The Art Of Food Presentation And Its Importance

When we see gorgeous photographs of delicious food, we want to eat it! Yet just how do the experts make it look so good, and what are the tricks and techniques? Heres' the lowdown of what actually is the Art of food Presentation and its Importance.
Food presentation is the art of modifying, processing, arranging, or decorating food to enhance its aesthetic appeal. The visual presentation of foods is often considered by chefs at many different stages of food preparation, from the manner of tying or sewing meats, to the type of cut used in chopping and slicing meats or vegetables, to the style of mold used in a poured dish. The food itself may be decorated as in elaborately iced cakes, topped with ornamental sometimes sculptural consumables, drizzled with sauces, sprinkled with seeds, powders, or other toppings, or it may be accompanied by edible or inedible garnishes.
The arrangement and overall styling of food upon bringing it to the plate is termed plating. Some common styles of plating include a 'classic' arrangement of the main item in the front of the plate with vegetables or starches in the back, a 'stacked' arrangement of the various items, or the main item leaning or 'shingled' upon a vegetable bed or side item.[3] Item location on the plate is often referenced as for the face of a clock, with six o'clock the position closest to the diner. A basic rule of thumb upon plating, and even in some cases prepping, is to make sure you have the 5 components to a dish; protein, traditionally at a 6 o'clock position, vegetable, at a 2 o'clock position, starch at an 11 o'clock position, sauce and garnish.

The keys of a great food presentation
Caterers, photographers and advertisers have understood this for a long time! Just look at a picture from a culinary magazine… There are techniques to embellish the dish, evoke emotion, stimulate appetite and encourage the purchase. Without studying the practices of marketers, I drew up some key points you can use to enhance your food presentations.
Here are the components of a great food presentation.
A. The support
B. The focal point
C. Colors
D. Flavors
E. Textures
F. Decoration
G. The garnish

Along with these components being there we can't deny the fact that eating with the eyes is a legitimate metaphorical notion. What a strange expression when we know that we obviously eat with our mouth!

Vision is the sense that makes us look insistently. This is the sense that reveals envy that's why presentation of the dish becomes a paramount importance.
That is why there are food stylists for cookbooks and magazines; who make those dishes look so appealing that you salivate at the very look of them and make you want to buy the book. There are books written expressly for food styling and presentation, one of which makes the claim: “Food that looks beautiful does taste better!” I’m not so sure about that but you may be more likely to try it if it looks beautiful but appearance is only one factor in your experience of the food.

Eating is a sensuous experience; to be a truly sensory delight it must fire on all cylinders, not just one. How it looks, smells, tastes, the atmosphere of where you are, who you’re with- all these things affect how you enjoy the food.