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Tired of your plate designs looking plain and
ordinary? Don't understand how the best visual
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chefs always make their food look so amazing?
Well it's probably because they use one of the
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plating styles from this S.L.I.C framework now
slick stands for stacked linear isolated and
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condensed presentations these powerful methods
will transform the way you understand and present
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your food helping you to identify presentation
formats plus why and where and how they can be
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used making you a much better Plateisst in the process
Now if you're new to this channel welcome my name
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is Tom and I've been a food photographer the
past 10 years working with some of the best
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visual chefs in the UK and I've been lucky
enough to see firsthand how they use one or
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even a combination of these S.L.I.C techniques
to produce some of the most stunning food that
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I've ever had the pleasure of photographing
and then eating if I'm lucky enough whether
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you're a Seasoned Chef or just starting out this
video will equip you with some of the Knowledge
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and Skills to become a true plating Master. Not
only will you impress your guests with visually
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stunning presentations but you'll also enhance the
dining experience by showcasing the flavors and
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textures of your food in this video we'll de dive
into the S.L.I.C technique starting with the stack
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layout. The stacked layout is all about creating
a tiered structure by layering components one
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on top of each other this style can be seen in
both casual dishes like burgers but also more
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sophisticated presentation where precision tools
such as tweezers and molds are used to achieve
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a much more polished result the essence of this
approach lies its ability to build height making
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the plate visually Dynamic and much more engaging
the aesthetic appeal of stacked plating comes
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from the verticality it brings to the dish the
layers not only add structure but also add hidden
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flavors between the components allowing diners to
experience a pleasant element of surprise as they
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work through the dish the height and drama this
layer offers creates a sense of intrigue inviting
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curiosity around the hidden flavors within
each layer for example take this bevet dish
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from Chef Scott Smith which recently featured
in a podcast and plating demonstration we did
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together his stacking of elements designed to
be in together create an impressive structure
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the side view highlights the Dish's height
and carefully constructed layers I link to a
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playlist here of all the plating demonstrations
with some of the UK's top chefs including Scott
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so you can see how the pros go around doing
it however the Stacked layout isn't just about
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looks Precision in layering is key to making sure
the dish remains stable and practical to eat it's
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really important the balance between height and
shape is well executed to maintain the Integrity
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of the dish this is where careful placement of
components comes into play Chef like Ben Wood
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for instance uses tools like tweezers and piping
bags to ensure that every element is placed with
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accuracy especially in intricate dishes like his
beef plate one of the most engaging aspects of the
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Stacked layout is how it encourage interactivity
between flavors each component within the stack is
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meant to complement the others and chefs use this
to their advantage to create hidden flavors that
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the diner can discover as they eat both Ben and
Scott aim for the diner to eat everything together
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ensuring that the flavor experience is cohesive
and layered rather than disjointed this is in
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significant contrast to an isolation plating
style where components are meant to stand out
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individually but are going to that more later it's
not just height and flavor combinations that make
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stack plating so special texture and color play a
huge huge role too when building a stack dish it's
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important to think about how different textures
and colors will work together to create a more
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enticing and memorable plate for instance Scott
uses peppers cornon and onions to add a variety
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of textur to his dish while Ben's candy walnuts
being a crunchy element to the beef plate the pop
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of Green from the salad he adds just at the end
contrasts beautifully with the rich red of the
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beef making the dish visually striking now if you
need more help placing like a pro why not download
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my plate like a pro checklist from the description
below it's been downloaded literally hundreds of
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times by pros and as a like and it's completely
free but if you have found it helpful then a like
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to this video or subscribe to the channel would
be very much appreciated it'll help the channel
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to grow and to get this video in front of more
passionate plati just like you and me but what
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happens when instead of going up we spread out
if stacked plating builds inry by hiding layers
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then linear plating takes a different approach
laying everything out in plain sight let's explore
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how this change in Direction impacts both the
presentation and the diner's experience the linear
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plating layout is all about arranging components
in a line across the plate either in a straight
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path or a gentle curve this style highlights
clean lines precise plement and resulting in a
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design that feels intentional and well balanced
with a focus on creating visual float and ample
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negative space linear plating provides a stage
for each element to shine the aesthetic appeal
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of linear plating lies in its Simplicity there's
something striking about the way each component
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feels carefully placed it creates a sense
of order and refinement with each part of
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the dish contributing to the overall composition
this layout invites the diner to take making the
