As they say, people eat with their eyes first, meaning that the way that a dish looks has just as much of an impact on how much somebody enjoys it as how the dish tastes. But plating can be pretty tricky. You carefully, lovingly cook an entire delicious meal only for it to look kind of underwhelming on the plate. But, never fear, these three plating tricks will help you make your dishes look as professional as they are delicious.
Pick the Right Plate
It all starts with the base: your plate. You’ll want to pick the right size, color, and style to make your food look its best. If you want your colorful food to stand out, choose a white plate. If you want your portion size to look bigger, choose a small plate—or vice versa. Just beware of using blue plates, which are generally thought to make food look less appetizing.
Play With Height and Texture
The more visual variety and interest you can have on your plate the better. Playing with height by stacking food keeps everything together instead of awkwardly spread out on the plate. You can also use texture to make things look more interesting, incorporating different sauces, foams, and feels on the same plate.
Top Your Plate With a Fresh Garnish
One of the best ways to make a dish look complete and ready to be served is to top it off with a fresh garnish. From herbs to flowers to spices, there’s plenty of ways to decorate your meal – just make sure it’s edible!
