Sauces

• Pair contrasting-colored sauces creatively “painted” or drizzled on the plate (think yin/yang).
• Added ingredients such as minced garlic or onions; crumbled bacon or a coarse grain mustard will change the appearance and flavor of a sauce.
• Add hard cheeses to your cream sauces for a flavor boost.
• Try using a standard sauce on a different entrée (think white sauce on meat, marsala sauce on beef).
• Fruits and vegetables as ingredients and as a garnish. Or try grapefruit zest in a light sauce.

Rubs & Marinades

Using a rub or marinade enhances the flavor of any center of the plate item and can make it more tender. Try these for extra zing and something different.

• Chipotle and lime
• Chili powder, ginger and garlic
• Ground coffee, sugar, garlic and chili powder
• Garlic and herbs
• Montreal steak seasoning
• Old bay
• Chinese Five spice
• Pesto
• Balsamic glaze
• Teriyaki glaze
• BBQ sauce
• Olive oil, lemon juice and garlic
• Cajun seasoning
• Blackening seasoning
• Tzatziki
• Rosemary citrus
• Cumin lime
• Cilantro, red wine vinegar, garlic and lime juice
• Whole grain mustard, olive oil and lemon juice

Vegetables & Side Dishes

• Add texture and color to rice, mashed potatoes, and noodles by mixing in seeds, herbs or finely chopped vegetables.
• Use cut vegetables in different shapes. Chopped, julienne, bias, diced, sliced, etc. all add dimension to a plate.
• Salad mixes add a bright, colorful, vegetable component to the plate. Add a little fruit for even more zest.

The Main Event

• Serve items such as steak and grilled chicken breast by slicing them and fanning them out on the plate.
• Add shape to foods. Meat, vegetables, starches; a little shape makes the plate become a work of art.
• Color adds richness to any dish. Use red or yellow peppers, red onion, green, leafy herbs or any variety of colored sauce.

Accompaniments for the Plate

• Grilled onions
• Grilled tomatoes
• Onion rings
• Olive tapenade
• Salsa
• Dried fruit compote
• Black bean salad
• Red pepper and artichoke relish
• Grilled vegetables
• Roasted vegetables
• Succotash
• Butternut squash hash
• Salad
• Corn on the cob
• Ratatouille
• Polenta
• Blue cheese mashed potatoes
• Fries
• Pasta salad
• Cole slaw
• Potato salad
• Rice
• Sautéed spinach
• Asian noodles
• Potato pancakes
• Steamed vegetables
• Baked potato
• Baked sweet potato
• Hush puppies
• Vegetable puree
• Grilled zucchini
• Vegetable kabobs
• Stir fried vegetables
• Tomato and corn salad