How it Looks or How it Tastes: What Attracts You to Food?

Ever wondered why we drool over glistening brownies, a bright summer-y salad or vanilla ice cream covered with cube-shaped chocolate chips? Is it just the of what you're about to eat or it's bold and beautiful presentation?"We do eat with our eyes and first impressions (of a food) are everlasting", feels celebrity Chef Ranveer Brar. With the technology making the world a global village, people are becoming more open to experimenting and accepting gourmets from all over the world. And visual appeal does play an important part in taking it ahead."Visual appeal and presentation is key to a cuisine and a concept's success. Often said, yet it is  always true that we do eat with our eyes and first impressions are everlasting," Brar told PTI. When it comes to choosing between taste and the visual attractiveness of a cuisine, Chef Brar, who judged the "MasterChef Season 4", says, "Taste has always been and will always be king.""I strongly believe that presentation leaves an impression, but what gives the impact is taste. Taste is the factor that gives us food memories," said the food expert who has launched over 10 restaurant brands across the world. However, to a question on does he think that in a bid to make food look more appealing, the eateries as well as chefs are straying towards 'food pornography' out of desperation to garner more footfalls, he said, "I think it's a very short phase that we shall soon overcome to realise that the foundation of cuisine is the taste and flavour."Chef Brar, who has displayed his culinary skills and plating techniques on TV shows like "Ranveer's Cafe" and "Health Bhi Taste Bhi", feels that an attractive plating makes a dish more appealing. Elaborating more on his food plating 'mantra', he said, "The plate needs to show. For the food to show up at least a 35 per cent neutral background is a must."