How to Decorate Food

Decorating food is a simple art called "garnishing," started by Japanese chefs many years ago. Garnishing is used today by exclusive chefs at high-end restaurants and hotels. Wedding and event caterers also garnish their food to make it look beautiful, enticing to eat, and add a creative style and flavor to their occupation. Changing the colors, composition and design of the food helps you to decorate it. Using the right kitchen tools, you can decorate centerpieces, sculptures, baskets, buffets and plates to compete in food contests.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Peelers
• Zesters
• Knives: tourne knife, channel knife, serrated and other garnishing knives
• Butter curler
• Krinkle cutter
• Double melon baller
• Scoops
• Mirrored plates/serving dishes
• Spiral slicers
• Diamond sharpeners
• Mirrored plates/serving dishes

1. Go to a store that sells cookware and buy some garnishing tools. Look for a complete set with knives, peelers and other garnishing tools. Try searching online for some really, neat garnishing tools.

2. Gather fruits or vegetables to experiment with and begin learning how to use each garnishing tool. Go to numerous sites online and learn the garnishing techniques to decorate your food. Learn to make v-cuts, u-cuts, twists, fans, wavy and curled slicing with your new garnishing knives.

3. 

   Carve and sculpture fruits, vegetables, sugar, chocolate and all kinds of pastries including cakes, cookies, cupcakes, or donuts. Design attractive pieces for a centerpiece such as melon balls, frosted fruits, sauce swirls, flowers and fruited animals. Be creative by placing fresh herbs strategically around food or toss into sauces for a scattered look of art and design.

4. Use elegantly designed serving plates and colorful dishes to compose a table for a wedding, anniversary, or special event. Set out mirrored serving dishes and construct your food in such a way that draws immediate attention to it. Expand your new craft of food decoration by adding new garnishing tools and learning new types of decorating ideas.

5. Garnish with tomato roses. Cut a 1/2-inch strip of skin at the bottom of a tomato, with a small garnishing knife. Cut this strip with a back and forth motion (like sawing), going all the way to the top of the tomato. Roll this long strip into a coil and then let it open up like a rose.

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[smartz]

on 5/28/2009 great article