There’s a well known saying amongst chefs that decrees “you eat with your eyes first”, and our culinary clique of food stylists and So Yummy producers definitely know how true it rings. Taste and smell might be the first thing you think of when deciding what’s for dinner, but how a dish looks is the true first impression. The fact is presentation matters, and like a well-tailored suit can help you nail that big interview, a beautifully plated dish can help elevate your next dinner party to a full-on soiree. Simply paying a little extra attention to how your meal looks is the added touch that really wows dinner guests. Even if you’re cooking for just one, plating is a clever and creative way to upgrade any meal, treat yourself, and entice your appetite.
Just walk through any professional restaurant kitchen or restaurant, and you’ll see throngs of chefs meticulously placing tiny flourishes on each plate, decorating it with utter precision and intricate detail. So much of their craft is dedicated to presentation and plating that they’ve spent years studying the art of food decor. However, you don’t need to go to culinary school to learn how to dazzle with a dish. With these 11 food presentation hacks, you can learn how to plate like a pro without the hefty tuition. A little flourish of raspberry puree, a sprinkle of powdered sugar, a ton of melted chocolate, and some staple kitchen tools can go a long way if you know how to use them. There are so many fancy and innovative ways to dress up your dinner, here are a few of our favorites:
Chocolate Web
So Yummy
Directions:
Use a lighter to melt along the longest side of a chocolate bar. Use melted sign as a stamp to create perfectly straight lines on your plate. Repeat the action forming a chocolate web pattern on the plate. Finish with macarons and berries.
Raspberry Flower
So Yummy
Directions:
On a plain plate draw 8 raspberry puree dots forming a circle. Using a spoon draw the swirls to the center of a plate creating the petals. Place a berry tart in the center of a flower.
Apple Cutter Surprise
So Yummy
Directions:
Bring in a paper towel and cover 1 half of a plate. Bring in an apple cutter and place on top of a paper towel. Sprinkle powdered sugar over the plate. Remove apple cutter and paper towel. Place a swiss roll slice on the opposite side of the powdered sugar pattern. Decorate the plate with fresh raspberries.
Eel Sauce Sine Graph
So Yummy
Directions:
Dip potato masher in eel sauce and imprint masher on a plate. Finish with sushi, ginger, and wasabi.
Double Swirl
So Yummy
Directions:
Squeeze chocolate sauce and raspberry puree dots on the edge of a wide soup plate. Using a skewer draw the swirl according to the technique. Decorate with raspberry cheesecake in the center of a plate.
Toasted marshmallow tree
So Yummy
Directions:
Place a ring mold on a plate. Fill it with marshmallow fluff. Remove the ring mold. Press the marshmallow circle with a cast iron skillet. Remove the skillet and torch marshmallow fluff. Decorate with a S’mores Tart.
Glass Bowl Trick
So Yummy
Directions:
Dip a medium size glass bowl into a raspberry jam. Place the bowl on a plate. Sprinkle freeze dried raspberries over the plate. Remove the glass bowl and decorate the plate with cheesecake.
Multifunctional spaghetti
So Yummy
Directions:
Dip a bunch of spaghetti in chocolate sauce and imprint them on a plate. Decorate the plate with chocolate cheesecake, macarons, and chocolate truffle candies.
Levitating chocolate
So Yummy
Directions:
Place a chocolate cupcake in the center of a short wine glass. Cover the top with saran wrap and seal the edges of a wrap to the glass walls. Cut the sides of saran wrap. Pour melted chocolate over the saran wrap creating the chocolate levitation effect.
Sunshine circle
So Yummy
Directions:
Squeeze lemon curd on a plate drawing a circle. Using a fork make the pattern in a circle. Finish with macarons, edible flowers, and lemon cheesecake.
Raspberry hearts
So Yummy
Directions:
Squeeze small raspberry puree dots forming a half circle. Using a toothpick draw the line creating the shape of small hearts. Decorate the plate with strawberry cake piece, fresh raspberries, meringue cookies.
