Final Project - Reflection

The morning started with an easy bread recipe from a friend I decided to serve a roll with the soup

I thought a bread roll would be nicer to serve opposed to a slice of homemade bread. Nia, Carol and I wrote the pumpkin soup recipe on a paper bag. I thought my class mates could either keep the recipe or they could use the bag as a rubbish bag to put the eco biodegradable utensil, tissue and cup in.

The soup recipe available for the other users of the student common room. 

When I saw this photo I was thinking how ironic that I have another image of Pascals hands with food

I'm always busy in the kitchen when we have family/friend shared dinners, so it was nice to be able to answer Pascal and Joseph about the bacon, toasted pumpkin seeds and sour cream which were extras for the soup if you wanted them.

Before she even knew what soup I made the first thing Katie said was ... can I smell pumpkin soup? Did you make pumpkin soup? I look at this image and it makes me smile. Katie had a second helping of the soup

Introducing my buddy Pale Ailaoa I was so rapt he made it to my presentation. In fact I was rapt that everyone made it :D  

A couple of photos of of my class mates eating the soup. It was actually nice to have a conversation with my class mates about the soup Pascal had tried ready made soup but said you can't beat homemade. Jason didn't like pumpkin but he liked the soup. Joseph said he couldn't wait to make the soup himself and everyone commented how nice it was. As a home and chief cook it was nice to hear everyones feed back. 

After a long morning I couldn't tell you what I was talking about but I know I was on a high, I was glad that most of the soup was gone at this stage and that my presentation was over and done with!

My Lecturer and some of my class mates ... manaakitanga right there!

Reflection : I always worry when serving food that someone might get ill I don't know why so I freaked out at the prospect of the soup not being heated through properly and hence I had to serve 1/2 an hour later than I anticipated. 

I wish I had some of Mikes pumpkins on display, later Mike said I could've taken some and cut them up for everyone to take home as we have a lot stored. 

I did ask Mike if he would like to join us and he would've if it wasn't for work commitments I think it would've been nice if he could answer any questions and to acknowledge him as his vegetable garden is where I get a lot of my food inspirations from. 

It would've been nice to have some photos of Mikes garden and his vegetable on display as maybe another talking point and to see what he grows.

I was glad I asked Nia to take photos for me and I showed her some of the photos that had already been taken and also showed her ones from the internet of ones that I'd really like taken so I realise the importance of explaining and directing someone to take images you want and I am pleased that Nia was able to do this for me.

I also appreciate the fact that Nia stayed and helped me clear up again I feel the manaakitanga.

On a personal note I found the research for this project of Participatory Art very hard and I wondered if doing Food Photography would've been easier but I realise I do this already by posting most of my food photos on Instagram and Facebook so I knew I would have to push myself to do this project especially when I was asked What makes this Art?