A chef I used to work with used to always say that we eat with our eyes before we eat with our stomachs; it’s no wonder he and other top chefs around the world continually focus on improving food presentation.
Wylie Dufresne of WD-50 is one of the best in the business at food presentation; it’s his corned duck atop a rye crisp with purple mustard and horseradish cream that you see in the image to the right.
You don’t need to be a professional chef, however, to try your hand at food presentation. Let the examples in the slideshow below give you some inspiration. Whether you pour melted chocolate into foot-shaped molds or create a large-scale piece of art from bread rolls, there’s enough variety for a creative soul to attain culinary superstardom.
30 Fabulous & Freaky Innovations in Food Presentation
30
Japanese Lunch Art
Bizarre Bento Boxes
29
Naked Sushi
Sushi Gone Naughty
28
Bread Art
When Playing With Food Is a Good Thing
27
Sushi Cannibalism Party
Bizarre Eating Rituals
26
Edible Cartoons
Face Food Bento Boxes
25
Edible Miniature Worlds
Tiny Food Landscapes
24
Spooky Bento Boxes
10 Halloween-Inspired Mini Meals
23
Edible Tableware
Playing With Your Food is OK With These Beautiful Fruit and Vegetable Bowls
22
Playing With Food For Art
Creative Culinary Photography
21
Edible Album Covers
Obacchi Jacket Bento Meals
20
Recreating Famous Art With Food
Vegetable Masterpieces by Ju Duoqi
19
Food as Art
10 Clever Food Sculptures
18
Culinary Photography Boom
The Rise of Food Porn
17
Family Bonding Through Bento
In Japan, 'Bento Day' Lets Kids Learn to Make Healthy Lunches
16
Food Sculptures
Because It's Fun to Play With Your Dinner
15
Competitive Lunch Box Creations
Star Wars Art in the Bento Challenge
14
Edible Album Covers (UPDATE)
Bento Box Art
13
Recreating Famous Portraits With Food
The Meat Mona Lisa
12
Animated Birthday Cakes
Celebrate With Moving Food
11
Cocoa Feet
Toe-Food Chocolates
10
Festive Bento Boxes
Seasoned Seasons Greetings Depict Rice as Snow
9
Celebrating Cereal and Consumerism
Iconic Images from Breakfast Foods
8
Famous Portraits Made of Sushi
Ken Kawasumi's "Sunflowers"
7
Star Wars-Inspired Culinary Art
The Jar Jar Binks Salad
6
Snack Food Stadiums
24,000-Calorie Tribute to the Super Bowl
5
Fairytale-Inspired Food
Culinary Creations by Jimmy Zhang
4
Food-Topped Furniture
From Ham Beds to Cheese Living Rooms
3
Grafitti-Friendly Serving Platters
Natural Slate Cheese Board Lets You Label Your Goodies
2
Billiard-Inspired Fruit Bowls
Triangle Dinnerware Lets You Play With Your Food
1
Vegetarian Food Branding
VEGE by Design Frying Pans
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Chef-Made Bento Boxes
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Halloween-Inspired Pizza Menus
Pizza Hut Taiwan Introduces New Spooky Menu Items
Kid-Powered Imagination Campaigns
Lunchables' A.I. vs K.I. Proves Kids' Limitless Creativity
Plastic Waste Ice Creams
Eleonora Ortolani Proposes a Different Way to Recycle Plastic Waste
Street Food-Inspired Rice Bowls
Ben’s Original Just Added Four New Street Food Rice Dishes
Uniquely Decadent Chocolate Bars
FIX Dessert Chocolatier Offers Creative Fillings in its Bars
Distorted Burger Campaigns
Burger King's A.I.LLOWEEN Features Unsettling People Eating Burgers
Exquisite Celebrity-Chef Truffles
Wolfgang Puck Estate Truffles Boast 12 Distinct Flavors
Secret Dinner Series
La Carte by Le Creuset is a Three-Part Secret Supper Dinner Series
Coffin-Shaped Ice Cream Tubs
The Alchemist by JDO Satisfies Consumers' Desire for the Unexpected
Next-Gen Gelatin Desserts
Gelée Elevates Gelatin Delights with Active Ingredients
Virtual Cooking Adventures
Infinite Chef Provides a Dynamic Platform for Culinary Experimentation
Takeaway Tasting Menus
Ynyshir Partners with Uber Eats to Create a Tasting Menu for Home Delivery
