International Nachos Day
It’s International Nachos Day—proof that even the most accidental snack can earn a global holiday. The humble pile of chips, cheese, and jalapeños that began as a quick improvisation now has its own calendar slot, official hashtags, and corporate menu boards. Somewhere, Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya might be amused.
Anaya first created nachos in 1943 in Piedras Negras, Mexico, when a group of diners arrived after hours. He fried tortilla chips, added melted cheese and sliced jalapeños, and served what became a timeless Tex-Mex invention. After his death in 1975, October 21st was declared the day to honor both the man and the moment—celebrated each year with cheese, crunch, and excess.
Fast-forward a few decades, and fast food turned the once-local recipe into a mass-market standard. Taco Bell brought nachos into the drive-thru era, eventually landing on the Nachos BellGrande—an instantly recognizable mix of seasoned beef, cheese sauce, sour cream, tomatoes, beans, and all the optional extras that marketing could justify.
My photograph of two Nachos BellGrande orders combined on a black background captures exactly that—fast food in its purest, most unapologetic form. No plating, no garnish, just the commercial version of a 1943 invention, elevated by light and isolation.
See more of my ongoing series Food From Bag to Background at https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0
🥪 National Eat A Hoagie Day
Forget politics, pandemics, and Wall Street — today it’s all about National Eat A Hoagie Day.
The celebration honors the long, layered sandwich that goes by many names: hoagie, sub, grinder, hero. The tradition traces back to Italian-American communities in Philadelphia in the early 20th century, where the combination of Italian cold cuts, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and dressing was piled high into crusty rolls. The name “hoagie” is often credited to Philadelphia shipyard workers nicknamed “hoggies,” who carried these hearty sandwiches to work.
The day recognizes both the sandwich itself and its many regional variations across the United States. While “hoagie” is Philadelphia’s word of choice, most of the country knows them as subs, and in New England they’re just as likely to be called grinders. Whatever the name, the essence is the same: a long roll, stacked with meats, cheeses, vegetables, and that messy-but-perfect balance of oil, vinegar, and seasonings.
For this year’s National Eat A Hoagie Day, I photographed three Jersey Mike’s Original Italian hoagies, cut and stacked against my signature black background. Jersey Mike’s, which started as a single sub shop in Point Pleasant, New Jersey in 1956, has grown into a national chain with over 2,000 locations. They’ve built their reputation on freshly sliced meats and cheeses, rolls baked fresh daily, and sandwiches made to order “Mike’s Way” — onions, lettuce, tomato, oil, vinegar, and oregano.
The hoagie is both a cultural icon and a humble meal — straight from the bag, unstyled, layered with flavor and history.
And if you think hoagies look good, wait until you see what happens when tacos, burgers, and sushi get the same black-background treatment. Explore my ongoing series, “Food From Bag To Background,” here: https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0 Just don’t click on an empty stomach.
A Monument to Cheese Pizza
Another entry from the calendar of invented holidays: National Cheese Pizza Day. As if anyone needed a reminder to eat melted cheese on bread. Still, here it is — and so is my monument to it. Two frozen Red Baron cheese pizzas sliced and stacked into a tower of excess, photographed against a black background.
Cheese pizza is the baseline of the whole idea. From Naples in the 1800s with mozzarella and tomato on flatbread, to Lombardi’s in New York serving it to immigrants in the early 1900s, it’s the foundation on which every other topping variation was built. Frozen in the 1950s, it became the fallback dinner most of us know.
So if today calls for honoring cheese pizza, this is mine.
See more in my Commercial Food Photography gallery:
👉 https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000WFAqDJQOgKU
National Panini Day — Grocery Store Counter Style
Finding a panini in the world of fast food is a bit like spotting a vintage sports car in a grocery store parking lot — rare, but worth the stop. My hunt ended here in Palm Springs, not at a café or chain, but at the counter of Jensen’s Foods. Freshly made when ordered for takeout. Not fast food fast, but quick enough.
This is their Arrivederci Panini: peppercorn turkey, white cheddar, Genoa salami, onion, pepperoncini, and basil on focaccia bread, finished with Italian vinaigrette. Pressed to order, sliced, and packed to go — it’s proof that “fast” can still be fresh.
The panini — an Italian term for a small bread roll or sandwich — became popular in Italy in the mid-20th century and found its way into American cafés in the 1980s and 1990s, often prepared on a ridged grill to create its signature pressed texture and golden stripes. Once considered an upscale alternative to the standard sandwich, today the panini is a staple in cafés and delis around the world.
