The Little Things In Life: Food Presentation

While it may seem silly, the appearance of a little radish rose on my salad plate has the power to tickle me from head to toe. Maybe it’s my fondness for the concept of edible art. Moreover, can you deny that a pretty dessert or any other dish just seems to taste better? Even the slightest special touches in culinary preparation and presentation transform the mere act of eating into a full-blown aesthetic experience. Sprucing up a buffet for a party or a sit-down meal for guests (or an especially spoiled loved one) is easier than you might think and makes all the difference. People will be truly dazzled by these extra little touches. Here are some ideas to get you started in the art of food presentation. Good luck!

Presentation Basics

Color- When it comes to color, it’s all about creating contrasts. A dish with a white sauce is going to look boring on a white plate. When it comes to “plating” food, put a few colorful vegetables next to visually bland items like mashed potatoes. Even a dollop of yogurt can look spectacular atop a bowl of split-pea soup!

Chargers, the circular settings under plates, are also a great opportunity for color and contrast. They come in all different colors, textures, and materials.

Nature-The best food presentation incorporates the beauty of nature. A simple vase of flowers can do so much for a table, but experiment with less common items like pinecones. Fill a vase with crabapples and pinecones for a great-smelling autumn centerpiece. Mix flowers and fruits for especially beautiful and interesting centerpieces. For example, intersperse white flowers with limes in a silver bowl, or combine bright lilies with tropical fruits.

While porcelain and glass serving platters are common in food presentation, why not use a set of attractive plain metal platters for a great informal presentation?

Lollipops

What’s great about lollipops is that they are cheap, easy to make, and can be preserved for up to a year. You can even make and decorate your own personal personalized lollipops.

Buy bubblegum doubles, and then use only the original pieces, for a unique presentation.

Don’t forget to use fun colors and lots of chargers andDecorating Tips

Color- When it comes to decorating, a fresh new palette is a great idea. Don’t be afraid to use unusual colors, or mix and match. Using bright colors can also add a pizzazz to your presentation.

While you can use only the front and back plates, there are two other aspects of your plate that can help you add style. Use vibrant colors, and sprinkle powder blue on the back of your plate. Because the colors are so vivid, the presentation will be more eye-catching.

powders can be used on the front of your plate as well. Useful for blows, mucus and oils, they give a Boy Scout quality and are fun colors.

Chopping Boards

A catering company may provide a boardwalk for guests to walk along during meals. Making a cutting board can be done with cardboard, birch bark, and toothpicks. Or, just use a flour tortilla that you can wipe up with a paper towel for a fast and easy presentation.

Foods that look fun and imaginative- like little animals, fairytales, animals that aren’t usually served on a catering menu, or foods seasoned with peppers, sesame seeds, and/or salt so you can color them any way you want.

As colorful as the menu may be, limit your selection. Foods that are too boring, sweet, or savory for a child’s party may not be a good fit for a kid’s birthday party. You may include some foods that go against the party theme, or you may not want to include them at all.

You can always go back and add desired accessories and fun foods to your child’s cake, like detachable cello parts, a new fun cake box, or polycarbonate children’s cake boxes.

You’ll also want to add a number of small to medium items to your child’s cake, including things like silver spoons, forks, and cups.