Giftable Cookie Boxes
Sugarwish's Customizable Cookie Boxes are Indulgent and Mouth-Watering
Savory Onigiri Croissants
Cafe W's Croissant Hybrids Play with Flavors Like Mayo and Pollack Roe
Macaroni-Inspired Tonal Dinnerware
Kraft Heinz Canada Creates the Kraft Dinnerware Collection
Immersive Tomato Dining
A Tomato Dining Sensory Experience
New York-Inspired Picnic Series
Nik Bentel's New York Picnic Series is Whimsical & Eye-Catching
3D Printed Medical Food
Gastronology is Working on 3D-Printed Foor for Dysphagia Patients
Playful Sushi-Inspired Suitcases
These Sushi Suitcases by Yujeong Shin Includes Three Styles
Playful Restaurant Pop-Ups
The Play-Doh Restaurant of Imagination Turns Kids' Creations Edible
Squid-Inspired Packaging
Squid-Inspired Packaging Revolutionizes Temperature Control
Luxurious Debut Tableware Capsules
Louis Vuitton Presents its First Tableware Collection
Food-Inspired Interactive Booths
The Nourishing a Better Planet Sustainability Program Debuted
Fast Food-Inspired Premium Jewelry
A&W Creates O-Fish-ial Jewelry from Favorites on the Menu
Fan-Made Sandwich Creations
Burger King Unveiled the Finalists of its Whopper Contest
Fridge-Decorating Trend Guides
The Takeout Published a Professional Chef's Guide on Fridgescaping
Horror Film-Inspired Cookbooks
The Death for Dinner Cookbook by Zach Neil Has 60 Recipes
Transformative Pizza Box Tables
Pizza Hut Introduces the Moving Box Table Packaging
Fish Lover Snacking Sets
The Tinned Fish Serving Set from Fishwife Blends Snacks and Accessories
Influencer-Inspired In-Car Dashboards
bibigo Launches its New 'Dashboard Kitchen'
Five-Star Frozen Entrees
By Chef Ramsay is a Line of Elevated Frozen Comfort Meals
Casserole-Inspired Chocolate Bars
This Gourmet Chocolate Bar Plays with Sweet Potato & Marshmallow
Aesthetic Interior Fridge Trends
Country & Town House Published a Guide to 'Fridgescaping'
Tiny Chef Dining Concepts
The JW Marriott Edmonton Ice District Has Introduced Le Petit Chef
Cup-Integrated Plates
Pairingware Solves the Struggle of Eating and Drinking with One Hand
Freshness-Preserving Bowls
The Eternos™ Serving Bowl Boasts Professional Grade Heat Retention Tech
Snackable Back-to-School Lunches
Little Spoon's Lunchers are Nutritious Meals for Big Kids
Edible Construction Cements
Japanese Scientists Produce Edible Cement from Food Waste
Happy Desk Salad Kits
Little Leaf Farms Fights Back Against Stigma Around Eating at Your Desk
Edible Flower Baking Kits
The Crystal Candy Make a Pansy Edible Flower Kit Elevates Desserts
Spooky Slider Packaging
White Castle Unleashed Limited-Edition Halloween Retail Packaging
Traditional Food Preservation Containers
The 'Twist' Food Storage Container Has a Hidden Chamber
Origami-Inspired Lunch Boxes
The FoldiBox 2 Box has a Flatpack and Technical Design
Celebrity-Inspired Cocktail Menus
The Quote Book by Velvet Bar Shares Drinks Based on Icons
Sprayable Food Colorings
Wilton Color Mist Food Color Spray Elevates Any Recipe
Architectural Sugar Sculptures
Kellogg's Worked with Artists to Create 'A Story of Salt and Sugar'
Pop-Up Plant-Based Food Stalls
This Impossible Foods Foodservice Concept is at XMarket in Chicago
Gourmet Frozen Cookie Dough
Doughpamine Makes Unconventional Flavors Like Miso Peanut Butter
Film-Inspired Cooking Series
The Cooking with Pixar Series Brings Fictional Dishes to Life
Quirky Plant-Based Food Ads
Gosh! Food's Falafel Advertisement is Surprising
Decadent Holiday Menus
Paris Baguette’s Holiday Menu Delivers a Thoughtfully Curated Selection
Viral Croissant Cubes
Kozak Ukrainian Eatery Serves Shapely Pastries
Social Media Fridge-Decorating Trends
Lynzi Judish Released Several Viral 'Fridgescaping' Videos
AI Dinner-Planning Apps
Dinnerfry Uses AI to Learn What You Like
