A vivid pop of green paired with the blush of pale pink and a punch of orangey red. This color combination isn't from the pages of the latest spring fashion magazines; these are the tempting tones on the plate when you order the jumbo lump crab and fresh avocado with tomato coulis at Le Bilboquet Atlanta.
Serving a well-heeled crowd (count the Gucci loafers and red-soled Louboutin pumps) in the Shops Buckhead Atlanta, this lively Parisian-cafe-inspired restaurant prioritizes beautiful food in a light-filled setting festooned with fresh flowers and contemporary art.
“We have well-traveled, fashion-forward guests, and it pushes you, which is kind of cool,” said Jon Skinner, director of operations for Le Bilboquet Atlanta. “We’ve always said that the food is about the aesthetic first, because guests first eat with their eyes.”
Deep purple beets with mozzarella and basil are artfully arranged on salad plates. A confetti of diced red tomatoes accessorizes sautéed chicken breasts with a Cajun beurre blanc sauce.
“Big color is a big thing, so it looks exciting when it’s going out to the tables,” Skinner said.
Pretty and healthy
While tastemakers in interior design, fashion and lifestyle applaud dining rooms dedicated to presenting food in its best light, so do experts in healthy eating.
“Prettiness matters,” said Atlanta-based registered dietitian Charlotte Hayes. “It’s all about stimulating the eye and the senses with a variety of colors. It’s a visual palate, and it’s a palate of color that represents taste, health and nutrition.”
You don’t have to be plating smoked salmon or lobster to assemble an appealing presentation.
A tumble of blueberries on top of yogurt adds nutrition and nature’s beauty. Slicing a four-ounce portion of steak or chicken and fanning it out on the plate helps it look like a bigger (and more satisfying) portion.
There’s a lot to learn from chefs’ carefully designed creations. It’s not about being fussy. Stopping to appreciate the arrangement and colors of food on the plate increases mindfulness at meals.
“The sensory aspect is not just about flavor,” Hayes said. “Artful food can help prevent you from gobbling it down quickly and overeating. If it’s that beautiful, you have to slow down and savor every bite.”
