In a weekend Epicurious takeover dubbed #EpiWeekendTakeover, plant‑based photographer, recipe developer, and The First Mess creator Laura Wright (@thefirstmess) curated a series of vibrant food images and answered questions that reveal her creative approach. Drawing from her upbringing in Southern Ontario, culinary training, and devotion to seasonal, vegan cooking, Laura offers insight into how to cook and photograph plants with intention, ease—and a gentle sense of wonder.
Simple Weeknight Meals, Rooted in Seasonality
When asked about her go‑to dinner, Laura describes meals that vary by season—but always pivot around whole grains, roasted vegetables, and plant‑based protein. For her weekday meals, she often assembles a tray of roasted veggies paired with pasta, quinoa, farro, or rice. To it she’ll add chickpeas, lentils, nuts, or seeds based on what’s on hand. If she’s cooking something comforting, a big pot of soup or stew accompanied by crusty bread is her fallback.
This strategy reflects Laura’s philosophy: dishes should be nourishing, delicious, doable, and adaptable depending on ingredients and schedule.
Food Photography: Let the Dish Speak in Natural Light
Laura’s signature aesthetic relies on natural light and spaciousness in the frame. Rather than shot close‑up, her compositions often step back slightly—revealing the context of the plate and the whole dish. She emphasizes how gentle daylight transforms produce into luminous, inviting cuisine that feels alive and uncluttered.
That extra space gives viewers a sense of place and mood, strengthening the visual storytelling behind the recipe.
A Childhood Spark: The Taste of Summer Sun
Laura recalls one of her earliest food memories as transformative: plucking warm raspberries from her father’s garden and eating one right off the vine. She describes the experience as tasting like jam and summer sun—a moment when food became meaningful beyond the physical act of eating. That memory continues to inform her work and her emotional connection to seasonal ingredients.
Module of Surprising Flavor: Old Bay Seasoning
Among her “secret” kitchen tips, Laura says she sprinkles Old Bay seasoning on nearly everything. She enjoys how it layers in unexpected warmth and depth—often surprising and delighting dinner guests.
Creative Inspiration: Following Feeds and Markets Alike
Laura admires the Instagram account @brooklynsupper, highlighting its ability to combine local, seasonal produce in striking seasonal compositions. She views accounts like that as ahead of her own seasonal calendar—one week ahead in ingredient availability—giving her a culinary heads‑up and inspiration for what to try next.
Plant‑Based by Design, Accessible by Choice
From her early years growing up around her family’s produce market in Ontario, Laura developed a deep respect for seasonal whole‑foods and plant‑forward meals. After culinary school and restaurant experience, she launched The First Mess in 2011—motivated to create wholesome, beautiful, plant‑based recipes that appeal to everyone, not just strict vegans.
Her goal: to make plant‑based eating feel reachable, satisfying and full of flavor, without overwhelming complexity.
Balancing Beauty and Practicality
In interviews, Laura describes her recipe‑development process as part creative impulse, part problem solving. She begins with a craving or a seasonal ingredient, simplifies ingredients and steps, and tests so recipes are approachable—not just appealing in photos. Her lessons come from years refining dishes to be both delicious and doable in a busy home kitchen.
The Aesthetics of Abundance
Laura’s visual style and cooking both celebrate an earthy abundance: bowls of roasted vegetables, whole grains, fresh produce, deep colors, simple props. She emphasizes nourishing all senses—from vibrant color and texture to the aroma of roasting vegetables or rich seasoning. Her photography is a mirror of her cooking philosophy: plant‑heavy meals that feel light yet grounding.
Final Thoughts: What Makes Laura Wright’s Style Unique
Seasonal simplicity meets thoughtful creativity in Laura’s approach. She champions:
Whole‑plant cooking built around what’s fresh and familiar
A focus on doable beauty in everyday meals
A photographic style driven by daylight, openness, and visual warmth
Delicious surprise from unexpected touches
Recipes that invite all levels of home cooks to try plant‑based meals with confidence
Her Epicurious Instagram takeover offered a window into that world: both lush vegetable imagery and down‑to‑earth guidance for making plant‑based meals accessible, nourishing, and visually uplifting.