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dish as a whole while offering the flexibility
to enjoy different elements at different times
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un likee a stacked layout where components are
meant to be eaten together linear plating allows
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more freedom it feels like the chef's encouraging
you to explore the plate at your own pace and in
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your own way a great example is Peter Angyal's
land dish here where the color and weight of
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the lamp acts as a focal point with the green
garnishes pulling the viewer's eyes across the
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rest of the plate it feels like a visual Journey
guiding your eyes from one element to the next
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one of the key strengths of a linear layout is
its use of negative space this isn't just about
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leaving parts of the plate empty for the sake
of it negative space is a powerful tool that
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can evoke a sense of Elegance calm or even tension
depending on how it's applied in Peter's lamb dish
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the negative space around the plated ingredients
acts like a mount on a frame around a photograph
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pulling our attention into the parts he wants us
to focus on it's a subtle but effective way to
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control the viewer's experience and emphasize the
importance of each element on the plate although
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linear layouts are often associated with simple
straight lines there's room for creativity when
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it comes to the shapes used a curved or diagonal
line can introduce a sense of movement and energy
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softening the rigidity of the traditional straight
line this can make the presentation feel much more
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organic like it's flowing naturally across the
plate Michel Baltzar's dessert is a perfect
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example of this idea by using a curved line he
adds an extra layer of Elegance and precision
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to an already complex dish the subtle curvature
invites the eye to travel across the plate in a
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smooth almost effortless way another advantage
of the linear layout is how it showcases color
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contrast and texture play the arrangement of
components in a line naturally draws attention
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to their differences whether in texture color or
flavor this keeps the dish engaged and dynamic
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from every angle in Michel's dessert the variety
of textures and shapes are on full display making
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the dish fill alive with complexity the line of
ingredients doesn't just present the dish visually
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but invites the diner to engage with each element
in turn had Michel offered for a more stacked
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layout much of this detail would have been lost
by sticking to a linear design he ensures that
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nothing is hidden or obscured allowing the diner
to experience each texture and flavor in its
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own right in the end the linear layout is about
guiding the viewer's eye and Palette on a journey
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using clean lines negative space and a dynamic
interplay of colors and textures to create a
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memorable and engaging plate whether you stick
to straight lines or experimental curves the
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goal is to create a flow that feels intentional
inviting the diner to explore every element of
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the dish but what if instead of guiding the eye
along a path we let each component shine in its
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own space what if we shift the focus from
flow to individuality where every element
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stands alone the isolated plating layout is all
about allowing each element on the plate to stand
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alone with ample space separated the components
this style emphasizes the individuality of each
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ingredient creating a dish where every piece
can be appreciated on its own both visually
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and in terms of flavor with significant negative
space between the elements the dish takes on a
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minimalist modern appearance offering a sense
of abundance and Care in its presentation the
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aesthetic appeal of isolated plating lies in its
ability to highlight the craftsmanship behind each
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element it's a layout that celebrates precision
and uniqueness giving each component a platform to
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be appreciated separately whether it's a vibrant
color or Source the perfectly Sid surface of a
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piece of fish each part of the dish gets its
moment to shine a great example of this is from
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Chef Steve Edwards from another podcast episode
and his beautifully cooked trout paired with
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smoked deel and karabi each element is carefully
placed on the plate and the separation allows the
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diners to save each component individually
appreciating the cooking technique and the
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distinct flavor profile of each item once again
negative space plays a pivotal role in isolated
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plating it's not just about leaving the parts
empty of the plate rather it's a strategic tool
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used to create balance and draw attention to
other key components click on the video here
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to watch a much deeper dive into negative space
and composition if you want to learn more about
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this tricky topic but when done well it evokes a
sense of Elegance and refinement turning a plate
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into a visual Feast here Steven strawberry dessert
is a prime example of how negative space enhances
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the presentation the isolated elements combined
with the clean empty spaces focuses the diner's
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attention on the desserts Precision quality and
the care that went into its preparation one of
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the key principles behind isolated plating
is the idea of quality over quantity in this
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layout less is often more the chef's focus is on
high quality ingredients and are presented in a
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way that makes them immediate impact rather than
crowding the plate with too many elements each
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item is carefully Chosen and placed with purpose
this aligns with a modness Cuisine movement where
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every component is crafted to Perfection take Mauro
Cologreco dish here as an example the way he isolates
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the elements using unique shapes like stars
circles triangles paired with bold contrasting
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color palette makes the plating both powerful
and really really visually striking while the
