Who needs plates? 13 quirky ways to serve food!

The Staff Canteen

A current trend in the hospitality industry seems to be not using plates.

Establishments around the world are using alternative plating options to serve their dishes, from dry ice to steaming suitcases, here are 13 dishes that challenge the traditional presentation of food. 

Is this a step too far? 

Peter Maria Schnurr, head chef at Falco, a two Michelin starred restaurant on the 27th floor of the Westin Hotel in Leipzig, Germany served chocolate covered raspberry sorbet on an Italian flip flop, with a brownish powder that is said to resemble sand.

Falco

Chocolate covered raspberry sorbet

Image courtesy of @instgramsean 

Lunch is served!

Wimbledon Afternoon Tea Week at Mercure hotel in Bloomsbury was an unexpected adventure for customers. Afternoon tea was served on tennis rackets with a small bottle of homemade lemonade wedged into a tennis ball.

mercure hotel

Afternoon Tea at Mercure Hotel

Image courtesy of @msleannefraser

Caught between a rock and a hard place 

How would you like your lamb? How about on a rock with a pair of tweezers? 

Unknown

Lamb on a rock

Image courtesy of @SiMackie

As cold as ice

Located in Sweden, 200km north of the Arctic Circle, this ice masterpiece consists of an IceBar and IceGallery, plus luxury suites. The IceHotel takes a refreshing meal to the extreme, by serving their food on dishes carved out of ice.
10   IceHotel
Salmon Dish
Image via The IceHotel Website

Talk about a working lunch!

Users on twitter are constantly sharing the weird and wonderful ways in which they are served food. This dish takes the definition of a working lunch to another level, with dishes being served on office equipment.

9   Unknown cut
Starter
Image courtesy of @MarieaHobbs83 via @wewantplates

This restaurant has gone bananas


Situated on the coast near the West Undercliff Promenade in Bournemouth, they seem to be serving chicken with an Indian flare by incorporating the banana leaf in their presentation. 
8   Harvester cut
Main Course
Image courtesy of a diner at The Harvester, Bournemouth.

You have to be one with nature to enjoy this course

Located in Times Square, the hotel is contrasting the city style and creating a natural environment. That includes serving truffles on a bed of moss (their natural habitat).

7   Knickerbocker Hotel

Truffles at The Knickerbocker 

Image via Time Out, New York

Here's a new take on meals on wheels


Found inside DisneyWorld, Florida has their own meals on wheels, but keeping with the theme park style, serving their dishes on mini Ferris Wheels.
6   Planet Hollywood

Planet Hollywood Dish

Image via usatoday.com

Let's keep the roof tiles for the roof shall we


We all know Gordon Ramsay and his experiences at the restaurants on his TV shows, however this New Jersey restaurant shocked him and us once again by serving a steak dish of their creation, using a roof tile to prepare it at the dining table.

5   Flamangos

Kitchen Nightmares, Channel 4

Image via finedininglovers.com

We don't have the 'tools' to eat this dish with


The South West of England, loves a botanical garden, however this restaurant has incorporated the theme throughout the establishment right down to dish presentation serving food in garden tools. 

4   The Botanist cut
The Botanist Dish
Image courtesy of @wewantplates

Anyone for some pasta in an axe?!


Another social media post, taken in Vienna and people have an axe to grind about this pasta dish.

3   Centimeter
Pasta Dish
Image courtsey of @kjmci

He was a skater boy...


Once again a ‘meals on wheels’ alternative has been defined, as this spa in Athens by Vouliagmeni Lake serves food on mini skateboards.

2   Vouliagmeni
Hotdog and Chips
Image courtesy of @ DJAFrankenstein

Let's take a 'brief' moment to contemplate this drink

While in Shoreditch, London why have a hot drink when you can have steaming one instead? 

1   Shoreditch Cut
Drinks
Image courtesy of @genuine_eel

Do you agree with our list? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments box or head over to our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter @canteentweets

By Mel Ayres

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The Staff Canteen

The Staff Canteen

Editor 4th August 2017

Who needs plates? 13 quirky ways to serve food!