Imagine your plate as a canvas, and you the artist.
1. The Color Pop
Photo by Luna Zhang
Here, contrast is crucial. The more variety of color in a dish, the more attractive the meal. Different colors on your plate may correspond to how satisfying the meal is. The easiest way to bring in some color is by using vibrant colored vegetables, such as bell peppers, tomatoes and broccoli. Adding garnish can also be an interesting way of adding flair to your food.
Tip: Use an empty shot glass to hold the ranch dressing.
2. The Sauce Smear
Photo by Luna Zhang
This technique is an underrated one. To pull off the perfect smear, first place a spoonful of thick sauce on the side of your plate. Use the curved back of a spoon to lightly swish it out to the side in the shape of a comma. Don’t forget to wipe off any errant sauce with a paper towel to keep the plate looking sharp.
3. The Drizzle
Photo by Luna Zhang
Don’t throw away your empty ketchup bottles. Instead, fill one up with sauce and use it to add a simple design on top of any dish. Be careful to not overdo it, otherwise you’ll end up with one hot mess (or in some cases two).
4. The Curling Iron
Photo by Luna Zhang
This is exactly what it sounds like. The next time you make noodles (including instant ramen), take a pair of chopsticks and swirl the noodles around them until you have a sizable amount of noodles wrapped. Next, carefully transfer the “Curling Iron” to the top of a bowl of dressing. Ta-da! Sitting in front of you is now a dish with two components– an interactive experience when you mix them together.
5. The I’ll-See-You-Layer
Photo by Luna Zhang
Stack, stack, stack! Be sure not to overdo it on the verticality. Instead, aim for slight overlap, which will produce artsy curvature.