Polish
Bold cooking. Beautiful presentation. Because how you serve it is part of the recipe too.
Plating Principles
Five rules that make a dish your own. These work on everything from a bowl of soup to a holiday showstopper.
The Plate Is Your Canvas
You're an artist and the plate is your canvas! Don't fill every inch - let some of the plate show. But don't be shy to scatter some finishing touches over that whitespace even if it's not the main food.
Keep It Odd
I never count my croutons, but odd numbers are always better. You get more energy in the organization - with even numbers you're limited because you want it to feel symmetrical.
Place Don't Pour
Drizzling is a great finishing touch for different things like salads, breads, etc. but you've got to be careful on how much. Spooning sauces or soups is different than pouring loads over your dish. The main point: be careful with liquids when presenting.
Height Is Everything
If you keep it flat, it looks flat. Stack it, prop it, lean. Add height to make it look good!
Color Is Flavor You Can See
A pop of green (chive oil, herb sprig, greens) signals freshness. A bit of yellow creates sunshine. Red makes it feel risky. Have fun with the colors!
What Is a Polish Moment?
Every recipe on this site has one: a specific little something that makes the dish special. The polish moment adds intelligence to the meal. It shows you care and gets the taste buds going even before you dig in.
See Polish Moments in Every Recipe →