About

Born in Hong Kong, Lakshmi Harilela is a passionate chef, food photographer and stylist. Lakshmi’s passion for food started when she was just a little girl. ”I was cooking since I was 12 years old, alongside my late Father, Mohan Harilela. My family ran restaurants, so I was always sneaking into the kitchens and eating everything I could get my hands on. Since a very young age, I have always had a passion for food, as I was constantly surrounded by it.”

She studied the art of cuisine in Switzerland at Les Roches Hotel Management School and earned her Bachelors of Business Administration in 2003. Lakshmi has worked as a chef for hotels and restaurants such as Greens in San Francisco The Intercontinental, The Excelsior and The Landmark Mandarin here in Hong Kong. In 2006, she opened up Love True Food operating a successful health food business. In 2008, she picked up a camera and fell in love with capturing the essence of food. Her knowledge of food extends to recipe creation, food installations, cooking demos, food styling and photography. 

With the competitive advantage of food styling and photography, Hong Kong's Lakshmi Harilela offers a one stop shop for all food and beverage imagery within Hong Kong. 

Taking on various editorial projects and art direction, Lakshmi united her passion for cooking and food styling combined with photography and has worked for high end clients such as Miele, The Intercontinental, Peninsula, Marriott Sky City, ThreeSixty, Oliver’s Deli, Dot Cod, Osteria, Momojein, La Cuccina Italiana, W 28 Steak House, Santorini to name a few.

Her unique style captures food in its true essence and her experience with food extends beyond the kitchen as a food stylist, art director and installation coordinator. She conducts shoots for seasonal promotions, branding, food menus, advertising and installations.  

Away from the camera, Lakshmi is a Integral Hatha Yoga teacher and Diving enthusiast. She is passionate about adopting a healthy lifestyle and is a keen environmentalist.