchali

Radisson Blu – Aarvi’s Five Star Half-Birthday Staycation!

Events & Experiences, Hotel, Travel and Food

We have just returned home after celebrating our baby, Aarvi’s Half Birthday and a 3-day vacation at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa. The 5-star Radisson Blu is located in Manama’s prestigious diplomatic area, just 5 minutes’ drive from Bahrain International Airport.

It was one week after Eid and the celebration planned was the kind that comes out of nowhere. We reached the hotel on the afternoon of Thursday and the celebration was planned for the same evening. Upon check in we were graciously greeted by the bellman who retrieved our luggage and initiated our awesome vacation. Preethi at the front desk was very helpful upon checking in to the hotel. We thought we would be unable to check into our rooms because we had arrived before time but check in was very easy, on arrival before the time stated for the room we were given a warm welcome and shown immediately to our room with minimum administration. What more could you ask for?!

The room was very comfortable and spacious, we had a quiet and picturesque view with pool and the sea. The room was beautifully maintained and housekeeping was excellent and exactly what you expect from a 5-star hotel.

Early morning picturesque view of one of the pools from 9th-floor room (this was taken the next day)

Another view from the room, just so special!

After our check in, I checked with the front desk about a blog tour of the hotel. I had then the pleasure of being introduced to Maryam, the Marketing Manager and the Assistant Food and Beverage Director, Sudeesh, who both graciously guided me on how I could make the birthday memorable. They had the celebration arranged in the hotel’s Al Fanar restaurant, the only rooftop venue on the island with a superb view of Manama’s iconic skyline and city lights.

Not just that, Maryam also personally gave me a tour of the hotel spa, pool, pool bar, fitness studio and the hotel restaurant, where I was introduced to the Restaurant Manager, Narendra, who gave me a comprehensive tour of the restaurant. One of the most eye-widening aspects of that tour was the restaurant kitchen and the huge range of great food, awesome desserts and confectioneries, bread and cakes and some of the most popular types of Dilmah Tea from Sri Lanka.

Getting a Kitchen and Food Tour with the very friendly Restaurant Manager, Narendra

Different kinds of SALADS

The never ending main course

A little discussion with the very decent Assistant Food and Beverage Director, Sudeesh

Most popular types of Dilmah Tea from Sri Lanka

The Cooking Station, Asian Cuisine

The very talented Chef Sutar, Chef de Partie

Later we wandered around the rest of the hotel, then went back to our room to relax. We had ordered a half cake for my daughter from Cakes and Bakes, my friend Lamia and Chef Prasad had arranged to drop it off at the hotel for us later in the evening.

We reached the restaurant around 9 pm, where, a very cute looking arrangement of candles, balloons, flowers, adorable tiny toy gift boxes and birthday cracker candles awaited us. We received a very warm welcome by the restaurant staff. The management struck exactly the right balance between offering warm hospitality whilst maintaining an element of privacy for guests.

She was so happy, she almost clapped.

While we sang Happy Birthday, we held LO in our arms near the cake, DH (dear husband) blew the candles out for her, then put her in her stroller & let her smoosh a portion of her cake-which she hated by the way LOL

CONGRATULATIONS to us! We survived the first six months without any complain 🙂

And then after the cake cutting and dinner, we didn’t want Aarvi to get too cranky and overtired, so we returned to our room once again to relax. We had a wonderful sleep in the very comfy beds with very comfy linens. The toiletries in the bathroom (lotion, bubble bath/gel, shampoo and conditioner) were lovely.

Range of Toiletries

Aarvi seems to be enjoying her TRU BLU moment

Next day, after a cup of delicious hot coffee and some snuggle time with my baby girl, it was time to get out of bed and head towards the pool. We were allocated a room on the ninth floor and the biggest challenge we faced was to take the elevator as my 6-month-old daughter is terrified of elevators.

At around 9 am we reached the pool. When we reached the pool, it was partially crowded while some people occupied the pool bar. Diplomat Radisson offers 4 elegant swimming pools.

Gaurav’s leisurely swim

Kontiki, the pool bar

The pools were very nicely designed and the scenery was quite tropical. Women can also enjoy their own indoor pool at the luxurious spa and wellness center. There is a large gym, spa and treatment rooms for men next to the pool. I didn’t get time to use the gym; however, my husband did. After a workout in the fully equipped fitness center, he managed to get the requested photos for me.

After swimming, it was time for the husband to babysit, while I went to get a tour of the spa and wellness center of the hotel facility.

Women’s locker room/sauna

Indoor jacuzzi room… I absolutely love the modern style of this. I wish the one in my apartment was the same

Many different types of Spas

The hotel’s Zen-style spa is an Asian-inspired retreat that includes separate men’s and women’s facilities along with 15 treatment rooms for massages, facials and aroma baths. At the spa, attention has been applied to every detail. For example, the massage benches in the treatment rooms have a bowl of flowers placed underneath the head hole so that you face these rather than just the floor during your treatment.

