Vegetable and Fruit Platter Arrangement by Richard Testani

Many of my readers have expressed an interest in getting into business with Vegetable and Fruit Carving arrangements. After receiving “oooohs” and “aaaahhs” from their edible displays, friends and families have encouraged them to try turning their passion for making beautiful vegetable and fruit carving arrangements into profit.

Today, I want to introduce you to one of my readers/customer, Richard Testani, who is a professional in vegetable and fruit carving. You may have come across Richard’s name if you’ve read my blog post Radish Flowers | An Easy Vegetable Carving for Beginners. I think you will really enjoy his vegetable and fruit carving work and I hope his story will inspire you! continue reading…

Ruben Olano - professional fruit carver for Disneyland Resorts

Fruit carvings are a wonderful addition to a meal for any special event. Themed fruit carvings can serve as a decorative table display or centerpiece, or can be used to dress up a fruit or hors d’oeuvres platter. 

Today, I want to share with you some photos from a reader, Ruben Olano, who used to work as a professional fruit decorator for Disneyland Resorts and Hotels. His fruit carvings were often displayed at special event buffets at the Disneyland hotels. I’m sure Ruben’s fruit carvings got many “oooohs” and “aahhhs” from the patrons dining the hotels. Take a look at some of Ruben’s fruit carvings – they may spark some ideas for your own centerpiece for a special event. 

If you’re new to fruit and vegetable carving, don’t worry, read on to find out how I can help you get started on making your own fruit carvings and edible arrangements for your next special event. continue reading…

Today, I want to give you an early look at some of the food art competitions and events coming up later this year. Food carving competitions are a great way to showcase the beautiful art of vegetable and fruit carving, and are an opportunity for like minded culinary enthusiasts to share and learn from each other.

Besides fruit carving, food art competitions and events can include cooking, ice carving, cake decorating and chocolate carving. Oh, and let’s not forget about a watermelon eating contest and watermelon face painting. Find out more about these fun and wacky fruit activities and how they are actually supporting a great cause! continue reading…

Thai fruit carvings were a part of the Songkran Festival that I attended

Earlier this month, I attended a Songkran Festival celebration held here in California. Also known as the Water Festival, the Songkran Festival celebrates Thailand’s New Year and is usually a time for self reflection and spiritual homage. The Songkran Festival takes place in Thailand every year between April 13th and 15th, but the fun festivities, which include friendly street water fights, can last for several weeks!

Although I haven’t had the chance to go to continue reading…

Ice bunny carving by David Utley

Today, I’d like to share with you some photos of cute melon bunny and ice bunny carvings sent it to me recently by professional and amateur fruit carvers and ice carvers.

Melon bunny and ice bunny carvings can be seen at large buffets in famous resorts like Disneyland at any time of the year. Check out these melon bunny and ice bunny carvings by professional artists.

Melon Bunny and Ice Bunny Carvings by Professional Fruit and Ice Carvers

Here are some professional melon bunny and ice bunny carvings that readers have shared with me. I think you will really enjoy them! continue reading…

Aneta Lekas carving fruit at the Riu Mambo in the Dominican Republic

How does a medical office assistant end up with a vegetable and fruit carving business, get a chance to showcase her skills at a famous Riu hotel in the Dominican Republic and possibly on a television show? 

This inspiring story is about one of my vegetable and fruit carving students/customers, Aneta Lekas. If you follow my blog, you may recall that I featured Aneta’s vegetable and fruit arrangements  in a previous post. I recently received more beautiful photos of her latest vegetable and fruit carvings, plus some exciting news that I wanted to share with you. I think you will find her story truly uplifting. continue reading…

Radish flowers bouquet taught in Nita’s free video lesson

Making carved radish flowers is a great way to “get your feet wet” with vegetable and fruit carving. Radishes are easy to work with and are usually accessible in your grocery store all year round. Their bright red skin and white interior makes for a beautiful color contrast that is perfect for making vegetable flowers.

My free radish bouquet is easy enough for beginners and pretty enough for professional fruit carving displays. In this article you will see examples of radish bouquets make by students and pros.

