When you want to gussy things up for the holidays or any other special occasion, remember its all in the plating and the presentation!
Rather than serve buffet – where guest’s pile it on each plate on their own; think about plating as if the food was a photo in a magazine layout.
Even if you are not an industry pro, you can still score when it comes to presentation with a few quick Holiday How-To’s that will take you through the season and keep your plating game strong throughout the year.

All of the pottery pieces I will showcase in this post are from the talented group of potters in Seagrove, NC, just a short 90 minute drive from Charlotte. If you haven’t visited Seagrove, NC yet, put it on your bucket list. If you are still in search of the perfect holiday gift, the studios of Seagrove’s community of nearly 100 talented potters and craftsmen and women is the answer you’ve been looking for. #TellThemHeidiSentYou
Plating Makes the First Impression
Don’t crowd it all in. Leave plenty of “white space”. Use edible garnishes and make your plates fun and fanciful!
We eat with our eyes first; your presentation of the food on each dish is the first impression, so make it count!

It was my pleasure to appear on WCNC Charlotte’s Charlotte this week with several fun ways to help you plate like the pros. Gone are the days of a plain parsley garnish. Upping your game is easy and I can show you how.
If you missed the live segment, no worries. You will find the updated post, video and more here. Plus you’ll get my recipes for chocolate mousse and lemon pot de creme and the coolest way ever to make your own chocolate bark pictured below.

Thanks so much to my friends at The Heart of North Carolina, the official source of Randolph County Tourism for partnering with me to sponsor this post. I am always delighted to write about brands I believe in and am excited to share their stories.

Read more about everything there is to see, do and enjoy in Randolph County in general and in Seagrove, NC in particular, in this complete post later this afternoon.