BM Food & Night Life: The art of plating

Remember the phrases “Don’t judge a book by its cover” or “Appearances don’t matter”? As philosophically enlightened as those words sound, sadly, reality does not abide by those rules.

How something looks matters, and it is crucial as that is what makes the first impression.

Plating is half the reason food looks delicious and tastes amazing. You trick your brain into thinking the food is mouth-watering. It is why food feels tastier when it looks good. There is a reason why you enjoy eating food in a restaurant rather than packing it and eating at home. It is because you eat with your eyes. Anything you put on a plate can be made to look prettier.

All you need is good food and these simple tips to get you started:

1. Pick a plate in a colour that showcases and contrasts with your food.

2. Pick the right size of plate or platter.

3. Plate food in the middle of the plate, leaving the edges clear.

4. Use rounded plates and platters to make food look more interesting.

5. Clean up splatters and smears after you plate.

6. Finish with a garnish.