Garnishes

What is a garnish? Definition: n. A decorative, edible accompaniment to finished dishes, from appetizers to desserts. Garnishes can be placed under, around or on food, depending on the dish. They vary from simple sprigs of parsley or exotically carved vegetables on plated food, to croutons in soup, to chocolate leaves on top of chocolate mousse. Garnishes should not only be appealing to the eye, but should also echo or complement the flavor of the dish. v. To decorate or accompany a dish with a garnish.

Garnishing Tools

Candied Orange Peel

Cucumber & Pickle Garnish

Cucumber Rose Turnip Rose Potato Rose Beet Rose

Beginning at the top of a tomato, peel the tomato skin with a sharp utility knife. The garnish works best if the peel is ¾" to 1" wide, is a continuous peel, and the peel is thin with very little flesh attached. Lie peel flat with flesh side up. Roll up the peel. Tomato Rose Set peel on plate and allow it to open. If needed, shape the peel to resemble an "opening rose". For a finishing touch, add mint leaves.

Strawberry Fan Strawberries are an easy garnish for summer desserts. With a paring knife, slice strawberry from a point slightly below the top stem to the bottom. Continue making thin slits from one end of the strawberry to the other. Gently spread the strawberry apart creating a strawberry fan.

Green Onion Curls & Garnishes

Olive Garnishes Olive Bunnies

Cherry Tomato Flower Place tomato stem side up on cutting board. Slice tomato down the center but do not cut completely through. Resembling a cross, slice the tomato again, careful not to cut completely through. You should now have four sections that resemble the petals of a flower. With a sharp knife, carefully slice away the membrane and seeds of the tomato. A thin layer of meat should remain on the skin. Allow the petals to fall open and place a small amount of course mustard on the center point. The tomato flowers can be covered and refrigerated until you are ready to serve.

Cherry Flower

How to Make a Pineapple Boat With a large cutlery knife, cut the pineapple (including the crown) in half. Remove the core of each pineapple half by creating a V cut from top to bottom of the core. After completing a V cut, slice each end straight across, remove core. Remove any brown and/or discolored leaves. To create a base, cut a thin slice from each half of the pineapple. How to Make a Pineapple Boat

Using a curved, serrated knife, remove the fresh pineapple from each half. Cut pineapple into chunks and place in the pineapple bowl. Add other fresh fruits if desired. A pineapple bowl can also be used to hold cold salads and desserts.

Edible Bread Bowl You will need a round loaf of bread, such as Rye or Sour Dough. Keep in mind that a bread that is too soft will absorb the dip quickly and will become soggy. Slice off the top 1"-2" of the bread. Cut around the inside of the bread to create a 1" border around the sides. Hollow out the inside of the bread loaf creating bite size pieces. If you will not be using the top, cut that into bite size pieces also. The bread bowl can be used for dips, chili, soups, spaghetti, etc. If serving a hot food, spread garlic butter on the inside of the bowl and place in the oven for 3-5 minutes before filling.

Lemon Peel Rose Tomato Rose Lime Peel Rose Carrot Rose

Lemon Garnishes

This tropical strawberry sorbet, served in a fresh coconut and playfully decorated with lime slices and colorful edible flower leaves, is a prime example of a quick, easy, yet very appealing setup. Note how the black plate and white tablecloth provide the perfect color contrasts, making the red sorbet really leap out of the picture. The shallow depth-of-field draws the eye to the main attraction, the texture of the sorbet.

Scallops and risotto cake, on a bed of spinach, with a coconut curry sauce. Garnish: saffron leaves and paprika.

Lemon chicken crepe roulades, feta-filled phyllo pouches, and fried wontons stacked with ahi tuna, spicy sprouts, ginger, and sesame seeds.

Watermelon Treats

Watermelon Bowls

Chocolate Curls

Chocolate Cutouts

Chocolate Shapes

Chocolate Leaves