Cooking School Lessons: Garnish Your Wages
By AJ Fanter
Just ask any cooking school graduate--in cooking, presentation counts. That's why knowing how to select and prepare garnishes is so important.
The Power of Presentation
How food looks can often count as much as how it tastes. Even the most delicious dish can become less appealing if presented inappropriately, which is why cooking school students spend a good deal of time working on the fine art of food presentation.
What's a Garnish?
Garnishes are an important part of the presentation mix. A garnish is a unique addition or colorful arrangement that not only makes a drink or plate of food more appealing visually, but also stimulates a diner's appetite. Garnishes you've probably seen on your plate or in your drink include parsley, lemon twists and even flowers.
Garnishes can come from an ingredient already in the recipe or from something extra that will complement the dish being served. They may also add to the overall visual appeal of the dish. In most cases, if not all, a garnish should be edible, in case a diner finds your presentation especially appealing.
Prepping for Presentation: Cooking School
Just as garnishing is an important final step in proper presentation of a dish, attending cooking school is a key first step to a successful career in the culinary arts.
At cooking school you'll learn many tips about selecting and preparing garnishes. One of the most important: planning them ahead of time. Cooking school will teach you how to choose garnishes that will balance but not overwhelm the main dish. And cooking school students also learn how to create garnishes from various fruits and vegetables, using all kinds of kitchen tools and their own creativity.
If you're considering a career in catering, baking or any other culinary art, attending cooking school is great place to start.
About the Author
AJ Fanter is a freelance writer. She holds a B.A. in English from Colby College.
