NON EDIBLE DISPLAYS - 5th sem Syllabus Food Production

 NON EDIBLE DISPLAYS - 5th sem Syllabus Food Production

NON EDIBLE DISPLAYS

Although food holds the spotlights in all buffet presentations and the objective of buffet planning must be to achieve visual beauty both in the artistic item of edible food and in the arrangement of many dishes on the buffet table, nothing heightens the beauty of the buffet more than an outstanding centerpiece made of ice, tallow, or other non-edible materials.

The guests should be able to identify the theme of the buffet at a glance, just by observing the non-edible decorations that provide an eye-catching background for the presentation.

The Garde Manger staff can use various methods and materials to enhance the presentation of the buffet.  The list of possibilities would include:

Ice-carving

Tallow sculpture

Fruit and vegetable displays

Salt dough

Thermocol work

Sugar & Chocolate Display 

Ice Carving:  The ice sculpture is the highlight of any buffet. Ice can be carved be in any shape, size, or figure that fits the theme or occasion.  For example; for Christmas there could be Santa Clause; for anniversary, a heart; for an Easter buffet, a Bunny.

Points to be kept in mind whilst carving ice are;

The best temperature for ice carving is 28 degrees Fahrenheit or less.

An ice block will melt at the rate of half inch per hour at room temperature.  Each ice carving must have a base that is at least 4 to 5 inches high.  In other words, when planning the carving, deduct 5 inches from the total height for the base.  

Be sure to draw the template accurately.  

If a piece of ice breaks off, dip each broken edge into salt and press pieces back together for few minutes; with the salt added the broken pieces will freeze together and hold.

A 100 to 300 pound block of ice, 40 inches high by 20 inches wide by 10 inches thick can be purchased for ice carving.

Tallow Display:  How is Tallow prepared? The proportion of ingredients used for preparing tallow display are as follows; 1/3rd Bees wax+1/3rd Paraffin wax+1/3rd Rendered beef fat (tallow). All the above ingredients are melted together in a pot then allowed to cool at room temperature.  When the tallow is completely cold figures can be carved out.  

Great care should be exercised while carving as the tallow is brittle and may break When deciding on the selection of a pattern for a tallow display piece, it is essential that the display piece chosen matches the theme of the food design or buffet. A French restaurant serving a French buffet will add effectiveness to the presentation by displaying a bust of Napoleon or Escoffier or the Eiffel Tower.  Such displays can be used over and over, but they should be covered with transparent wrap when not in use as dust tends to stick to them.To be successful in the exhibition of tallow display it is essential the person making the tallow display should have a photograph or the model of the piece to be made.

Vegetable and fruit displays - vegetable carving is the art of carving vegetables and fruits to form beautiful objects, such as flowers, birds, animals, etc The origins of vegetable carving are disputed: some believe it to have begun in Japan in ancient times, others believe it to have begun in Thailand 700 years ago, while still others believe that vegetable carving originated in China.

Very attractive centre pieces can be made by carving various shapes out of fruits and vegetables. Large pumpkins, melon and such vegetable vegetables can be used as

containers or carved into objects such as boat, ships, birds etc. various flowers can be made, the variety in colour of fruits and vegetables adds to a lot of eye appeal and the presentation of the centre pieces. Care should be taken not to use non food items such as pins, staples, toothpicks, drawing pins to hold the arrangement in place. Water may be sprayed to make to look fresh

Salt dough: Salt dough is a modeling material made from a mixture of flour, salt and water. Food coloring is often used to color the material. Due to its high salt content, it is not suitable for ingestion, although the salt also gives it an offensive taste making such attempts unlikely even among inquisitive individuals such as children. The dough can be baked in an oven to obtain solid sculptures. 

To create successful sculptures of salt dough:

For salt dough sculptures a good solid metal armature is needed to support the weight of the sculpture.

Cover the armature with aluminum foil to create desired shape.

Cover aluminum foil with thin sheets of salt dough.  Dry, repeat, and dry again.

Finish details on the 3rd layer of salt dough.  Dry and paint with brown corn starch color or just with herbs or spices.

Thermocol work: Styrofoam is an interesting medium that can be used to create a variety of crafts and decorations. Templates and cut outs will help in producing Styrofoam carvings quickly.

Sugar and chocolate display

Sugar Craft (Pastillage) - A thick sugar paste, similar to gum paste, is molded into shapes. When dried, it is hard and brittle. Made with gelatin, water and confectioner's sugar, it hardens quickly and can be shaped for a short while by hand, and after hardening, with electric grinders, cutters, sandpaper and assorted files. 

Sugar Craft “Pastillage” This could include

Pulled sugar

Poured Sugar

Blown Sugar

Spun Sugar

Sugar can be used in various forms to provide stunning works of art, that could adorn a dessert buffet.

Chocolate Mouldings - Tempered chocolate can be used to make figures which can be attractively arranged to be used as centre pieces during festive times like Christmas and Easter, or may be used to adorn the dessert buffet.