Food styling may sound like something best left to the professionals, but there are a few simple tips and tricks you can use at home to give your food the wow factor. Follow the Fine Food Specialist guide to food styling and you will be turning out professional-looking plates in no time.
Plate a little less food than usual
We know, the food looks and smells so delicious that you want to enjoy a large portion but food that reaches right to the edges of the plate rarely looks appealing. Try emphasising the organic shapes of attractive vegetables such as artichokes or beans instead, and people will be able to appreciate the natural beauty of the food.
Asymmetry is key
It sounds a bit odd, but three scallops are always going to look better on the plate than four. It’s just a fact. There's something about asymmetry on the plate that’s so much more interesting to the eye than something that’s equal - probably because it looks more natural. People will always choose something that looks natural over something that looks too ‘perfect’ which to the brain signals ‘fake’. Don’t be afraid to allow the food to express itself in form, texture and movement.
Garnish is everything
Once you’ve carefully arranged your plate of food, you’re going to need a garnish. The best way to approach this is to save back something you’ve used in the recipe or to add a final flavour that will complete the dish, e.g. fresh herbs.
With something like handmade pasta, a simple scattering of parsley or basil could work, but you could also use a gremolata, a mixture of finely chopped parsley, garlic and lemon zest that will add different colours and texture to your dish. Adding breadcrumbs or Parmesan cheese works well too.
Brown food such as stews and soups can be particularly challenging, and this is where green herbs, finely sliced red onion, red chilli or anything in bright, contrasting colours can really help you out. A simple swirl of cream or olive oil will bring food to life too, particularly if it’s looking a bit dry or one-note.
Choose your background
If in doubt, choose white or even better, cream plates for your food. Coloured plates can be difficult to judge as they tend to clash with food and can even make it look unappealing when the aim is to make it ‘pop’. So avoid bright colours and look for neutral tones, particularly if your food is already colourful, like these mini brioche buns!
Stoneware plates can provide some texture and have a more handmade feel than mass-produced porcelain, so try to source some stoneware from markets or online. You will find lots of ceramicists out there who are keen to sell you their work.
A little bit of mess is a good thing!
Food styling cycles through trends just like fashion and the current trend is for food that looks more natural and a little bit ‘messy’. So, leave the tweezers in the bathroom and have some fun attempting an ‘elegant mess’. This might be a scattering of salt crystals or chilli flakes, or perhaps letting pieces of food fall more naturally on the plate rather than trying to force them to ‘behave’. It is food, at the end of the day, it’s best not to be too precious about it.
Make sure the food looks delicious
The most important rule of food styling is to remember that the food needs to look delicious, If you spend a long time preening and poking it, then everything will start to look tired. Tricks such as using mashed potato in place of ice cream are rarely used these days - it’s nicer to see something melting because it signals to our brains that it is ice cream! The more we want to eat something, the more successful the styling has been...
Remember too that some foods will not take to sitting around, and not necessarily the ones you expect. Ice cream can last a lot longer, for example, than the cheese slice on a Wagyu burger, which will quickly congeal and look unappealing. A good quality bun such as a brioche burger bun will always look (and taste!) more professional than a floury white bap.
If you want to take photos, do it in natural light
The number one mistake that people make with food photography is not taking photos in natural light. Unless you have a proper lighting setup you are going to struggle to make anything look attractive. All the styling in the world won’t help if the food is badly lit! And of course, it goes without saying that you should never, ever, use flash.
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Take a look at Drogo’s Kitchen for some styling inspo, recipes and cooking advice. If you try out any of our ingredients or recipes please do tag us on social media! We love to see what you create.