Getting to know the face and body product selection

The spa offers an extensive menu of facial and body treatments performed with the highest-quality products, including PHYTOMER.

Naturally Flavored Detox Water, not only do these fruit-infused waters taste great, but they’re also fantastic for health!

After spending quality time at the spa, I headed over for the Friday brunch at Al Fanar. For those who do not know, the ‘Friday Brunch’ is very popular with ex-pats working in the Middle East and most good hotels and restaurants have one. This was my first visit to this brunch.

Guests could enjoy a wide selection of international buffets and cooking stations and choose from the many specialty corners, including Italian fare, seafood, Asian cuisine, grills, a carving station, a dessert corner, drinks and a Mojito station.

At Brunch, Restaurant Manager, Narendra had arranged for me to take a tour of the kitchen and meet the top team of chefs behind all the fantastic and creative 5-Star dishes. Meeting the exceptional chefs was one of the most overwhelming experiences that made my stay a positive and pleasant experience.

The exceptional Chefs

Top team of chefs behind all the fantastic and creative 5-Star dishes

The brunch started at 12.00 and finished spot on 15.00hrs.

The very beautiful Karina with her band The “High Times” Drums – Tim, Bass – Max, Guitar – Alex (Doing an interview with them soon)

The youngest fans from Netherlands

Guests enjoying their afternoon time with their loved ones accompanied by delicious food and drinks

Arrived back in the room for a short rest and then that evening we decided to have an early dinner, that permitted a leisurely evening by the pool and Kontiki Pool Bar.

Pool view from Kontiki Pool Bar

The restaurant has a killer vibe and some of the most stylish pan-Asian cuisine in town, it’s the food that really makes this restaurant a standout. The crab cakes and soups are very good and highly recommended.

The very creative Edward adding finishing touches to my drink

After a wonderful evening and the perfect tropical dinner, we decided to call it a night. We had breakfast the next morning and checked out around 11:30 am.

I have stayed at the Radisson Blu chain in India and Dubai, UAE, and have never been disappointed. The service, food and accommodations are well worth the price and the properties are beautifully maintained. For people wishing to visit Bahrain, I would highly recommend a stay at Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa in Manama and believe you too will enjoy their magnanimous hospitality.

Special thanks to Maryam, Karen, Sudeesh, Narendra & Edward for making our stay a memorable one, right from the check-in to the check-out it was just no hassles!!! Appreciate all the help. Awesome staff only enhanced our stay.

Love love love!

Sanchali

Note: Some important details about The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa.

Check-in: from 3:00 PM

Check-out: until 12:00 PM

Most Popular Facilities

Family Rooms

Free WiFi

Outdoor Pool/Indoor Pool

Spa

Free Parking

Airport Shuttle

4 Restaurants On Site

Contact

P.O. Box 5243 Manama
Kingdom of Bahrain
Tel: +973 17 531666
Fax: +973 17 530843
Email: info.diplomat@radissonblu.com

RESERVATIONS

Tel: +973 17 525251
Fax: +973 17 533870
Email: reservations.bahrain@radissonblu.com

SALES AND MARKETING

Tel: +973 17 525267
Fax: +973 17 531633
Email: sales.diplomat@radissonblu.com

Website: https://www.radissonblu.com/en/diplomathotel-bahrain

Blog http://blog.radissonblu.com/

Facebook The.Diplomat.Radisson.Blu

Instagram diplomatradissonblu

Her First Grain of Rice

Events & Experiences, Lifestyle

Stressing out on what you should prepare for baby’s Annaprashan? Don’t sweat it, mum. From the ceremony to the menu, my tips will help get you through.

The Annaprashan Menu

In Bengal it is a tradition to feed a baby his/her first grain of rice around 6 months before the tooth shows..it is an initiation into solid foods. There is however a rule, it is performed during the even months for boys, generally in the child’s sixth or the eighth month. For girls, it is performed during the odd months, usually fifth or the seventh month, so we performed our daughter Aarvi’s on her fifth month. I have been curious why this is followed in different months..do the food pipes differ for girls and boys..anyways it doesn’t matter..the rice eating ceremony is just a custom and is quite cute.

The Annaprashan cake

The rice eating ceremony is called “Annaprashan” or “Mukhebhaat” in Bangla meaning “entry of grain” and “rice in mouth” respectively.

Paa feeding Aarvi her first grain of rice

Traditionally this ceremony is carried out in the child’s paternal home where the maternal uncle is invited to feed the child his/her first grain of rice. In our case, we were living abroad, so we had to do it without the uncle and her father had to play the role of her uncle in feeding her.

The morning Puja

The morning started off with Puja to seek the blessings of God and to mark the beginning of the auspicious day.

The spa bath included milk, rose petals, leaves and cucumber

We had also arranged a spa bath for her. She had an awesome first spa bath experience, she seemed to have enjoyed the process very much.

All decked out for the vidhi

Followed by the spa bath, she was dressed in traditional attire which was followed by the symbolic feeding of the rice pudding (kheer/payash) that was prepared by her father. This vidhi was then followed by a grand feast and cake cutting ceremony.

