Last week, we popped by Il Palio — Clairemont client and Chapel Hill’s AAA-rated Four Diamond regional Italian restaurant — to conduct a quick photo shoot. Armed with our trusty Canon, we nabbed images of everything from raspberry gelee to Italian caviare.

During the holidays, Il Palio offers its own twist on the classic Manhattan, dubbed “Old Smoky.” This winter cocktail features brown sugar smoked on Il Palio’s signature wood-fired grill and a garnish of — that’s right — candied bacon. Everything’s better with bacon, even your nightcap.

We love a good food photo. Check out this fun example of how to get a great shot!