Food Presentation Ideas

Whether you are planning a cocktail party or an intimate dinner for two, how the food is presented is as important as the flavor of the food. If you want to impress your guests, the food should be visually appealing. Creative food presentation ideas are those in which there is a balance of color, texture and shapes. To make your dish aesthetically appealing there should be a combination of two or three colors on the plate. Grilled steak with roasted red and yellow bell peppers with chimichurri sauce looks much more appetizing than poached fish with mashed potatoes. When you are serving meat and poultry, try accompanying it with steamed or sauteed vegetables to add a dash of color. Garnishes in the form of chopped parsley, coriander and chives can also be used to introduce color to the dish. Read on proper table setting.

Creative Food Presentation Ideas

For garnishing your drinks, you can use a strand of orange peel or lemon peel on the rim of the glass. Add a slice of fruit like a starfruit or kiwi in cocktail glasses to add more color and interest. Make sure that the garnishes that you are using compliments the flavor of the dish.

If you are serving a fruit salad you can use a pineapple to serve the salad instead of a regular glass or ceramic bowl. For this you need a medium sized or large pineapple. Discard any brown or discolored leaves from the pineapple and trim the top. Cut the pineapple into two equal parts and cut a thin strip of the pineapple to make the base. Remove the core of the pineapple by using a serrated knife and scoop out the flesh from each half. You can use this pineapple bowl to hold a fruit salad or salsa. Read on table decorations.

Another great food presentation idea is to garnish main courses with green onion curls and tomato rose. For making green onion curls you need crunchy fresh spring onions and some ice cubes. Trim the spring onions and cut the stems into 4 inch length. With the help of a kitchen scissors, cut each of the spring onion segments into 7 to 8 narrow strips reserving the end of the section. Fill a large bowl with ice cubes and add the spring onions. Refrigerate until the spring onions curl. For making the tomato rose, peel tomato with a sharp knife ensuring that the peel is about 1 inch wide and continuous. Place the peel on a flat surface like a wooden chopping board, and gently roll up the peel to resemble a rose. Add a sprig of mint to make the leaves. You might like to know more on tips for carving flowers from vegetables.

Party Food Presentation Ideas

If you are planning a cocktail party choosing the right mix of drinks and food is very important for a successful party. Appetizers which are small enough to be eaten in a single bite can be served in beautiful decorative spoons. Alternatively, you can also serve them on a bed of lettuce or cabbage leaves. Garnish appetizers with sliced kalamata olives or chopped chives and capers to add texture and flavor. Read more about appetizer recipes.

Serve the main course in pristine white china and drizzle sauces in geometric patterns. You can use a brown or barbecue sauce for garnishing steak and chocolate sauce for pastries and cakes. Powdered sugar or icing sugar can also be sprinkled over brownies and cakes. You can also use crystalline edible flowers to decorate cakes and it is among the best food presentation ideas. To make crystalline flowers, take any flowers of your choice and brush them with a water and egg emulsion. Dip the flowers immediately in a bowl of granulated sugar making sure that it is evenly coated. Arrange the flowers in a wax paper and let it dry. Read more on food garnishing ideas.

Color, texture, shapes and arrangements form the basis of a stylish garnishing and food presentation. The food presentation ideas are becoming increasingly flamboyant and artistic. Avoid over-garnishing the dishes and be creative and innovative in presenting the food.