Another stunning presentation: Sprinkle sesame seeds, paprika, slivered almonds, raisins, pepper, parmesan, herbs, or chopped onions. Slivered almonds and raisins work well for grains, like rice and couscous. Herbs and parmesan go well on potatoes and pasta. Chopped onions work for burgers and steaks. 

Fancy Restaurant Secret: Serve tall meals in the middle of the plate, by stacking the food in layers in a can with both ends  cut off. Put the potatoes, rice or past on the bottom, then the veggies, then the meat, chicken or fish.  Add a basil or mint leaf and a slice of fruit, and you have a dramatic presentation.

Think out of the box (or off the plate) for serving dishes. Serve dips in a half a scooped cabbage, orange, or grapefruit. Serve sorbets in scooped out lemons. Put bread on a wood cutting board. Use baskets – for bread, fruit, and with a cloth napkin liner, for chips. Requisition a checker board for crackers with cheese on top. 

Use squeeze bottles to drizzle designs on your food – whether it is soy sauce on a vegetable or whipped cream or chocolate on a dessert. Use a toothpick to slice designs through the drizzled sauce. 

For dessert  Sprinkle powdered sugar or dried coconut on strawberries, angel food cake or the plate itself. Lay a fork on the plate before the sprinkle, lift it after and you have the outline of it on the dish.

Two last tips: Select garnishes and sauces that contrast with the plate and the food: Use bright colors on white, for example. And for candles, centerpieces and arrangements, use odd numbers of items to add interest.

Voila! Your meal will look like a masterpiece!