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Food presentation is the art of modifying, processing, arranging, or decoratingfood to enhance itsaesthetic appeal.
The visual presentation of foods is often considered bychefs at many different stages offood 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 ofmold used in a poured dish. The food itself may be decorated as in elaboratelyiced cakes, topped with ornamentalsometimes sculptural consumables, drizzled withsauces, sprinkled withseeds, powders, or other toppings, or it may be accompanied by edible or inediblegarnishes.
Historically, the presentation of food has been used as a show of wealth and power. Such displays often emphasize the complexity of a dish's composition as opposed to its flavors. For instance, ancient sources recall the hosts ofRoman banquets adding precious metals and minerals to food in order to enhance its aesthetic appeal. Additionally,medieval aristocrats hosted feasts involving sculptural dishes and shows of live animals. These banquets existed to show the culture and affluence of its host, and were therefore tied to social class. Contemporary food aesthetics reflect the autonomy of the chef, such as innouvelle cuisine and Japanesebento boxes. Dishes often involve both simplistic and complex designs. Some schools of thought, like French nouvelle cuisine, emphasize minimalism while others create complicated compositions based on modern aesthetic principles.[1] Overall, the presentation of food reflects societal trends and beliefs.
The foundation of food presentation is plating.[2] It can include playing with texture, color, and contrast, similar to many other mediums of art. 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] Restaurants popular for their spectacular food displays and presentations such as Disfrutar[4] feature art techniques seen in more traditional art forms.
Banquets were important social events, usually hosted in private residences for friends and clients. The Romans placed great focus on the appearance of their dining room (triclinium), decorating it withmurals andmosaics, as well as lavishsculptures and furniture.[5] The overall purpose of a private banquet was entertainment, not only through live performances, but also through the presentation of the food itself. The meal consisted of three courses-appetizers, main course, anddessert- brought out in elaborate rituals.[3] For instance, the main course was sometimes served to the tune of trumpets at particularly luxurious events. Foods that were particularly valued werewild game, such aspheasant andboar, certain kinds of fish, and wildberries, mainly because of their exoticism and high price. Some ancient writers recount EmperorClaudius adding crushed pearls to wine and flecks of gold to peas solely to increase their cost. Others recall live animals being served as shows of entertainment and richness. For instance, at one eventmackerels were pickled live in order to showcase their silvery bodies thrashing in vinegar.[6]
Medieval aristocrats also desired to entertain and impress through food.Banquets were usually huge feasts with diverse choices of dishes. Social etiquette dictated that the wealthy and powerful be given beautiful and elaborate dishes while the poor be given simple food, usually scraps.[7] Such banquets not only entertained guests, but also showed the wealth of the host. In particular, the patron sometimes commissioned artists to create complicated sculptures made from food items to awe and inspire.[8] Particular favorites were pies or cakes designed to expel live birds when cut open and multicolored jellies stacked together, dyed withspices and vegetable matter.
In the same way, contemporary food reflects both personal and societal aesthetic beliefs. While cuisine in the past was intrinsically related to wealth and social status, contemporary cuisine is much less distinguished by class. The disintegration of highbrow and lowbrow foods has led to increased accessibility of various foods.[9] Now, it is possible to find a hamburger at a five-star restaurant and exotic cuisines on street corners. Therefore, contemporary food presentation is determined much more by modern aesthetics and creativity than displays of wealth and power.
Nouvelle cuisine is a school of French cooking that rejects ostentatious displays of food in favor of simple presentation and high-quality ingredients. In contrast to historical chefs that obeyed the orders of patrons, this manner of cooking elevates the chef from a skilled worker to an inventor and artist. The aesthetic of nouvelle cuisine emphasizesminimalism, serving fewer courses and utilizing simple plating.[10] Chefs were extremely creative in constructing innovative recipes and plating.
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ABento box is a Japanese meal traditionally consisting of rice, meat or fish, and vegetables served in a portable box. InJapan, as well as in theUnited States, a large focus is placed on the aesthetic arrangement of the food including contests for the most inventive way of creating bento boxes, allowing for creativity in amateur chefs and everyday people. Sometimes bento boxes are used to make sculptural designs, such as rice shaped to look like animals.[8] These specific types of bento boxes are known asKyaraben orcharaben,(キャラ弁) a shortened form ofcharacter bento.(キャラクター弁当kyarakutā bentō) Kyaraben are most often made by mothers to encourage their children to eat more nutritious diets and as a way of showing their love and dedication.[11]
Kaiseki (懐石) is a Japanese multi-coursehaute cuisine dinner consisting of 7–14 courses, often served atryokan, but also in small restaurants known asryōtei, particularly inKyoto.[12] A large focus of kaiseki is in the elaborate preparation and aesthetic presentation of these meals to enhance the natural flavors of fresh, local ingredients.[13] Meals are often garnished with edible leaves and flowers to enhance the seasonality of the meal and its ingredients and are arranged to resemble natural plants and animals.
Kaiseki dinners most commonly involve an appetizer, sashimi, a simmered dish, a grilled dish, and a steamed dish. Other dishes may be added or omitted depending on the chef.[14]
Modern science can illuminate how and why people respond in certain ways to food plating and presentation. According to asociological study, people react differently to various aesthetic principles such ascolor,composition (including a number of components, placement of components, and use of negative space),design, and the organization of a plate.[citation needed] They found that participants responded best to plates with four different colors, three different components, some empty space, and with a disorganized and casual design. This research is particularly important because understanding how food presentation affects how people eat can be used in the study ofhealth andnutrition. For instance, another study showed that participants who ate off of uncleaned tables (i.e. all uneaten food was left on the table) ate less than those that had their tables periodically cleaned. This is presumably because those that could see the leftovers of what they had eaten were less likely to take more food. This could be useful, for instance, in combatting theobesity endemic.[15] Another example of science in food aesthetics is the development of molecular food inSpain, which emphasizes the essence of food using scientific elements.[16] Molecular science can break down the roles of carbohydrates and protein in order to isolate what creates particular tastes. For instance, modern science makes it possible to freeze ice cream using liquid nitrogen and create wine using sugars, creating efficient and visually interesting new dishes.[17]
Like other aspects of culture, food presentation is subject to trends andfads. For instance, "unicorn food", a style of presentation that uses arainbow color palette to decorate food, became popular in 2017.[18][19][20] The pastel-like hues are supposed to represent the colors of the mythicalunicorn.[19]
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