A G U I D E T O F O O D P R E S E N T A T I O N

T A K E T H E T I M E

T O P R E S E N T Y O U R

M E A L

An artfully presented meal

can work wonders.

Whether you’re holding a

corporate or personal

event, meal presentation

should be eye-catching

and entice all of the

senses. It is important to not

only take the time to plan

and prepare a special

meal but to also take care

when transferring food to

the plate. The reasonable

amount of extra effort

leads to a greater

appreciation of the meal

by your guests.

T A B L E W A R E

The detail and

beauty of a meal

stands out more

clearly when

tableware is a basic

color. Over-sized

white dishes are the perfect choice

because they provide

contrast and make

colors pop. The

cutlery, glasses, and linens also contribute

to the overall

appearance of the dish upon the table,

so these elements should also be

carefully considered.

B A L A N C E

Food and garnishes

should bring variety

and contrast to the

table, and

combinations should be

attractive. For the

plate, placement is

key. If faced with

lots of ingredients, think of a clock

while plating.

Starches should be

placed at 10

o’clock, proteins at six o’clock and

vegetables at two

o’clock.

P O R T I O N S

Portion size is crucial. You don’t

want to overload

a plate but you

should create

compact, elegant servings.

The smaller the

portion, the easier

it is to creatively

arrange. Foods should also not be

flattened onto the

plate but rather

plumped to appear more

fresh and

palatable.

D E C O R A T I O N

The plate and

decorations

should complement

your culinary

masterpiece.

Think beautiful

bowls and glasses in

different shapes

and colors.

Serve bite-sized

appetizers carefully

arranged on platters.

T E M P E R A T U R E

Always check the

temperature of

food before serving it. Beautiful

presentation loses

its impact if the

food is cold. It is

important to remember that

food may cool

down in the time it

takes to decorate

the plate.

Garnishing the

plate before

placing the hot

food should

mitigate this.

M I X S H A P E S ,

C O L O R S , A N D

T E X T U R E S

Food is naturally beautiful, with

an array of shapes, colors and

textures. Take advantage of

the beauty by spicing up your

plate with vibrant hues.

Garnishes should be used to

enhance the presentation

and should match the

ingredients and flavors of the

dish without overpowering it.

Add height to a dish by

layering food to take the

artistic presentation a step

further. Most importantly, remember to keep the edges

of plate clean using a damp

sponge or paper towel.

D I N I N G

Simple and

correctly placed

table decorations

are sure to

please. The table should be set

properly with

knives, forks,

napkins and

glassware in the correct place.

Overall, a

comfortable and

relaxed

environment

makes for the

best dining

experience.

http://www.seven-degrees.com

1-949-376-1555 x106

Located in Laguna Canyon in

Laguna Beach, California,

[seven-degrees] is a distinctive

special events venue. Its

position on the hillside is perfect for cocktail receptions,

weddings, corporate events,

seminars, sales meetings,

fundraisers and performances.

Any event you can hold, we can accommodate. [seven-

degrees] offers full-service

planning, design and

production, ensuring your

event is a work of art.

Summary

• The first thing we experience with food is the look, then the smell, and lastly, the taste. This is why it is important for any event, whether corporate or personal, to impress your guests with a perfectly crafted food presentation. Among many elements, you must consider balance, portions, decorations, colors and textures. This is the time to be artistic and creative, pulling out all the stops.