If you’ve ever heard the phrase ‘we eat with our eyes’, you’ll know that the way food is presented is almost as important as its flavour. A beautifully presented plate of food with bold colour contrasts and pleasing arrangements is automatically more appetising to us than a poorly presented plate with no discernible differences in colour or texture. But why is this the case? Have we been conditioned to expect certain things or does it go deeper? Here’s a detailed look into why food presentation is so important.
The ‘Expectation Effect’
If you’ve ever been excited about a dish arriving at your table, there’s a scientific reason why this makes you so happy. When food looks appealing it actually releases dopamine in your brain before you’ve even taken a bite, boosting mood, attention and flavour sensitivity. This is known as the ‘expectation effect’ and sets the tone for the entire meal. Interestingly, several studies have also shown that identical dishes taste better when plated attractively – a direct result of cognitive bias.
Evolutionary Instinct – Does This Look Safe?
On a similar note, humans have evolved to rely heavily on sight to detect whether food is fresh, spoiled, contaminated, dangerous or simply not pleasant to eat. Bad presentation often mimics the visual cues of unsafe food, for example, unclear colours, sloppy textures or a messy appearance. Even if the dish is perfectly edible, your brain may interpret it as potentially risky, activating avoidance behaviour. This is the same instinct which makes us wary of things like mould, rot or anything that looks ‘off.’
As such, it’s in the best interest of chefs to create delicious, fresh looking food with bold colours and displays that are pleasing to the eye. Head to the best restaurants Kensington and Chelsea, for example, and you’ll discover an array of mouth-watering dishes that look appetising from the minute they arrive at your table.
Food as a Visual Experience
For a dining experience to be successful, a plate must appeal to all senses. It must smell good, look good and taste good which is why presentation is so important. A beautiful looking plate of food helps the diner to connect with what’s in front of them and feel ‘safe.’ As mentioned above, their dopamine will kick in and they won’t have to wonder whether the ingredients have been cooked properly and safely.
As well as food safety, a good looking plate is also a form of visual storytelling and adds a sense of professionalism and fun. Colour, shape, height, textures and contrast all work together to guide the eye across the plate, with bright vegetables, crisp garnishes and clean lines creating a sense of freshness and balance.
Think of Instagram. Restaurants and eateries often showcase their very best dishes online in a way that’s artistic and appealing. They hire photographers to expertly arrange and snap clean, attractive-looking dishes that will promote custom. We are very visual beings and first impressions count – even if that’s simply looking at social media.
The best restaurants near South Kensington are on point when it comes to food presentation, and you can expect the very best of authentic Indian cuisine at Little India on Gloucester Road. With the best restaurants in South Kensington nestled close to an array of tourist attractions, you can also satisfy your appetite after a wonderful day of exploring in the big city.
