Meet the food stylist who makes fake food and drink for films and TV shows – including the Kardashians and Netflix’s Umbrella Academy.
Lara McLean, 24, has been making fake food since she was 16 after becoming fascinated with her neighbour, Maria Mamourian’s, 69, business.
Lara took over the business in August 2023 and spends her days making handmade fake food such as martinis, cakes, cookies and burgers.
She uses a range of materials – often using resin for drinks, plaster for cakes, and clay for coffee beans.
Lara’s customers range from restaurants and shops like Ikea to movie productions and home stagers.
She is often in the dark as to what movie she is making the product for but has since spotted her fake food in the Kardashian’s, Umbrella Academy and Murdoch Mysteries.
Lara, a food stylist, from Burlington, Ontario, Canada, said: “I was watching the TV show Murdoch Mysteries.
“I saw the fake meats and chili stings hanging in a scene.
“I thought I think this is ours – and it turns out it was.
“I love bringing people’s visions to life.
“People are always blown away and say ‘that’s real?’
“If you love food and a bit of creativity anyone can do this.”
Lara used to visit her neighbour Maria as a child and would think the food was a toy.
She was able to get experience working for her aged 16 and began to learn the craft.
“I started creating the fake food.
“I started to really enjoy the creation process.
“I’d look at the real item and turn it into something fake.”
Lara went to Toronto university to study politics and history and started her own marketing company but continued to help Maria create the fake food.
When Maria decided to retire, Lara asked if she could take on the business and has now taken over at the beginning of this month.
She creates each product by looking at an image of the real item so she can “mimic it”.
Lara said: “We start by looking at the real item online and mimic that.
“We source materials that we think are best.
“We create it and then paint it and the usually add a layer of varnish.”
Lara says a drink can take two days to make – and each one costs $16 and up.
She said: “I love a fake drink.
“I love the margarita and tea and I love the candy apple.
“The drinks are hard to make look realistic.”
Lara makes all the products from her house and stores them in her basement.
She said: “It’s such a fun industry to be in.”
Movies, TV shows and places her fake foods have appeared in -
Murdoch Mysteries
Nancy Drew
Kardashians
Reaper's Image
Umbrella Academy
Cocktail Emporium - Toronto bar
Cavalleria Rusticana Opera at the Metropolitan Opera of New York
Retail displays for LCBO
Lambton Heritage Museum
IKEA
Lara McLean, 24, has been making fake food since she was 16 after becoming fascinated with her neighbour, Maria Mamourian’s, 69, business.
Lara took over the business in August 2023 and spends her days making handmade fake food such as martinis, cakes, cookies and burgers.
She uses a range of materials – often using resin for drinks, plaster for cakes, and clay for coffee beans.
Lara’s customers range from restaurants and shops like Ikea to movie productions and home stagers.
She is often in the dark as to what movie she is making the product for but has since spotted her fake food in the Kardashian’s, Umbrella Academy and Murdoch Mysteries.
Lara, a food stylist, from Burlington, Ontario, Canada, said: “I was watching the TV show Murdoch Mysteries.
“I saw the fake meats and chili stings hanging in a scene.
“I thought I think this is ours – and it turns out it was.
“I love bringing people’s visions to life.
“People are always blown away and say ‘that’s real?’
“If you love food and a bit of creativity anyone can do this.”
Lara used to visit her neighbour Maria as a child and would think the food was a toy.
She was able to get experience working for her aged 16 and began to learn the craft.
“I started creating the fake food.
“I started to really enjoy the creation process.
“I’d look at the real item and turn it into something fake.”
Lara went to Toronto university to study politics and history and started her own marketing company but continued to help Maria create the fake food.
When Maria decided to retire, Lara asked if she could take on the business and has now taken over at the beginning of this month.
She creates each product by looking at an image of the real item so she can “mimic it”.
Lara said: “We start by looking at the real item online and mimic that.
“We source materials that we think are best.
“We create it and then paint it and the usually add a layer of varnish.”
Lara says a drink can take two days to make – and each one costs $16 and up.
She said: “I love a fake drink.
“I love the margarita and tea and I love the candy apple.
“The drinks are hard to make look realistic.”
Lara makes all the products from her house and stores them in her basement.
She said: “It’s such a fun industry to be in.”
Movies, TV shows and places her fake foods have appeared in -
Murdoch Mysteries
Nancy Drew
Kardashians
Reaper's Image
Umbrella Academy
Cocktail Emporium - Toronto bar
Cavalleria Rusticana Opera at the Metropolitan Opera of New York
Retail displays for LCBO
Lambton Heritage Museum
IKEA
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