Readers of my blog who have signed up for my free lesson always have great photos to share from their first attempts at carving radish flowers. I recently featured some of these photos in a previous post: Radish Flowers Carved by Students of Free Lesson. I also wrote a blog post about how students made their own variations on the radish flowers idea: Delicious Fruit Edible Arrangements.                                                     

Since writing those posts, I’ve received more photos and comments from readers who have tried making radish flowers. I’d like to share them with you as it might give you ideas for making your own edible arrangements. continue reading…

Water Festival activities in Thailand to welcome the New year

The streets of Thailand will be splashing with fun, music and excitement for the Water Festival (also known as the Songkran Festival) between April 13^th to 15^th.

The Thai people are well known for their intricate and beautiful fruit carving. During the Songkran Festival  fruit carvings are prepared to display and share as you will see further down in this article. But first, let me show you why the Songkran festival is also called the Water Festival.

Anyone who is outside in Thailand during this time is a fair target for drive-by water shootings, water balloons and garden hoses. But not to worry, the Water Festival activities are all in good fun to welcome the Thai New Year. In fact, the Water Festival is a welcome relief from the hot weather in Thailand during April.

Many other countries in Asia also celebrate a New Year in April and regard this time as a period of transition to welcome positive changes, while clearing out negative elements from the past. Many of us may associate this idea with Spring season, such as spring cleaning, which doesn’t sound as fun as a massive street water fight! So I’d like to invite you on another armchair adventure to mystical Thailand for the Water Festival. continue reading…

Hindu New Year Festivities in India

New Year wishes in April? No, I’m not four months late ringing in 2012! Although here in the West, we welcomed the New Year on January 1st, there are many cultures, religions and countries around the world that celebrate a New Year in April.

In this sense, the New Year may not mark the beginning of a new calendar year that many of us are familiar with; instead, the New Year may symbolize the start of a new beginning in one’s life and a letting go of the past. I thought that this would be a fitting topic to share with you since it coincides with the arrival of Spring and the new life that comes with this Season! continue reading…

A carved pineapple eagle served with dinner on Jesse's cruise through Halong Bay, Vietnam

Today I’d like to invite you to go on a trip to Vietnam to see some exotic fruit carvings.

My nephew Jesse and his fiancee were recently traveled to Vietnam and had some pictures of amazing fruit carvings to show me.

Although I’m sure that seeing fruit carvings wasn’t the main high point of their trip, I’m glad they thought of me!

Actually, it was the 3 day “junk boat” tour through Halong Bay that was the real highlight.

Take a look at their photos and go on a mini-vacation without having to leave your home! continue reading…

Phung made a mango rose using the rose carving techniques taught in my "Carving Watermelons - Roses, buds and Leaves" video lesson.

In a recent post, I showed you photos of  melon roses that students carved after learning rose carving techniques from my lessons. Now, I’ll show you how these rose carving techniques are versatile when applied to other types of fruits and vegetables.

Rose Carving Techniques Applied to Tropical Fruits

I teach these rose carving techniques in my Carving Watermelons – Roses, Buds and Leaves lessons.

Once you learn these rose carving techniques, you can get creative with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Here is an example continue reading…

Here are a few really fun Christmas carving s including photos of carved melon and pumpkin Santas. Maybe they will give you ideas and inspiration for next year.

Pumpkin Santa Christmas Carving

This Santa Claus carved from pumpkin was carved by one of my customer/students Simon Paul Muscat. He sent these photos to me with a note saying,

“Hi, Just thought I’d do something different and maybe you would like to see it. First I did the beard from the same pumpkin but then I tried with cauliflower.

Merry Christmas

Simon”

Christmas Carving - Pumpkin Santa Carved by Simon Paul Muscat

continue reading…

Broccoli Christmas Tree with tomato garland by Michelle Parent

Last week I posted a video showing some ideas for vegetable and fruit carvings for Christmas. They were arrangements that would make Christmas pretty centerpieces. Here are some more great ideas for Christmas fruit and veggy carvings. Some simple and some more dramatic.

