In addition to the taste of the dish, the presentation of the dish is also important in order to impress and stimulate the appetite of diners. We will provide tips on how to present the dish to make it visually appealing and more appetizing.
1. Principles of dish presentation
Purpose and target
Based on the target audience and the desired message that the chef wants to convey, dish creation and decoration in various forms will convey the chef’s intention to the diners.
The dish decoration varies depending on the purpose
If the purpose is to advertise the restaurant or impress friends and guests with an impressive dish, it is necessary to create an attention-grabbing presentation from the first sight. It should attract customers and exude politeness and sophistication from the beginning.
Harmonious coordination between patterns and ingredients
Harmonious coordination between patterns and ingredients is essential
Each ingredient has its own colors and shapes, requiring a sense of aesthetics and skillful hands to harmoniously coordinate the colors and tastes of the dish. The patterns should be suitable for the type of plate or utensil to enhance the dish’s beauty and appeal to the diners.
All ingredients must be of the highest quality
All ingredients must be clean and fresh in color
The success or failure of decorating the main dishes lies in the quality of the ingredients used. They should be clean and have vibrant colors. Decorating the dish should not only please the eyes but also enhance the dining experience.
2. Use suitable plates
To have a beautifully decorated dish, the choice of plate is essential. Let’s take a look at the types of plates and how to arrange the food on them.
Round plate
This is a familiar and popular type of plate that is easy and versatile when it comes to arranging food, especially appetizers.
Arranging food on a round plate is easy and diverse
Usually, people will decorate around the plate to highlight the food inside, or focus on one corner and decorate the remaining area to create a richer and more abundant dish.
Oval plate
The oval shape is often used to present dishes made from fish. The elongated and narrow shape allows the fish to be placed along the body of the plate, mainly in the middle to clearly display the shape of the dish and cover any unused space on the plate.
The oval plate is often used to present dishes made from fish
Around the rim of the plate, at the outside area, there will be empty space near the fish head, which can be decorated to enhance the attractiveness of the fish dish.
In addition, dishes presented on oval plates often use elaborately carved vegetables as decorations, or minimal decorations on the plate to avoid covering up the food.
Square or rectangular plate
Square or rectangular-shaped plates often have more empty spaces. Therefore, it is best to avoid using curved or circular vegetable or fruit decorations as they can reveal the empty corners and make the dish look less full and attractive.
Square or rectangular plates are commonly used to serve stir-fry dishes
To decorate this type of dish, it is recommended to decorate along the plate or the edges to cover up the empty spaces and enhance the beauty of the dish. Square or rectangular plates are often used to serve stir-fry dishes with intricate characteristics.
Leaf-shaped plate
Leaf-shaped plates are often used to present fried dishes
The leaf-shaped plate is often used to present fried dishes. Food can be decorated in one corner of the plate or on the folded leaf to create highlights in the dish. Other details like sauce or dipping sauce can also be added to make the dish more full and appetizing.
3. Decorate with vegetables
Among the accompaniments used to decorate the dish, vegetables are an essential item in the art of dish presentation.
Various vegetables are carved into different shapes to enhance the beauty of the dish
Various vegetables can be meticulously carved into different shapes, resembling real flowers. For example, roses made from tomatoes or birds made from carrots. When these vegetable decorations are placed on the plate, they contribute to the soul of the dish and create a fresh feeling.
Decorating with vegetables must also match the type of dish
It is important to match the type of vegetable decoration with the type of dish. For example, for a noodle bowl, the green onions can be cut into three or four parts. For a steamed fish dish, after carving the flower, it can be placed in front of the fish head or beside it to increase its attractiveness.
4. Color combination
One can say that chefs are artists in the kitchen, as they not only have to consider taste and select ingredients but also have a high sense of aesthetics and meticulous hands to combine the colors of the dish harmoniously and delicately.
When decorating a dish, it is not necessary to use many colors
These are the ways to decorate a dish to be delicious and visually appealing. We hope that you have found this article interesting and useful.
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