The Annaprashan feast may include a variety of items, but the sweetened rice pudding (payash/kheer) is the star dish.

The mandatory rice pudding (payash/kheer)

Apart from the kheer, salad, fried vegetables (potato, brinjal, bitter guard), dals, curries and flavored rice were some of the food items served. I included chicken, prawns, raaita (yoghurt mixed with spices and fruits), tomato sweet and sour chutney, sweets, dates, dry fruits, Belgian chocolates on the menu.

The religious feast was then followed by a fun game where a number of symbolic objects were placed on a plate which she had to pick up. The objects included:

1. Books symbolizing learning.

2. A pen symbolizing wisdom.

3. Money/Jewels symbolizing wealth.

4. Clay symbolizing land/property.

5. Knife symbolizing dignity of a king.

The Annaprashan game plate

It is believed that the object a baby picks up from the plate represents his/her area of interest in future. In our case, she picked the book and pen at the same time with both her hands.

With so much to arrange and a little baby to take care of, here are some handy and delightful tips for a hassle-free event:

-Send a colourful, well-worded invite with your baby’s picture to all the guests.

-Plan ahead of the event. Select your child’s traditional outfit, call the priest and arrange for the puja articles much in advance.

-Arrange for adequate space and decorations in your house or at the banquet hall for the guests.

-Make sure your baby is well rested before the ceremony. Carry a stocked up diaper bag if the venue of the event is not home.

-Keep few familiar toys handy to distract the baby if he gets overwhelmed by the crowd.

-Ensure the fabric of your baby’s outfit does not discomfort her. If you are planning to use any jewellery on your baby, make sure it doesn’t hurt him/her.

-Share your plans in detail with your spouse or a family member. In case you disappear to feed your baby or calm her down, someone can take over the show!

-Hire a photographer or take charge to capture all the precious moments of your baby’s big day.

Maa and Aarvi’s precious and memorable moment

Whether conducted on a big or small scale, any parent would love to make their child’s Annaprashan ceremony memorable. So go ahead, make this occasion of your baby’s life, a momentous one.

If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the Annaprashan ceremony, please share them in the Comment box below.

Meeting the Buddhas

Events & Experiences

I always consider myself as a simple Buddhist follower, I have some kind of confidence in it, and thus I want to study it more. Yesterday, I was invited by my friend from McLeodganj Monastery to attend a Prayer lead by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the occasion of Je Tsongkhapa’s death anniversary (Gaden Ngamchoe) at Buddha Jayanti Park in New Delhi. At first I was not very sure that I will go considering the chilly, foggy morning and early hours of the event but I did not want to miss out on the amazing opportunity to hear His Holiness speak directly to us. I wanted it so bad, i decided to go against all the odds and I reached the venue 45 minutes late when it was all crowded with people, His disciples from all over the world.

His Holiness leading a public prayer offering!

One of the biggest conveniences of being a blogger-you MAY get consideration for the front row 😉

Crowd joining in prayers

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A view of the gathered crowd joining in prayers

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The statue of the Buddha at Buddha Jayanti Park in New Delhi

For me this meetup was about creating community with like-minded Buddhist oriented friends from all traditions. This is a place to spend time with folks who are passionate about their path, as well as looking for friends to spend time with.

Girls in their beautiful traditional outfits!

I am always searching for spaces to meet people and learn about the vivid and inspiring journey to the heart of the rich and magical realm of Buddhist visualization and devotional practices. For people interested in Buddhism or meditation or just leading a kinder life who are up for meeting like minded people, I am connected to a Facebook page too… join me! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Buddha-Nature-Sanchali/438640282841891?ref=hl

Feel free to message me with ideas for a round-table of 20ish people at quiet coffee shops, restaurants with side rooms, yoga studios, community centers, etc. Everyone is invited! Thanks y’all for dropping by my blog. Any and all feedback on it is welcome. Until my next post take care everyone and come back to blog.

XOXO

~Sanchali

Gibson Through The Lens

Events & Experiences, Hotel, Travel and Food

Gibson Through the Lens kicked off at Tease & Oval Lounge, Vivanta by Taj – Gurgaon; admission is free and open to all between 12pm-12am. Gibson Through The Lens has already exhibited to high acclaim in London, Berlin, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney and Los Angeles.

The exhibition debuted in India at Wink, Vivanta by Taj – President, Mumbai before moving onto 4 more Vivanta cities – Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore and Gurgaon.

The world-class photographic exhibition comprised of 60 vintage and rare photographs of the World’s Greatest Guitarists. It was an highly acclaimed and historic, musical photo exhibition and it displayed rare visuals of the world’s most iconic artists enjoying private moments with their Gibson guitars, be it backstage, on the tour bus, at home or live on stage. The exhibition showcased the works of thirty of the world’s most respected rock photographers including Baron Wolman, Neal Preston, Mick Rock, Bob Guerin, Ross.