Visions Gourmandes: The Art of Plate Dressing in France

It has been commonly said, that “We eat with our eyes first,” and while the flavours, aromas, and the visual presentation are all keys to a dish’s success, the trend these days amongst chefs and diners is an appreciation for both the products and a beautifully dressed plate.

Just 20 years ago, the focus on presentation was nonexistent. Sebastian Lepinoy—an Executive Chef at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon at The Landmark—explained that if you ordered Coq au Vin then, the plate would be dressed with ingredients side by side, set up in an order of vegetables and starches, next to the recipe’s main meat or fish, which was stacked on a bed of potatoes.

The times have changed, and with the pressure to win awards, chefs have taken a different approach to dressing plates. French Chefs have been empowered to implement their artistic design skills and study their guests’ reactions. Chef Lepinoy said, “The art of dressage in plating dishes makes all the difference.” Today more and more chefs have been merging the Japanese and the French presentation techniques, focusing on vision as the key factor. Inspired by fashion shows, modern art paintings and various media stimuli, chefs are placing high-end ingredients to create art on a plate canvas. This epicurean plate dressing has now become commonplace in restaurants around the world.

French Photographer Philippe Germain’s mission is to capture “the art of the plate.” Having served on the jury for various chef competitions, he provides expertise in the designing and food styling of plates. Germain recently launched a website called Visions Gourmandes, which is dedicated to the discipline of the new millennium’s epicurean dressage, which dates back to both the Japanese and Chinese traditions, and in the 20th century, the Institute of Le Maîtré Paul Bocuse. The website showcases photos of the most beautifully dressed dishes from 25 international chefs, some of them Michelin-starred. Here are a selection of Germain’s photos. Bon Appetit!