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Looks matter. Sure, it's just one factor but we can't deny its weight. Whether we're choosing a jacket or a car, we want it to please our eyes. And food is no exception. Yes, it should taste good, yes, it should be nutritious but why can't it be beautiful too?

Don't worry, you won't automatically turn into a 13-year-old Instagrammer if you admire the colors and arrangements of your dish.

The subreddit r/CulinaryPlating is a perfect example of that. Its member list has everyone from home cooks to professional chefs, and they all celebrate a gorgeous plate when they see one. Here are some of them.

#1

Mango Tart W/ Whipped Coconut Ganache, Guava Cremeux, Fresh Berries, & Violas

Mango Tart W/ Whipped Coconut Ganache, Guava Cremeux, Fresh Berries, & Violas

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To learn more about r/CulinaryPlating, we contacted the moderators of the subreddit and they were kind enough to tell us more about the content as well as the people inside this online community. "We get such a huge variety of foods posted!" the mods told Bored Panda. "Lately, we've seen more Asian or Asian-inspired cuisine, as well as Scandinavian, as it's definitely on-trend at the moment."

"Traditional French cuisine is falling out of favor for food that focuses on clean, minimalist plating and bold flavors. Recently, we've had some ultramodern fine dining plates and some super interesting takes on classic dishes as well as some really simple, well-executed plates showcasing some absolutely classic flavor combinations. We love seeing the huge variety of food and creativity that comes with it on the sub. We're exposed to cultures and flavors we’d never even think of."

#3

Apple And Coconut Spheres

Apple And Coconut Spheres

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#4

Pear Poached In Red Wine, Hazelnuts Crumble, Lemon Gel, And White Chocolate Mousse!

Pear Poached In Red Wine, Hazelnuts Crumble, Lemon Gel, And White Chocolate Mousse!

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Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My sympathies to the waitstaff who have to carry this without letting the sauce spill over the barrier.

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#5

Mango And Passionfruit Tart, Passionfruit Sauce, Lime Foam, Rasberry Coulis, Sweet Shortcrust Pastry

Mango And Passionfruit Tart, Passionfruit Sauce, Lime Foam, Rasberry Coulis, Sweet Shortcrust Pastry

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According to Unilever Food Solutions, a team of over 300 chefs, food plating begins with 5 basic elements.

First, there's creating a framework. That includes finding inspiration from, assembling a "practice plate", and developing your vision. Then, we should remember to keep it simple. Clutter can distract people from the main elements, confusing them about what to focus on.

Next, balance. Colors, shapes, and textures should not make diners overwhelmed (also, the presentation can't overpower flavor). Once we figure that out, we need to determine the right portion size.

And finally, it's time to highlight the key ingredient. Even though garnishes, sauces, and even the plate itself should get their fair share of attention, something has to lead the ensemble.

#6

Smørrebrød With Swiss Moutains Potatoes, Vegan Mustard Mayo And Pickled Beetroot Cream

Smørrebrød With Swiss Moutains Potatoes, Vegan Mustard Mayo And Pickled Beetroot Cream

alainthechef Report

#7

Turmeric + Cardamom Infused Rice/ Masala Sweet Potato Stuffed Pani Puri/ Date, Tamarind, Seed Oil Reduction/ Toasted Almond

Turmeric + Cardamom Infused Rice/ Masala Sweet Potato Stuffed Pani Puri/ Date, Tamarind, Seed Oil Reduction/ Toasted Almond

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#8

Turnip Ceviche Mit Leche De Tigre, Sweet Potato, Coriander Oil, Roasted Corn

Turnip Ceviche Mit Leche De Tigre, Sweet Potato, Coriander Oil, Roasted Corn

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But the moderators say that it’s hard to create "rules" for plating, as it's so subjective. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, and that's one of the things that make it so appealing.

"It's something we've all thought about a lot as we get asked this question fairly often. [Some of us] think that good plating starts with the produce — it has to be well prepared! After that, a nice balance of colors, textures, and height to showcase the produce and make it interesting to look at is key. Even a simple meal like a shepherd's pie can be really stunning if plated with care and precision."

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#9

Strawberry & Cherry Tomatoes Salad, Goat Cheese Mousse, Beetroot, Mint, Sumac

Strawberry & Cherry Tomatoes Salad, Goat Cheese Mousse, Beetroot, Mint, Sumac

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#10

White Chocolate Cheesecake, Tarragon Cremeux, Blackberry Cremeux, Blackberry Gel, Tarragon Ice-Cream, Chocolate Crumble - Version 2

White Chocolate Cheesecake, Tarragon Cremeux, Blackberry Cremeux, Blackberry Gel, Tarragon Ice-Cream, Chocolate Crumble - Version 2

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#11

Saffron Risotto With Wild Garlic And Morel Mushrooms

Saffron Risotto With Wild Garlic And Morel Mushrooms

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Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unlike a lot of the others, I presume this one tastes just as good as it looks!

