Ideas for food presentation
WHICH comes first, the chicken or the egg? This is usually asked when one is confused of the origin of two equally important events in history.
In this case, I am talking about two phenomenal trends in history, at least in the Philippine setting. The social platform called Instagram, and the spike of the food industry. Everyone seems to be venturing in food industry.
Everyone seems to love food and eating. On the other hand, everyone seems to be taking pictures first of what they will eat, especially when these foods are “Instagrammable” – meaning to say, colorful, well-presented to the point enticing, delectable and yummy in the eyes leaving an impression that it is more on the stomach. And, these trends make a viable food venture business.
Enrolling in cooking classes such as the Cookery class in Home Economics strand of the Technical Vocational Livelihood (TVL) track of the K-12 curriculum in high school is a good idea especially if you want to improve your culinary knowledge and skills.
Cooking class in Home Economics maybe just a short course out of the many but it aims to provide ideas and hands-on experience in specific areas related to food preparation, food presentation, and food appreciation.
In this article, I will share the food presentation ideas that I was able to research on, and proved highly useful to every student and to future food entrepreneurs and chefs. Have you ever been presented with a plate of food at a restaurant which made you go “wow” even without your tasting the dish? This is because the plating and presentation of the dish was harmonious and well balanced which instantly made the dish more appealing and exciting. A well-presented plate of food enhances the
dining experience.
Professional chefs and fine dining restaurants will have you believe that creating such beautiful plates of food requires years of skill. At least, with the Cookery class, one can gain insights already of what is at stake.
Food plating is the central to keeping guests happy as they experience the restaurant or homes. However, plating is often overlooked by chefs who are either too busy or more concerned with the taste of their dishes. People eat with their eyes, and creative and thoughtful plating enhances both the look and taste of your food. Focusing on presentation also allows chefs to showcase their creations and demonstrate to guests that they’re getting their money’s worth.
While there aren’t any hard and fast rules when it comes to “correct” plating, there are several important concepts to keep in mind as one prepare and present their restaurant’s delicious culinary creations.
Students will learn at least the guidelines of food plating in passing in the Cookery class which include choosing the perfect plate, placing the ingredients, thinking about color and contrast, creating the height of the plate, using texture to enhance the dish, designing sauces and using garnishes purposefully.
Students will also learn the different plating styles such as the classic, the free form and the landscape. Whether you own a fine dining establishment, upscale restaurant, or eclectic cafe, thoughtful and attentive plating is sure to improve customers’ impressions of your business. Awareness of food presentation also allows one to demonstrate cooking skills to customers and helps highlight all of the restaurant’s delicious offerings. (