As one of the city's most noted food stylists, JoAnne Strongman is an artist with an ever-changing canvas, one day she'll spend hours primping a double cheeseburger, the next exquistely sculpting a dish of chocolate parfait. "I'm also a painter and I use the same design principles [for food styling] as in my art," says Strongman. "I once moved one piece of feta cheese on a slice of pizza and immediately everything looked balanced.

The dishes don't simply have to be irresistible; it's also how it's presented. Steaming stew on a deep burgundy tablecloth along side two glasses of red wine conjures up romantic feelings, but each prop must be perfectly positioned.

Strongman won't say what she charges - the industry norm is $500 a day and up - but acknowledges food styling is a good living. She started young, learning the art as a child growing up in Toronto from her mom, Evelyn Hullah, home economist and pioneer in food styling in Canada.

    

While she loves the intensity of her work, Strongman keeps it in perspective. "A jam company was doing this lifestyle shot about the jam, about how unbelievably happy this lady gets when she bites into the piece of toast. It got so intense, the director was freaking out," she recalls. "Then you realize, hey, no one is dying here, it's just jam."