There’s an art to finishing a dish — those last-minute touches that make a meal feel special, even if it came together quickly. We asked Charlotte Candler, our trusted food stylist and photographer, to share her go-to tricks for bringing visual appeal and balanced texture to everyday meals. From a handful of herbs to a silky drizzle of olive oil, these simple tips will help you plate like a pro and elevate your cooking with ease.
1. Garnish with Herbs and Edible Flowers
2. Drizzle with Olive Oil:
A final drizzle of high-quality olive oil adds more than flavor — it brings life to the plate. That glossy, golden sheen helps highlight the colors of your ingredients and gives a luscious, just-finished look to everything from roasted vegetables to grilled bread. Even a simple bowl of hummus or a grain salad becomes more inviting with that silky finish.
Pro tip: choose an extra virgin olive oil with a green, peppery bite to complement both savory and sweet dishes.
3. Add Crunch with Chopped Nuts and Seeds:
This is one of my favorite ways to build visual texture in addition to culinary crunch. The early tones and interesting shapes of chopped nuts and seeds catch your attention and help elevate food that might be more plain otherwise. Some of my favorites to always have on hand: pistachios, pine nuts, sesame seeds. These little accents make a big difference, especially on dishes like roasted carrots, creamy dips, or even breakfast yogurt.
4. Experiment with Peeled or Mandolin-sliced Produce:
One of the easiest ways to make a plate feel elegant is by playing with shape. Use a vegetable peeler or mandolin to create delicate ribbons or paper-thin slices of produce. Carrot curls, shaved radishes, cucumber ribbons, or thin slices of pear add a modern, airy touch to any dish.
These shapes introduce a new texture and subtle crunch, while the pops of color keep the dish looking fresh and light. Try layering shaved fennel over a salad or topping a crostini with citrus peel curls for an instant upgrade.
About Charlotte Candler:
Charlotte Candler is a photographer, stylist, and creative director in NYC with specialties in food styling, recipe development, and food photography. Her passion for photography and seeking beauty in nature led her to having the beauty of produce drive her to develop and plate recipes not just as nutrition, but as art. Follow her on Instagram for more inspiration!