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r/CulinaryPlating currently has 69K members. It's not the biggest subreddit but it's full of enthusiasts. "The community itself has a really amazing mix of experience, from brand new home cooks to Michelin-starred chefs based all over the globe," the mods explained. "However, we're really just a community of people who are super passionate about food! We love seeing people express their creativity through food and getting the chance to explore and discuss styles and techniques is unbelievably valuable."

The mod team is proud that anyone, no matter their experience with cooking and plating food, can come in and get advice and guidance. "We think it makes us a really unique subreddit. We also started a Discord server where we've been able to offer live lessons and mentorship to people wanting to learn and improve their plating, as well as contests and challenges to really push everyone’s creativity. It's been a really rewarding way to engage with the community."

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To end things off, the mods highlighted something we all probably have experienced at least one time in our lives. Food is a really great way to bring people together and if you try to make dining even more memorable, your efforts won't go unnoticed. So give plating a try!

#12

Lamb Tartare, Confit Egg Yolk, Asparagus, Peas, Broad Beans, Foraged Herbs

Lamb Tartare, Confit Egg Yolk, Asparagus, Peas, Broad Beans, Foraged Herbs

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#13

Lemon Meringue Pie With Honeycomb; Orange And Lemon Foam Topped With Honeycomb’glass’

Lemon Meringue Pie With Honeycomb; Orange And Lemon Foam Topped With Honeycomb’glass’

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Doubleheader
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This dessert looks the most appealing to me. I love honeycomb! This pie also looks like royalty with a honeycomb crown. :]

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#14

Kiwi Tart With Condensed Kiwi Gelatin

Kiwi Tart With Condensed Kiwi Gelatin

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#15

Hi! I’m The Pastry Chef At A Local Restaurant. Admittedly Plating Is My Weakness As I’ve Been More Of A Bakery Girl In The Past. Anyway This Is A Key Lime Mousse Cake, Graham Crust, White Chocolate Mirror Glaze, Toasted Coconut, Candied Citrus, And Key Lime Fluid Gel. Served With Coconut Ice Cream

Hi! I’m The Pastry Chef At A Local Restaurant. Admittedly Plating Is My Weakness As I’ve Been More Of A Bakery Girl In The Past. Anyway This Is A Key Lime Mousse Cake, Graham Crust, White Chocolate Mirror Glaze, Toasted Coconut, Candied Citrus, And Key Lime Fluid Gel. Served With Coconut Ice Cream

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#16

Reconstructed Beef Wellington. Sous Vide Tenderloin. Mushroom Puff Cage. Port Reduction. Lion’s Mane Duxelles. Serrano

Reconstructed Beef Wellington. Sous Vide Tenderloin. Mushroom Puff Cage. Port Reduction. Lion’s Mane Duxelles. Serrano

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#17

Caramelized Apple Tart, Mascarpone Ice-Cream

Caramelized Apple Tart, Mascarpone Ice-Cream

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ThoughtsAreNotFacts
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's cute and all, but can't really get behind all this presentation for 3 bites of food?!

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#18

Caramel And Custard Napoleon, Puff Pastry, Caramel Corn And Honeycomb Pastry Top

Caramel And Custard Napoleon, Puff Pastry, Caramel Corn And Honeycomb Pastry Top

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Angela B
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks incredible, I would be reluctant to eat it and ruin the visual feast

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#19

Fig, Raspberry, And Chocolate Prepared Several Ways

Fig, Raspberry, And Chocolate Prepared Several Ways

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#21

Carrot, Escarole, Pistachio Brittle

Carrot, Escarole, Pistachio Brittle

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#22

Carrot Cake With Mascarpone Mousse, Ricotta Ice Cream, Carrot Honey Gel

Carrot Cake With Mascarpone Mousse, Ricotta Ice Cream, Carrot Honey Gel

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#23

Traditional Balanzoni, Browned Butter, Fried Sage And Hazelnut

Traditional Balanzoni, Browned Butter, Fried Sage And Hazelnut

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#24

Forced Rhubarb, Buttermilk, Almond & Honey

Forced Rhubarb, Buttermilk, Almond & Honey

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#26

Yellowfin Tuna, Seared Scallops, Avocado Wasabi Puree, Cucumber Salsa, Radish Salad, Hibiscus Vinegar

Yellowfin Tuna, Seared Scallops, Avocado Wasabi Puree, Cucumber Salsa, Radish Salad, Hibiscus Vinegar

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Stephanie IV
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really like the esthetics of this. It's pretty, but it's also still edible food and nothing too out of the way.

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#27

Panfried Potatoes, Asparagus, Pea Puree And A Peanut Sauce

Panfried Potatoes, Asparagus, Pea Puree And A Peanut Sauce

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#29

Scallops On A Bed Of Fennel And Arugula

Scallops On A Bed Of Fennel And Arugula

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Hannah Edwards
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful, but I find these ‘new moon’ style presentations make it look like the star attraction is missing from the plate.

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#30

Beet And Whipped Feta Salad With Pistachios, Mint And Arugula

Beet And Whipped Feta Salad With Pistachios, Mint And Arugula

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Note: this post originally had 99 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.