Written Description of Project

Gastronomic Romance: Cooking for Love (A Written Description)

For my final project, I am creating a cooking video that focuses on preparing food for a date night. When considering the assignment, I knew I wanted to center it on something that I'm passionate about and that I could have fun with. I've always played the Food Network cooking show host when cooking in my house, and I've relentlessly repeated to anyone who would listen that I'd make a great Food Network personality, and so, I merged my love of cooking with my belief that food brings people together and food is love...and viola, Gastronomic Romance emerged.

I have three goals: 1) to have fun with the project and do something a bit cheeky, 2) to learn and play with various applications, and 3) to make it look as professional as I possibly can. Upon completion, I plan on putting it on the blog I started for this class: www.subversivewhimsies.blogspot.com I am aiming to reach anyone who is a foodie and likes watching cooking videos, or who is looking for a simple and affordable recipe. I made the recipe very guy-friendly; it is a simple dish of pasta with pancetta, peas and ricotta, as well as a side of baby broccoli. I filmed a bit at Trader Joes (and was told to stop for "legal reasons"), though I was sure to get a shot of myself leaving the store. My boyfriend and I filmed a shot of us tasting the food at the end, and the rest is of me cooking and narrating the process. The narration is basically the recipe, along with the steps and my bits of input and attempts to be charming, (at which I think I was very successful).

This weekend, I plan on using Final Cut Pro to edit the video. It is too long (right now it's at 20 minutes), so I have a lot of cutting to do. Also, I want to add written text, particularly the measurements, so that as I'm saying "1 tspn. salt," it shows it written out on the screen. I am considering using a handwritten-looking script in white, but that may change when I see it on the screen. I want a script that is informal and friendly, and I want the viewer to be able to read the measurements easily. Also, I am hoping I can add in some music, so that when I am stirring the pasta, or leaving the story, a bit of whimsical instrumental music plays. I am inspired by Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network; I love the classy music that plays, as well as the way the show is shot.

As for the written text itself, here is the recipe:

Spaghetti with Pancetta & Peas

1 box spaghetti

1/2 cup pancetta, cubed

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/2 cup Italian parsley, chopped

1- 1/12 cups ricotta cheese

1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

1 tbsp. olive oil

fine sea salt & pepper

1.While the pasta is cooking in heavily salted water, take out a large skillet and sauté the pancetta and red pepper flakes in olive oil.

2.When the pancetta has rendered some fat and is getting nice and brown, add in the peas, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1 tspn. Italian seasoning and a pinch of salt and let cook for 1-2 minutes.

3.The pasta should be al dente, at which point reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, and drain the pasta.

4.Add the pasta to the pot with the pancetta and mix it together. Add ricotta cheese & 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water; you may want to add more to help form a sauce. Cook for 1 minute.

5.Toss in the chopped parsley, and drizzle some olive oil on top. Enjoy!