On a hot summer night, who wants to spend time cooking in the kitchen--there are better ways and places to kindle heat. Instead of slaving away over a hot stove, try preparing a simple salad with a delicious mix of fresh greens, vegetables, and herbs. You can add a sweet crab or lobster salad over greens. Start you seduction meal with a tray of artisanal cheese, a fois gras pate or cured sliced meats, and fresh fruit.

The key is to keep it simple by designing an enticing array of visually pleasing, scrumptious morsels. Below is an example of a simple recipe for romance. A meal that took less than 15 minutes to whip together and was paired with a chilled bottle of rose wine, served outdoors, and surrounded by mini candles. The fireflies were a magic touch from above ; )

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Plating a dish is one of the many ways to set the tone for your romantic soiree. Whether casual, elegant, funky or fun like any artist, vision and technique come together to present a unique statement. When plating your dish try adding height, creating shapes, working with positive and negative space, and using color or texture for visual effect.

While cooking showcases your skills and culinary prowess, presentation exudes passion and creativity. Take a look at this slide show for inspiration that might guide your next next Seduction Meal. These dishes were prepared by master chefs at James Beard food and wine tasting events--the best source for learning how to perfect this craft.


For more tips on plating a dish, there is a wonderful book called Working the Plate: The Art of Food Presentation by Christopher Styler. Unfortunately, it doesn't share the wonderful meals featured in the book; however, Mr. Styler does a great job of sharing tips and techniques used by many top chefs to create that "wow factor" whether simple or complex.

Speaking of simple (yet elegant), here is an example from an inspiring artist (and perhaps future chef) who truly understands the beauty of presentation. While only ten, his Jello dish is dazzling!

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