Virally Inspired Virtual Menus
The Creator's Kitchen As Seen on TikTok Menu is Ever-Changing
Colorful Kitchen Pop-Ups
Primal Kitchen Partners with Pintrest for a Special Initiative
Sensory Dining Experiences
'Make it Mutti' Spotlights Tomato Tales, Tech & Taste
Biodegradable Restaurant Cutlery
'Koovee' Developed Temperature-Resistant and Eco-Friendly Cutlery
Spicy 3D-Printed Bouillons
The Sugar Lab's Kimchi Bouillons Add Savory Flavor to Soups
Hyperrealistic Food Art Exhibitions
Japan House London Presents Looks Delicious! Installation
Student-Friendly Digital Cookbooks
Cookin’ Somethin’ for College Shares User-Friendly Recipes
Candid Celebration Campaigns
Edible's "There's an edible for That" Celebrates Even Awkward Moments
Convenience-Focused Lunch Boxes
The W&P BYO Lunch Bundle is a Convenient and Stylish Solution
Streaming Platform Dining Experiences
KTV's U Presents a TV Dinner Pop-Up Event
Berry-Topped Salad Bowls
Original Chopshop Just Added a New Berry Chop Bowl for Summer
Fun-Forward Snack Campaigns
McCain Foods' 'TAST!EZ' Campaign Encourages Joy
Elegant Snack Platter Sets
DBO Home's Hors D'oeuvres Set Includes Serving Trays, Knives and More
Cross-Cuisine QSR Bento Boxes
The McDonald’s Makunouchi Bento Was Debuted for April Fool's Day
St. Patrick's Day Desserts
Sugar Bowl Bakery Boasts Imaginative and Playful Desserts
Food-Focused Corporate Wellness Programs
Mind Food Body Addresses Unhealthy Eating Behaviors
Naturally Formulated Condiment Ranges
These fu:di Sauces Come in 11 Varieties
Exquisite Canapé Menus
Pusateri’s Fine Foods Thoughtfully Crafts Canapés for TIFF
Edible Lobster Pearls
Cataliment Makes Coveted Modern Gastronomy Ingredients
Temperature-Regulating Food Storage
The b, halfmoon Food Flask is an Elegant & Functional Product
Bakery-Steakhouse Collaborations
Hawksmoor and Dominique Ansel Workshop are Creating One Dish
Elevated Sandwich Catering Menus
The Jimmy John's Catering Menu Has New Premium Sides
Exciting Culinary Competitions
RC Show 2024 Announced an Array of New Culinary Competitions
Heat-and-Eat Toasts
Rudi's Bakery Creates Convenient, Quality Frozen Toasts
Bread-Themed Fascinators
For the Kentucky Derby, Panera Made a Bread Hat with 3D-Printed Details
Healthy Cookbook Launches
Healthygirl Kitchen’s Danielle Brown Elevates Salads with Cookbook
Sophisticated Jello Shots
Solid Wiggles Shares Mixologist-Crafted Alcoholic Slices and Squares
Beef-Centered Thanksgiving Menus
Pre Brands' Flip the Bird Challenges Seasonal Dining Traditions
Sandwich-Inspired Water Slides
Subway Transformed Footlong Dippers Into 95-Foot-Long Dip 'N Slides
Chef-Crafted Poke Bowls
Pei Wei's New Salmon Poke Bowl Was Created with Chef Partner Jet Tila
Brutalist-Inspired Serene Restaurants
Future Simple Studio Reimagines the Sushibox Establishment
Repurposed Train Carriage Experiences
Supperclub.tube Presents a Unique Six-Course Dining Event
History-Centric Recipe Cookbooks
The Tasting History Cookbook Features Global Recipes
Imaginative Cocktail Menus
Dean & Nancy on 22's World of Dreams Menu Evokes Wonder & Exploration
Hybrid Meat Vegetable Concepts
Leyu Li Presents Broccopork, Mushchicken, and Peaf Hybrids
Delectable Rotating Dessert Menus
Crumbl Unveils a New Dessert Menu to Complement its Cookies
Burger-Inspired Ice Creams
So Cute Ice Cream's Cheeseburger Ice Cream is Served with a Pickle
Hourglass-Shaped Kitchen Containers
Vladimir Fer Designs the Grains of Time Storage Container
Plastic-Free Sushi Trays
BioPak's Latest Innovation is Eco-Friendly Sushi Trays
Plant-Powered Delicacies
"Voie Gras" is Made with Soy, Miso Paste and Truffle
At-Home Tasting Menus
Uber Eats Partners with Michelin Restaurant Ikoyi for a New Tasting Menu
TV Dinner Restaurants
TV Dinners for U Serves Meals to Enhance the Streaming Service Experience
