Other dazzling ideas
You’ve turned out your beautifully molded handiwork onto the perfect plate. Now what?
You can keep it simple and focused with only the amazing creation to speak for itself, which is perfectly fine. But if you’ve seen eye-catching displays on Instagram photos (check #platepresentation or #ringmold) and Pinterest, not to mention at a few great dining spots … you may want to add another touch of drama to your presentation.
For example: Tiny droplets of added flavor and color; sauces splashed or brushed on the plate like a painting; edible flowers; dustings of cocoa, coffee, spices or sugars. The possibilities go on and on.
A simple bed of micro greens or other veggies artfully cradling a molded mélange is always an option for a starter or salad — even a few leaves can make a statement.
To illuminate your main attraction on the plate, here are a few things to keep in mind and also a bit of inspiration:
Introduce a complementary flavor to decorate a dessert: perhaps a few berries, spiced nuts or a coffee bean.
For your appetizer, drop a dollop of olive, artichoke or sun-dried tomato spread, or a delicate parsley root purée. Be sure not to overpower the featured item with the added touch.
Use a fine sieve to dash on the powdery look, whether it’s a bit of curry or cinnamon or cocoa. Again, just a little can go a long way.
Clip a few decorative greens — such as rosemary, parsley, mint, nasturtiums or basil — to wind close around the base of your molded dish like a festive wreath.
Slice a radish or other root vegetable very thinly and place on top with an herb sprig; roast a couple of heirloom carrots for each plate; or even purchase tiny cookies or candies to set aside — but not distract from — the dazzle.
These little cakes are dairy-free, raw, vegan and also gluten- and grain-free. Yet they’re devilishly delicious — enriched with dates and pecan meal used in place of flour. The original recipe doesn’t call for the flaked salt, but I found the garnish of salt adds a bit of decoration and an extra layer of flavor. Lightly adapted from purelytwins.com.