‘Having the opportunity to use photos as our inspiration was very intriguing for me because it combines my two favorite worlds of cooking and photography into one event.’
CHEF Josh Boutwood, with two Michelin stars, prepared an amazing seven-course meal inspired by photos he captured with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, co-engineered with Leica photography technology.
PHOTOGRAPH courtesy of Xiaomi
Xiaomi Philippines showcased the imaging capabilities of its new Xiaomi 17 Series through an immersive culinary experience that merged smartphone photography with fine dining.
Held on 9 March at Helm, the event titled “From Lens to Palate” brought together a select group of guests for a seven-course dinner created by chef Josh Boutwood. The dishes were inspired by photographs captured using the Xiaomi 17 Series, which features Leica-powered imaging technology.
The event highlighted Xiaomi’s continuing collaboration with Leica, a brand known globally for its photography heritage.
Boutwood, a two-star Michelin chef and longtime Leica camera user, was tasked with transforming the visual elements of selected photographs into a curated dining experience.
Each course represented a specific image and narrative.
The dinner began with a dish of tuna, coconut and dill inspired by a photograph of a calm morning in Balesin. It was followed by egg, octopus and cucumber based on a photo of the chef’s son looking out of an airplane window.
Another course featured Arctic toothfish with ink and hay, reflecting a monochrome image of the ocean. A dish of rice porridge, crab fat and tomato oil was inspired by a photograph of a crab fisher in Sweden.
The menu also included quail with adlai and pecorino based on a geometric image of a Metro Manila skyscraper, followed by Wagyu steak with potato and smoked bacon inspired by a barbecue experience in a remote smokehouse.
The meal concluded with a dessert of yogurt, raspberry and champagne inspired by a visit to a raspberry vineyard in Bali.
Boutwood said the concept allowed him to combine his passions for cooking and photography.
“Having the opportunity to use photos as our inspiration was very intriguing for me because it combines my two favorite worlds of cooking and photography into one event,” he said.
“And what has happened is that having these beautiful captured images. We looked at the photos and we looked at ways where we could really bring out the most of that photo in an edible form.”
He also praised the Xiaomi 17 Ultra’s photography capabilities.
“I was so surprised because the moment I picked up the phone [Xiaomi 17 Ultra], it’s almost as if I could walk around with no camera bag and still capture those same memories with the same type of pop in one very small package,” Boutwood added.
Xiaomi Philippines head of Marketing Tomi Adrias said the initiative highlights the brand’s belief that technology can serve as a platform for creative expression.
“At Xiaomi, we believe technology should be an enabler of art,” Adrias said.
“With the Xiaomi 17 Series and our continued partnership with Leica, we are giving users more than a camera; it’s also a medium for sophisticated storytelling in their everyday lives.”
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