Valter’s of Salt Lake City | Chef Memoir and Cookbook

Last summer I got to check off a career bucket list item. I got to photograph my first cookbook. It was such an amazing experience. Most jobs that I work on are more short lived, but doing a cookbook requires much more time. With all this time, I got to know Valter, Elaine (the author), Christina (the creative director), and some of the talented people who work at Valter’s. We photographed in the restaurant, in the kitchen, the farm where he sources produce, and the place butches where he gets his meat. It was a dynamic project that kept me on my toes. The time spent with them will be something I’ll always look back on with fondness. 

Valter is a true artist. His meals are not only delicious, but inventive, creative, and beautiful. He sketches each dish before it’s created. Now I’ve seen other chefs do this as I’ve watched various documentaries about chefs on Netflix, but to see him in action, was a different experience all together. The dishes we samples were divine and inventive. Watching him handle produce on the farm to putting ingredients together in the kitchen I could see the care and the passion that he has for the food. It comes across in his restaurant as well. 

You can view portions of the book and order it here.