Easy, ‘No Carve’ Trees Make Festive Vegetable and Fruit Carvings for Christmas

After seeing the video with ideas for vegetable and fruit carving for Christmas, Michelle Parent made this lovely Christmas tree and sent me a photo today.

With this one continue reading…

Here are photos of the Thanksgiving Centerpiece that I made for my family’s Thanksgiving dinner. I hope that you enjoy seeing these photos.

You can see close ups of these vegetable flowers further down in this article.

Making  a Thanksgiving centerpiece can be a fun family activity. continue reading…

I’m preparing to have family over for Thanksgiving dinner later today. I took a minute to check my email and found that Jim Morgan who is an Executive Chef in Pennsylvania sent me this marvelous carving of a turkey carved from pumpkin. I had to take a moment to post this photo so that you could see it. Isn’t it great?

Turkey Carved from Pumpkin by Jim Morgan

Jim says that the tail and head are carved from a 2nd pumpkin. Great idea Jim.

Trukey carved from pumpkin by Jim Morgan

Here is another cute and easier way to
make a turkey carved from pumpkin. continue reading…

Witch Face Carved by Pam Leno

What a blast! What a memorable experience!

I had the honor of carving pumpkins at the White House for the first family’s Halloween trick or treat event.

The White House hosted a Halloween party with trick or treating for military families. The trick-or-treating was done on the front portico and drive way of the White House. Our team created a carved pumpkin display for the event.

How did I get invited? continue reading…

Ray Villafane is one of the best (if not THE best) pumpkin carvers ever.

Ray would never say that about himself, but I would! And thousand of others would agree with me.

You’ve seen his work in many viral emails that circulate at this time of year.

You’ve seen Ray Villafane win pumpkin carving competitions on the Food Network.

He’s appeared on The Today Show, the Evening News with Katie Couric, Martha Stewart and more.

Ray Villafane has carved all over the world and has even had the honor of carving pumpkins at the White House.

Now, you have an opportunity to learn secrets of outrageous pumpkin carving in a small LIVE class with Ray Villafane.  And it’s just in  time for Halloween!

Can Ray Villafane really teach you?

Ray Villafane taught art in K-12 schools for 13 years. So, he knows how to teach! If Ray can teach children, he can surely teach you. He is great at breaking it down to steps so that even a beginner can have great results with their pumpkin carvings. for those who already have pumpkin carving skills, he will take you to the next level. To see photos, video and details about Ray Villafane’s outrageous pumpkin carving class, click here.

Or visit http://www.vegetablefruitcarving.com/pumpkin-carving-instruction-ray-villafane/

With Ray Villafane’s expert instruction in a small class setting, you will be carving the most amazing Halloween pumpkins that you have ever carved!

Seats have been filling up fast, so take a look at this opportunity now.

When you go to the page that gives more detail about Ray Villafane’s live class, you will see lots more photos and videos of his amazing pumpkin carvings.

Ray Villafane and his carvings are truly amazing. With Ray Villafane’s expert instruction, you will amaze your friends and family with your outrageous 3D pumpkin  carvings this Halloween.

Melon rind carving is beautiful, too

James Perales with his Carvings

Here is another set of melon rind carving ideas. Watermelon carving does not just have to be about carving watermelons. Rinds can make pretty carvings, too.

Yesterday, I wrote an article about melon rind carving decorations and serving plates from watermelon rind. Today I want to share with you some more beautiful melon rind carving ideas.

These photos were sent to me and are the work of James Perales. He has taken the rind from honeydew and watermelon and carved it into decorations that really make his fruit display far more dramatic and beautiful that it otherwise would be. Keeping in mind that the rind would most likely be thrown out anyway, these melon rind carving decorations are very cost effective. continue reading…

Here is a very elaborate take on my watermelon cake idea. This video is by Tiron Gabi and shows a multi-tiered watermelon cake all carved from one very large watermelon.

Look at all that detail. continue reading…