2007-02-05 02:30:52 · 9 answers · asked by wayne w 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Cooking & Recipes
TTG provided a good answer.
A garnish is specifically a stimulant to enhance the dish visually. Usually, specifically, it adds color. For example, a neutral-toned or bland colored dish would 'look better' with green (like parsley or lettuce - even a pickle spear in a pinch, depending on the food - think ) or red (think paprika sprinkled on deviled eggs or potato salad). The other example which comes to mind is a lemon or lime wedge. So the trick is to cook a food and then look at it, then think that "presenation" (visual appearance) can make it more appealing (ever see how some magazine or menu picture make you salivate without real food in front of you, but sometimes a low-grade place provides real food and it looks like it just sits there, a pile of lumps or ??). Then find an "appropriate" garnish (cinnamon sprinkles or whipped cream or syrup on the plate of something sweet, vs a pickle spear beside a burger) - this adds visual color and possibly texture for the person receiving the dish. Like a good advertisement, it serves as a stimulant which may convince the recipient that the food is good/better.
Hope this helps!
2007-02-05 02:47:23 · answer #1 · answered by truehartc 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some little garnish on everything jazzes it up and offers contrasting color. In the case of garnishes like parsley or a little piece of fruit, it provides a nice palate cleanser.
2007-02-05 10:51:51 · answer #2 · answered by World Traveler 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't ever NEED to use garnish, it is to make the presentation more attractive. Your choice, use or don't the food still tastes the same.
2007-02-05 11:09:51 · answer #3 · answered by wineduchess 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Garnish is just a way to visually enhance a dish. If you are having people over for dinner or having a party.
If its just at home for yourself...no need.
2007-02-05 10:41:05 · answer #4 · answered by Steph 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
salad garnish for red meat such as steak helps with digestion, lemon for fish it tastes very nice, parsel/corriander brings freshness to a soup/curry, and all the other stuff is either a rich sauce or just plain decoraton, oh yeah and icing sugar on cakes when they don't turn out to well
2007-02-05 10:40:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To make the dish beautiful because the first thing you eat the dish with is your eye. My friend, a chef in the Royal Army Catering Corps taught me that.
2007-02-05 10:35:01 · answer #6 · answered by The Travelling Gourmet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Normally it's just for presentation. But if it's something like chopped cilantro on top of curried rice, it adds a little flavor.
2007-02-05 11:18:10 · answer #7 · answered by chefgrille 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chef's have a saying : Eye appeal is half the meal.
2007-02-05 10:43:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
when you want your food to look pretty.
2007-02-05 10:40:19 · answer #9 · answered by winstonbad 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