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The better the food looks, the better it tastes

Author Damien Wilde
Posted On 4th July 2014

SaladWe have often wondered if it’s actually a fact that the better the food looks, the better it tastes.

Sadly, a group of scientists got around to factually determining whether or not this was the case before we did.

Backing the long-held assumptions touted by chefs, restaurateurs and food critics alike, a number of researchers have served up some evidence that finds people really do prefer food that looks good.

A number of psychologists worked together and gave volunteers the chance to eat a salad that had been prepared.

There were three varieties: one was arranged so that it resembled an abstract work, a second had each component neatly separated on the plate and the third one was just tossed together and served.

The ingredients, dressing and quantities were exactly the same: mushrooms, broccoli sprouts, red and yellow peppers, cauliflower and lemongrass crème.

The volunteers, aged between eighteen and fifty-eight, were seated alone in a restaurant setting unaware that there were two other potential options that they could have received. They were given questionnaires to fill out before and after the meal.

Once all results had been collated and interpreted, it was clear that people rated the ‘artsy’ salad as being worth more and was more flavoursome than the others.

“[T]he aesthetic value of this visual arrangement made the food more enjoyable to eat,” wrote Professor Charles Spence, who led the research team.

“The results of the study…provide evidence for the idea that there are differences in the expectations and consumption experience of a dish as a result of the various elements having been artistically arranged.”

 “A number of chefs now are realising that they are being judged by how their food photographs – be it in the fancy cookbooks [or], more often than not, when diners Instagram their friends,” Spence also said, making a salient point referring to the current social media craze surrounding the food industry.

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