FUNDAMENTALS

OF
PLATING
 Plating a food refers to presenting the item on a plate in a way that is
tempting and appealing. Since your eyes view the food even before you
take the first bite, plating the food in an attractive manner becomes a very
important of any dining experience.
• Balance
• Unity
The primary considerations when
• Focus placing food on a plate
• Flow
 METHODS OF PLATING
1 CLOCK METHOD

2 STACKING METHOD

3 SAUCE

4 GARNISHES
 CLOCK METHOD
The clock method of culinary plating requires chefs to think their plate
like the face of a clock. Each section corresponds to a number on the clock
to create different section for placing food.
Starch Vegetables

10 2

Meat
 STACKING METHOD
It is a technique that adds a dimension of height to
culinary plating, forcing the diner’s eyes to move upward.
 SAUCES
These are part of many courses, from appetizers to main courses to
desserts. The presentation of your sauce can ruin your plating appearance or
enhance it depending on how the sauce is added.
 GARNISHES
These serve as an accent to perk-up or highlight the color
of the main dish. Here are some simple guidelines in applying
garnishes:
a) Refrain from heaping garnishing on one corner of the plate.
b) Provide a flash of color and shapes
c) Garnishes should be always edible
d) Garnishing should be applied quickly
Garnish
 BASIC ELEMENTS OF PLATING
1. Start with drawings and sketches to visualize the plate.
2. Select one ingredient to focus on and use space to simplify the
presentation.
3. Play with color, shapes, and textures to ensure diners are not
overwhelmed.
4. Ensure there is right amount of ingredients and the plate compliment the
dish.
Garnishes
5. Ensure the main ingredients
Sauces
stands out and pay equal attention to the
support. Plate
itself
 FOOD SAFETY AND HYGIENE
People get sick from food all the time, and it is often preventable by following
some people food safety and hygiene practices. Hygiene practices such as
thoroughly washing surfaces after preparation of food and maintaining clean hands
also go a long way towards preventing illnesses. Some foods also come with more
risk than others, so it is good to know what you are getting and how to avoid
potentially harmful effects.
• Clean your hands
• Chill foods safely
• Cook foods properly
• Learn about high-risk foods