Photographed here against my signature black background, the stacked halves show off the grilled bread, melted cheese, and layers of savory filling. A fitting way to mark the day — and maybe an excuse to pick up lunch.
Hungry? More of my Commercial Food Photography on my website at https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000WFAqDJQOgKU
Behind the Scenes: Cluckin Bun for National Fried Chicken Day
Most people are posting fireworks and flags this weekend. I already posted Emily, my AI assistant in a bikini poolside, making a Caesar salad for the weekend—so now I’m posting fried chicken.
Today is National Fried Chicken Day, so I picked up these Jr sandwiches from Cluckin Bun, a Nashville-style chicken spot that’s popped up here in the Palm Springs area. This shot is a bit of behind the scenes—the sandwiches just as they came, still in the takeout packaging, before I photographed them unwrapped directly on the black background for my Bag to Background series.
That’s what the series is about: no stylists, no fake sauces, no nonsense—just real fast food, exactly as it is, photographed against a clean black background. For this project, I’ve been seeking out the lesser-known fast food spots like Cluckin Bun, along with the big chains, to capture what people are actually eating.
View my Bag to Background gallery here: https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0/I0000nUG8tfk8Gdc
Thanks!
Sonic Hot Dogs for Memorial Day
Memorial Day might be known for backyard grills, parades, and remembrance—but let’s not forget the American tradition of food, and especially fast food.
This photo features a stack of Sonic hot dogs—five All-American dogs topped with ketchup, mustard, relish, and chopped onions, and five Chili Cheese Coneys loaded with beef chili and melted cheddar. They were ordered with standard condiments, photographed unaltered, and presented exactly as served. No stylists, no tweaks. Just how they looked coming out of the bag.
Part of my ongoing From Bag to Background series, this shoot keeps the focus on the food itself—raw, excessive, and unmistakably American. The visual contrast of bright toppings against a black background amplifies what these items really are: edible symbols of road trips, summer, and casual indulgence.
Sonic Drive-In has been a fixture of American car culture since 1953, when it began as a root beer stand in Shawnee, Oklahoma. It quickly expanded into a nationwide chain known for its curbside service, carhops on roller skates, and all-American menu. Hot dogs—especially chili dogs—have been a core part of that menu since the early days, long before the arrival of the footlong in 2010. Sonic’s hot dogs remain rooted in drive-in tradition, served fast, topped generously, and wrapped in foil like a handshake from another era.
To see the full From Bag to Background series, visit the gallery on my website at SecondFocus.com
National Crunchy Taco Day With Tiny Tacos
Happy National Crunchy Taco Day! 🌮🔥
Jack in the Box Tiny Tacos, stacked high and ready to devour. Crispy shells, seasoned filling, melted cheese, and just enough mess to make them irresistible. Introduced in 2020, these bite-sized tacos quickly became a fan favorite—perfect for snacking, sharing, or just indulging in a pile of crunch.
National Crunchy Taco Day celebrates the hard-shell taco, a staple of Tex-Mex cuisine since the early 20th century. While tacos have deep roots in Mexican history, the crunchy variety became widely popular in the U.S. thanks to fast-food chains and mass production, making them an icon of Americanized taco culture.
Hungry now? Maybe you will like my Food Photography and other projects. Visit my website at http://SecondFocus.com Thanks!
National Chinese Food Takeout Day!
I know it is Election Day however it is also National Chinese Food Takeout Day!
To celebrate here is my close-up of Panda Express’ signature Orange Chicken, glistening in its tangy-sweet sauce. The crispy, golden-brown chicken pieces are perfectly coated, with flecks of orange zest and sesame seeds peeking through. This dish, created in 1987 by Panda Express’ head chef Andy Kao, quickly became the chain’s most beloved item, fueling the brand’s rise in popularity across the U.S. and beyond. With over 2,000 locations worldwide, Panda Express continues to serve millions of customers who crave the bold, addictive flavors of their Orange Chicken—a dish that has become a fast-food legend in its own right.
For my Food Photography and much more visit my website at http://SecondFocus.com Thanks!
National Hamburger Day
Today May 28, 2024 is National Hamburger Day! It is the USA’s favorite food, followed closely by the Cheeseburger. As I have read, evidence suggests that the Hamburger actually originated here in the USA. It certainly is the mainstay of the entire Fast Food industry. Do you have a guess where this Burger is from? More of my food photographs on my website at SecondFocus.com Thanks!
National Totally Chipotle Day
Photographed as art and most created without any special presentation or styling. Direct from Bag to Background. More on my website at http://SecondFocus.com Thanks!
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