how come when you order food it never looks like any picture you see?

Answer 1

What you see in the pictures is the perfect dish taken after hours of setup.

In the restaurant, you have a rushed staff (and probably angry) throwing the food together in order to get you in and out as quick as possible - their goal is high turnover.

Answer 2

I think that this, at the very least, can make a person feel misled when their expectations are based on the visual example & at times can be extremely irritating when the results are Nothing like the picture.
Basically the reason is that a lot of time goes into making the displayed or pictured food look ultimately appetizing and in reality, time is of the essence and cooks don't primp over every plate like a work or art.
Also, think about a group of people executing the same task, be it putting together a plate of pasta & sauce or painting a picture or even making a house from popsicle sticks... you are going to have a varied result from each person, right?
Well, the person who puts together the food for the photo most likely is not the person who is actually preparing your dish... see where I'm going here?
I work for a printing company and some of the products we make are brochures and posters for menues or food service industries.
It's incredible how much times goes into making & remaking the food to look perfect. Super finely shredded lettuces, too many or too few sesame seeds on buns, spritzing stuff with water so it glistens, perfectly placed and proportioned garnishes etc.
Give the cooks a break as long as its a tasty meal -- most people really are trying their best.

Answer 3

Not only do they use dyes and coloring to enhance the food the lighting is a whole better because it is controlled to the inch.

I have seen "how they do that" type shows where they admit that they use fake product so it will stand up to the heat of the cameras. They used to use white glue to instead of milk so the cereal would float and not get soggy during the process. Also shortening was used instead of real ice cream to keep it from melting.

Answer 4

If the pictures looked like the actual food, nobody would but it.

Answer 5

Because the photographers hire food stylists to make the food look better than in real life.

Answer 6

Because who the hell would buy a TV Dinner if it had the actual picture on the box?

Ask that on Y! answers

Answer 7

False advertising.

Answer 8

ha, i hate that!

my mom used to work in advertising, and she says they used to spray the food with water and oils to make it look juicy and fresh...
i wonder who gets to eat the pictured meals???

Answer 9

I have always wondered that myself. Just compare a big mac to its photo. Ridiculous.

Answer 10

it's called false advertising