Looking through the beautiful models in People magazine, my esteem lowers like boiling temperature in a once confident robust oven. With plump lips, flawless skin, and abs to die for, it is no wonder that many Americans worship these celebrities. But I took major relief when I viewed pictures of celebrities with out make up. The matter of fact is that we are visual animals and are attracted to beautiful things. Many people forget that food also needs some make-up. In the industry, we call this food plating or food styling. Unlike the cover of Gourmet magazine, I don’t use any artificial substances to shoot any of my photos. I’m the real thing. What you see is what you get. After all, I want to be able to eat my creations. In food styling, photographers often us glue as milk or clay to mold into different food items. Not me, all 100% natural.
Yearning for something tangy and cool, I opened a pack of Myojo cold noodles. At $1.19 a pack, you can find them at your local Asian grocer. The noodles are chewy and only need to be blanched (quickly boiled) for no more than 3 minutes. The sauce is a great pungent mustard sauce with tangy taste from vinegar.
Adding character to the dish, I scramble some eggs. The trick is to fry eggs at medium heat and then use the end of wooden chopstick to create bright yellow curds. Add mirin (Japanease rice vinegar) and a pinch of salt & pepper for taste. Add contrasting color with walls of seaweed. Add extra virgin olive oil in pan and brown oils until they caramelize on low heat.
Plating is key. Never overwhelm a dish with too many ingredients. Noddles play center stage right fully so. A few onion slices for crunch and sliced grape tomatoes add sweetness. Not only refreshing, but he dish is light and flavorful.
Consultant hat.
Restaurant owners rely heavily on word of mouth to generate new business. Food presentation is key since it separates you from the competition. Also, diners love to share their food photos with their friends. Remember, the key is to provide an experience and food plating enhances this.
