A line cook in Portland told me my plating looked like 'a sad Tuesday'

This was about three years ago at a pop-up I was helping run. He pointed at a plate of seared scallops and said, 'You put the food on, but you didn't think about where the fork goes first.' He was right. I was just piling stuff in the center. Ever since then, I always leave a clear spot for the first bite. How do you guys think about the guest's first move when you plate?

2 comments

2 Comments

wood.john4d ago

Had a chef tell me my food looked like it was hiding once. Now I picture the guest's hand coming in from the right and leave a natural path for the fork. It forces you to build the plate with some space and direction. That clear spot for the first bite makes the whole dish feel more inviting.

the_wesley4d ago

Yo that's such a cool way to think about it! Reminds me of a food blogger who said she always leaves a "flavor runway" on one edge of the bowl, like a clear strip for the first scoop to slide through without messing up the whole garnish setup. Makes the food look ready to eat, not just a pretty pile.