I am not sure who, but someone somewhere said – “A well-plated and presented dish is a love letter to the palate, capturing the heart with every bite”
Food has to be tasty, and that’s the bottom-line but it is no secret that we eat with our eyes first. And that is where plating and presentation comes in. It draws attention to the ingredients and enhances the whole experience of eating. And probably that is why restaurants have started focusing on presentation. Gone are the days of casually putting curries in a bowl with a few sprigs of dhania especially in fine-dine scenarios. The choice of serving bowls and platters, the placement of food, the drizzle of sauces and appropriate garnishes: everything gets the right kind of importance.
I remember having a ramen bowl at an expensive and top rated restaurant in my city. Underwhelmed is the only word that came to my mind. The lack of colour in that bowl made me apprehensive. It was loaded with flavour when I took the first spoonful but the mind kept asking for a bit more.
In complete contrast was the very simple plating of fish and chips at a local cafe with the seemingly carelessly put fries on top of the fried fish. This was a plating which put the crispiness on a glorious display.
Presentation is like art. It brings together colours and textures. Imagine a carefully put together symphony. It creates an appeal and a desire. It makes us focus and it makes us pay attention. And it impacts our perception of the overall enjoyment.
Do you remember that ramen bowl which was a riot of colours? Or the whole grilled fish with those gorgeous grill marks? What about the sushi carefully placed at an angle? Or the lamb chops placed off-centred? how about that shiny thali with a plethora of bowls? Or the glistening bowl of sauteed vegetables? Or that careful smear on the plate of kebabs? Plating needn’t be complicated, gimmicky or complicated. All it needs to accomplish is to create intrigue and make the diner smile.
Any cuisine which has sharing plates will always face the challenge of clean and sophisticated plating. Although the food might be delicious but doesn’t always look ‘pretty’. But I feel, we are getting there. With more and more emphasis on finesse and chefs who focus on the finer aspects of plating we are looking at food plates which are more Instagram-able than ever!
We live in a world where appearances count and first impressions matter the most. And the best compliment to food is when your hand reaches for the cutlery at the mere sight of it.
