Level: Sous Chef

First of all, congratulations for taking that first step of making your first plate. You will see that little by little you will improve. As for your dish, the combination of pieces in which you can see the potato skin and others in which you can see the flesh is a success. As for the dish itself, I would have chosen a completely white one or one with a smaller border and less drawing. The orange dots have a lot of prominence, perhaps I would have put them on top, in some places to help contrast and highlight textures. You could put a little olive oil on top to give some shine or some green leaves to help highlight the textures. I encourage you to take a look at the different courses on the plating platform that will help you a lot.

Let’s see what more ideas others give you

Level: Scoolinary Team

Thank you for sharing your first plating attempt! Just taking that step already says a lot about your attitude and your eagerness to learn. 🙌✨

Looking at the photo, the first thing that stands out is the creamy, well-combined texture of the salad – that’s a great starting point. Well done! Your dish also gives off a very cozy, homemade feel, and that’s something to value too.

If you’re interested in exploring new ways to present your dishes, you might consider playing a bit more with height and color. For example, a metal ring can help give the presentation more structure, and adding a fresh herb like chives or curly parsley could give it a nice pop of color. You could also experiment with your choice of plate – white always works well, but a darker plate might make the colors of your dish stand out even more.

Another fun idea is to try using spoons to shape quenelles (those elegant oval shapes you often see in professional kitchens), or incorporate something crunchy or some fresh microgreens to add texture and height.

Do you find the creative side of plating more challenging, or the technical execution? It’s something many of us wonder about when starting out, and every attempt is a chance to sharpen both your eye and your technique.

If you’re looking to keep improving, here are some courses we highly recommend – they’re full of inspiration and useful tips:

Fundamentals of Plating – Great for understanding the core principles of plating. https://www. scoolinary.com/courses/fundamentals-plating

Introduction to Plating – Perfect for building confidence in your first steps. https://www. scoolinary.com/courses/introduction-to-plating

Plating Techniques – Ideal for diving deeper into more advanced and creative techniques.https://www.scoolinary.com/courses/plating-techniques

Keep going – every try brings you closer to the results you’re aiming for. 🌱👏

Level: Scoolinary Team

Hey Cecilia! 👋
First attempt? This is a solid starting point! You’ve kept the composition centered and clean, and the use of contrasting textures and colors (especially the scallion rings and dots of sauce) is eye-catching and thoughtful. The magenta background adds boldness-maybe next time try a more neutral surface to let the food shine even more.
What’s your number 1 challenge when you try to create visual harmony on a plate? Is it balancing color, height, or texture?
And since you mentioned you’re a good imitator, check out our Plating Courses, I’m positive you’ll get so much better results very soon😉 You what they say… passion moves mountains.
Can’t wait to see your next dish with those new tools! Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram @Scoolinary_en if you share it 🥔📸