Savory Mushroom Ice Creams
Third Kingdom Serves a Gluten-Free Dessert with Porcini Ice Cream
Retro Steak Fondue Meals
The Asda Exceptional Sirloin Steak Fondue Revives a Classic Recipe
Womb-Like Neutral Restaurant Designs
Al-Jawad Pike Designs the Interiors of Holy Carrot in London
Futile Material Design Exhibitions
Objective Gallery Presents Please Sit for an Alternate Ending
Design-Centric Dynamic Artful Cakes
Alison Dunlop and Amy Yip Create Extraordinary Cakes
Savory Veggie Croquettes
Desserts Inspired HappyVore's Multi-Sensory Croq’Coulis
Bread-Making Dough Trays
Sourhouse's DoughBed Ensures that Bread-Making is Simple
Luxe Culinary Experiences
W Toronto's Limited-Time Tasting Menu Boasts a Blend of Flavors
Murder Mystery Dining Experiences
'The Perfect Bite' Experience is Inspired by Knives Out
Cannabis-Infused Cooking Lines
CulinaryCannaCo. & Trumarks Debut Cannabis-Infused Cooking Products
Competition-Born Burger Inventions
Burger King Unveils 3 Whoopers Invented by Fans
Appetizer-Themed Holiday Campaigns
Summer Fresh® Debuted 12 Days of Appetizer Recipes
Dishwashing Station Art Exhibitions
WE ARE ONA and Crosby Studios Presents the Dish Pit
Pink Sushi Boxes
Dept. Sushi Serves Up Sushi in Chic, Vibrant Boxes
Chef-Supported Dairy Campaigns
Anchor Food Professionals Debuts the Taste of Tradition Campaign
Leftover Sandwich Campaigns
The Hellmanns' 'Between 2 Slices' Campaign Tackles Food Waste
Internationally Inspired Salad Kits
These Fresh Express Chopped Salad Kits Feature Global Flavors
Revitalized Truffle Menus
Shake Shack Brings Back its Black Truffle Menu
Cheese-Themed Entertaining Guides
'That Cheese Plate Wants to Party' Inspires Tasty Creations
Protein-Rich Seafood Bowls
These New Scott & Jon's Seafood Bowls Will Arrive in Early 2025
Sombrero-Shaped Appetizers
TexMex Sombreros are Shapely Snacks Filled with Flavor
Artisan-Inspired Diner Menus
Denny's Permanent Menu Now Has Nine New Options
Food-Friendly Wine Pairings
Pernod Launches a Fast Food-Complementing Wine Range
Chef-Inspired Kitchen Lines
Crate & Barrel Teams Up with Gaby Dalkin for a New Hosting Capsule
Edible Wreath Kits
The California Cheese Wreath Kit Comes Together with Nuts, Fruit & Crackers
Duck Fat Cooking Sprays
Cornhusker's Duck Fat Spray is a Flavorful, Mess-Free Cooking Spray
Guest-Crafted Salad Bowls
CAVA is Adding Bowls from Its Guest Custom Contest to Its Digital Menu
Deconstructed Cheeseburger Bowls
Matsuya's New Cheese Burger Don is Like a Burger in a Bowl
Awareness-Raising Salad Bowls
The Smile Farms Bowl Honors Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Elevated Sushi Offerings
Kura Sushi Revolving Sushi Bar Introduces New Menu Items
Unconventional Foodie Magazines
Food& Magazine Explores the Weird and Wonderful World of Food
Modern Food Preservation Units
Matéo Robin Designs the Totem Food Preservation Unit
Griddled Food Fairs
The 2023 Iowa State Fair's Introduces 64 New Foods
Gold Leaf-Topped Sliders
Son of a Butcher's New Rich N Famous Slider Features Edible Gold Leaf
Premium Fermented Condiments
These New Products from Bubbies Fine Foods Come in Four Varieties
Super Spicy Squid Sandwiches
The Dom Dom Burger Squid Devil Burger Comes on an All-Black Bun
Ultra-Fresh Deli Meals
Fresh Food For Now Debuts a New Assortment of Sandwiches, Salads, and Wraps
Antibiotic-Free Salad Bowls
BurgerFi is Adding an Expanded Salad Bowl Lineup This Fall
Multi-Sensory Fondue Experiences
Melting Pot's Ultimate 5-Course Experience Activates Five Senses
Artisan Flavor Burger Menus
These New Freddy’s Menu Items are Packed with Flavor
Amalgamated Cookbook Directories
Cook Book Love Celebrates Culinary Storytelling Virtually
Plant-Based Pastry Courses
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts Offers a New Six-Week Course