- Title: BRAZIL: Chef carves presidential candidates on watermelons
- Date: 16th September 2010
- Summary: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (SEPTEMBER 15, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF PAVILLION WHERE A BRAZILIAN FOOD AND HOTEL FAIR WAS HELD CLOSE OF SIGN OUTSIDE FAIR STAND READING "CARVING STUDIO" BRAZILIAN SALAD CHEF, MILTON NISTI, CARVING WATERMELON NISTI PREPARING TO CARVE BRAZIL'S RULING PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DILMA ROUSSEFF FROM WATERMELON NISTI SHARPENING KNIFE VARIOUS OF NISTI CARVING ROUSSEFF FROM WATERMELON (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZILIAN SALAD CHEF, MILTON NISTI, SAYING: "The stencil (technique) is good because it is easy to identify (the figure). Sometimes the caricature using the relief carving (technique) -- because of the watermelon's color -- may make it harder for the person to identify. So a person could have identified one (candidate) and not the other, but we had to be neutral. So, we chose a faster technique which is also taxing, but which would keep the three (candidates) at the same level." VARIOUS OF NISTI CARVING GREEN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MARINA SILVA FROM WATERMELON WATERMELONS DISPLAYED ON FAIR STAND DESIGNED WITH THE FACES OF THE CANDIDATES ROUSSEFF, SILVA AND MAIN OPPOSITION CANDIDATE JOSE SERRA FAIR VISITORS TAKING PHOTOS OF THE CARVED WATERMELONS CARVED WATERMELONS ON STAND DISPLAY VARIOUS OF VISITORS TAKING PHOTOS FAIR VISITOR ELAINE DOS SANTOS, TAKING PHOTOS OF WATERMELONS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) GASTRONOMY STUDENT, ELAINE DOS SANTOS, SAYING: "I think this is really different������� It is very detailed and very refined." CLOSE OF ROUSSEFF CARVING CLOSE OF SERRA CARVING CLOSE OF SERRA'S PARTY LOGO CARVED ON WATERMELON CLOSE OF SILVA'S CARVING
- Embargoed: 2nd October 2010 12:51
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA55IHQL91FJCT7KEHCW0PLEZ5H
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: As Brazil's presidential elections draw closer, a chef taking part in a food fair in Sao Paulo decided to carve the faces of the country's three main candidates on watermelons on Wednesday (September 15).
Using only a sharp knife and a printed outline of each of the presidential hopefuls, salad chef Milton Nisti managed to draw impressive portraits on the juicy watermelons.
It took him nearly ten hours to sculpt ruling candidate Dilma Rousseff, her main opposition rival Jose Serra and the Green Party's Marina Silva onto the fruits.
Nisti, who learned the Thai technique in a gastronomy school in Italy, said he chose to make the carvings using the stencil method to make them easier to recognize.
"The stencil (technique) is good because it is easy to identify (the figure). Sometimes the caricature using the relief carving (technique) -- because of the watermelon's color -- may make it harder for the person to identify. So a person could have identified one (candidate) and not the other, but we had to be neutral. So, we chose a faster technique which is also taxing, but which would keep the three (candidates) at the same level," he said.
He said drawing Rousseff's face was the most taxing of the three because of her detailed hair and eyes.
The watermelons were put on display at his fair stand, drawing the attention of most visitors who walked by.
Gastronomy student, Elaine dos Santos, said the idea was very original.
"I think this is really different������� It is very detailed and very refined," she said.
And while Brazilians wait to vote for their next president, they will have the chance to elect the best watermelon carving at the food fair this year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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