Today I kicked off my new relationship with the Sample Circuit with a certain degree of panache at Pop!! Restaurant in downtown St. Paul. Quick explanation of Sample Circuit: once a month there’s a happy hour event hosted by one of the more interesting restaurants in the Twin Cities, a different one each month. For the price of your ticket you get appetizer-sized versions of the chef’s favorites from the menu, wine samples, special drinks, and a goodies bag. From everything I’ve seen and heard it’s always a party, and tickets always sell out real quick. I’ll be doing some event photography, some food shots, some networking.

But what I’m really excited about is the chance to hang out with chefs. By way of the Sample Circuit Blog there will be a chef profile prior to each event, and I’ll be doing portraits to compliment the interviews. I love chefs – they’re artists, they’ve got personality, and they understand hospitality. They’re like rock stars with razor sharp knives. And sometimes they give me food (hint hint to future subjects. . .).

Clark Knutson at Pop!! Restaurant

Mr. Clark Knutson gets big props from me. Not everyone would have the self confidence to pose with a small stuffed Rice Crispies Pop character in front of a Spam painting, but Clark didn’t hesitate. Fun times.

For those of you who are foodies, a couple tidbits from Clark’s interview: all those latin and world influences in the Pop!! menu? Picked up during his time chef-ing in New York, Miami, and Scottsdale. Favorite ethnic places around town? The variety up and down University Avenue, Ngon Vietmamese in particular. So there you have it. For more, check out the Sample Circuit Blog.

More work at chrisbohnhoff.com.