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plate may appear simple at first glance there's a
great deal of skill involved in creating isolated
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dishes this layout gives the chef an opportunity
to layer flavors without overcrowding the plate
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each bite offers a distinct taste and experience
encouraging the diner to explore flavors one at a
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time as regular viewers to this channel will know
making something look simple and effortless is
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often the hardest part of plating one of the best
examples of this approach is one of my favorite
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chefs Adam handling known for his precision and
creativity his use of perfectly Round Chicken
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a subtle swish of sauce and the careful placement
of the arch choke which is a very awkward and
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unique shape demonstrate the technical ability
required to make a dish looks so perfectly
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effortless it's a masterclass in how isolation
can be used to tell a story through Simplicity
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and elegance in the end isolated plating is a
celebration of individual components that make
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up the dish each element should stand on its
own but together they create a cohesive and
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memorable experience it's a layout that requires
both precision and restraint with negative space
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and thoughtful placement transforming
each dish into a visual and culinary
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delight the condensed plating layout focus
on ging all the components tightly together
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typically cented on the plate or Bowl this
approach prioritizes practicality by keeping
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elements close which not only helps maintain the
dishes heat but also makes it simple to consume
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visually the condensed style offers a clean and
approachable look creating a sense of cohesion and
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completeness that feels both grounded and inviting
this layout is particularly favored in high volume
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settings due to its efficiency allowing chefs
to Plate dishes quickly but without sacrificing
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quality commonly seen in casual and upscale dining
condensed plating is perfect for hearty Mains or
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comfort food dishes that benefit from a unified
and cozy presentation one of the standout features
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of condensed layout is its ability to achieve
Clarity and cohesion by tightly grouping the
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components the plate emphasizes Simplicity while
allowing flavors to blend beautifully resulting
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in a comforting and inviting presentation a
prime example of this can be seen from a recent
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podcast and plating demo from Ben Watson where
he showcased this venison dish drawing from his
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experience as a sous chef at the three Michelin
St core by CLA Smith Ben skillfully uses seasonal
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and local ingredients to create a cohesive and
naturally plated dish that perfectly aligns with
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his new restaurant's narrative his choice of a
condensed style over linear or isolated layouts
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ensures it tells a story of Simplicity and
locality and another practical advantage of
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the condensed plating is maximizing heat retention
by clustering warm components together chefs can
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ensure that the dish remains at an optimal
temperature for longer periods this simple
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yet effective strategy can make a significant
difference in maintaining the quality and enjoy of
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the dish flavor integration is another key aspect
of the condensed layout this style encourages
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flavors of components to intermingle creating a
harmonious and cohesive taste experience unlike
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linear or isolated plating condensed plating
invites the diner to experience the dish as
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a whole where each bite delivers a balanced
burst of favor for instance Anthony Rafo's dish
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of Line caught Cornish Cod exemplifies this approach
conceived and plated in the new Nordic style which
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celebrates Simplicity seasonality and locality
the dish appears simple at first glance however
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upon closer inspection the various elements and
flavors involve reveal a beautifully complex and
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impressive presentation that provides wonderful
bursts of flavor in each bite this visual appeal
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through color and texture is also crucial in
condensed plating by selecting components that
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offer a variety of textures and colors chefs can
create visually interesting and memorable placeat
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even within tightly grouped Arrangement Anthony's
beetroot dessert is a perfect illustration of this
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principle although it may initially seem like
a simple circle on a plate a closer inspection
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reveals the different elements hiding within
the dessert boasts amazing contrast in texture
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and color making each buy not only a delight for
the taste buds but also A Feast for the eyes the
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careful placement of each component ensures that
most of the elements of the dessert are obscured
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which creates a feeling of delight and surprise
when the diner takes their first bite in essence
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the condensed plating layout is a masterful blend
of practicality and aesthetic appeal by grouping
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components closely together it creates a dish
that is both visually cohesive and deliciously
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harmonious whether you're preparing a hearty main
course or a comforting dessert condensed plating
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offers a grounded and fighting presentation that
appeals to dond on multiple levels so what have
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we learned well these four plating Styles provide
a solid foundation for any chef at any level but
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to truly evolve your style why not try and combine
or blend multiple formats for instance you might
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encounter a dish that features a condensed base
while employing isolated components for garnish or
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an elegant linear drizzle that enhan the Stacked
presentation this fluidity allows for Endless
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experimentation personalization encouraging
chefs to express their culinary Vision fully
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whether you're preparing a casual dinner or a miss
star experience the possibilities are as vast as
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your imagination to get more advice on plating for
new chefs or home Cooks check out the video here
