An idea came to me as I drooled over a picture of Lamb Curry Featuring Roasted Chick Peas at Murray Hill 5. Deb is a professional photographer as well as a highly-creative cook. She mentioned that she now photographs every dish she creates. This made me think. If you do that, every single chop, every slice, every single saute becomes an element in the composition, whether you admit it or not. If it makes a good photograph, it means it is a great presentation - probably the least of concerns to most people cooking at home.
The curry Liz and I had last night almost looked great, even though the dish itself is not a great one I'll repeat. Yes, I did photograph it, but didn't post it because it is not a dish I recommend. The one thing wrong in the photo was the chopped cilantro, rolled over with one of those multiple-blade parsley choppers. That's great for releasing the flavor, especially in salsa, but it doesn't look so great. It didn't make a very good picture.
My mind flashed back to yesterday morning and a new restaurant that just opened at University Mall (which had seemed to enter a death spiral with the loss of Belk's, but seems now to be a phoenix with the addition of a new improved Southern Season - more on that later, bits and pieces, as the new store progresses). Spice Street had wicker baskets in front of the restaurant, filled with bay leaves. Other displays had red peppercorns, juniper berries, and whole allspice. Nice eye candy. With the kitchen store (where Microplane's sliding attachement was purchased) right across the hall, this mall seems poised to become a foodie paradise.
My idea was for a techie/foodie restaurant. LCD screens on the wall could normally show pastoral scenes or maybe text of recommended dishes against a black background. Coming out of the kitchen, every single dish created is photographed and put on the screen, wth an inset of its creator, just as the food is arriving at the table. Upon request, the picture can be emailed to the person who ordered it. The idea is to supplement presentation, woo the customers, and inspire the staff to always make a nice picture.
5:57:15 AM 
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