Plating and Garnishing Food Eating with your Eyes

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Plating for Effect

Designing your Plate Preparing an elegant plate can take precise planning. Design your plate on paper beforehand, and discuss the look you are aiming to achieve. Draw pictures, make notes and work by trial and error to blueprint your idea into perfection.

Plating for Effect

Serving Ware Let the food be the focal point. Serving pieces should compliment the food. Match the plate to the size, appearance, colour and flavour of the food. Keep the design simple. Odd numbers of small items looks best.

Plating for Effect Food Structure Make neat piles. Create a clock. Keep it clean. Remember "BUFF" when plating: Balance, Unity, Focus and Flow

Plating for Effect

Garnishing for Effect

Sauces Sauces are placed either under the food to highlight it, or on top to garnish it. Don’t hide the food. Remember, sauces are used to enhance the food – they are not the focus.

Garnishing for Effect Fruits & Vegetables Produce can be arranged into garnishes or as part of the main meal. Choose ripe, bright coloured, uniformly shaped and unblemished produce. Use the greens of the produce for added effect. Use lettuce to display food.

Garnishing for Effect Herbs and Flowers Herbs add beauty, fragrance and a sense of freshness. Edible flower petals can be used to garnish small plates. Flower blossoms can be used for larger platters. Correlate the garnish with the flavours of the dish.

Garnishing for Effect Desserts Any effect comes into play. Sauces can be used to highlight the food. Chocolate decorations can be created with a pastry bag. Fruit can be used as the focus or garnish. Simplicity is the key!

Garnishing for Effect

Beverages Sugar or Salt rims Kebabs Peel Spirals Fruit Slices Ice techniques

Garnishing for Effect Centerpieces Watermelons and other large fruits and vegetables can be created into incredible center pieces and displays.

Garnishing for Effect Garnishing Tips Don’t rush making garnishes – take your time. Don’t rush making garnishes – take your time. Use sharp knives and proper equipment Use sharp knives and proper equipment Ice water preserves some garnishes for a few days. Ice water preserves some garnishes for a few days. Some garnishes require you to bend or curl vegetables – soak slices in a salt water solution first. Some garnishes require you to bend or curl vegetables – soak slices in a salt water solution first. Lemon juice can remove the odour from onions and stop an apple from going brown. Lemon juice can remove the odour from onions and stop an apple from going brown. Use toothpicks and wooden skewers to hold objects together. Use toothpicks and wooden skewers to hold objects together. Use vegetables at room temperature because cold vegetables tend to split and break apart. Use vegetables at room temperature because cold vegetables tend to split and break apart.

Final Thoughts Be Creative and Innovative – anything can be a garnish Let the food speak for itself Follow the ‘KISS’ rule: Keep It Simple Silly!

All images from personal sources and