Art of presenting food on a plate

One important aspect of being a good cook is learning to present food artistically.

Well presented food whets the appetite and adds to the overall impression of a well prepared meal. Here are tips on food presentation. 

1.  Don’t overcook food to ensure it natural colour is left intact. Green vegetables should stay green and slightly crunchy when serving, while carrots should be bright orange, and sweet to the taste. Overcooked vegetables are not only unappetising, they are also devoid of nutrients.

2.  Always try to create a work of art on the plate. Use colour and arrangement to style the food on the plate.

3. The universal rule of serving the three food groups - protein, starch and vegetables is: starch is placed at the top left side of the plate, vegetables on the right side, while the protein is placed at the bottom side of the plate. This arrangement is considered most attractive in terms of how the eye perceives the colours

4. Select interesting serving utensils. Use uniquely shaped plates, platters and other crockery and cutlery to serve your food. If possible, you can create varied colour themes with place mats, flower vases and napkins.

5.  Garnish main dishes with vegetables, fruits or even flowers.

6.  Keep the food serving area neat and and clean.

7.  Use good quality cutlery and crockery.

8. It always helps to have items such as napkins and tooth picks at hand.

9.  Place your condiments such as salt, spices, chilli oil, and sauces in well appointed containers. If you are using plastic ones, purchase those in plain subtle colours like brown or black. Avoid bright ones with drawings.

10. Use correct utensils for correct purpose. For example, do not serve the main meal in a soup dish.