Actually, food photography isn't difficult to do. Because food can't move like a person. But that make some trouble for who can't compose a food styling. These are some tips for amateur food photographer:
Make sure that your object is really like the restaurant will sell it, because it will give a great appreciate from customer.
If you use a food styler or you styling the food by yourself, make sure that the restaurant is accept to serve their products like your food style.
Don't afraid to playing with your flashgun and you can use sun shine too. When the restaurant is serving the object, you can search the best lighting and the best angle for the food.
After you know what will you take the picture, create the concept of the photograph fast. Concept can help you for styling the food.
Think about the background, foreground, and ornaments. (ornament can be smoke from burnt incense, garlic, onion, spoon, fork, etc.)
You can ask the restaurant to promote your photograph.
The most important goal in food photography isn't what picture you like, but if your picture make the restaurant customer feel hungry and really want to try the food.
There are some of my tips for who try a food photography.