The Art of Presentation
This article is part of our Food In Art column where we introduce classic and contemporary pieces of art to start a dialogue exploring the intersection of food ways and culture within our daily lives.
I recently acquired a sweet vintage cookbook by Virginia McDonald called how I cook it. The copyright is listed as 1949, by Frank Glenn Publishing Co., Inc. And it was actually printed in the United States!
As I opened to the introduction of the book, it became clear that Mrs. Virginia McDonald was something of an influencer of her time. The cookbook opens with Duncan Hines stating, “hundreds of thousands have beaten a path to her door, for savory dishes prepared by an artist, and tastefully served.”
A Blossoming Success Story
In the preface, Eleanor Richey Johnston, Mrs. McDonald's editor, tells a rags-to-riches story of courage and hard work, outlining how Virginia recovered from an extended illness that had left her family in debt to the tune of $8,000 - equivalent to $142,000 today.
Playing to her strengths, Mrs. McDonald started to serve sandwiches to school children from a small counter her husband had setup in his blacksmith shop. Word got out about the delicious offerings and the sandwich counter turned into a small cafe. Within a few years, Mr. McDonald had to add on to accommodate the crowds coming to eat from Mrs. McDonald’s menu. Soon the smithery was abandoned to make room for Mrs. McDonald’s “nationally known Tea Room.”
Now, I love me a rags to riches story as much as the next gal, but there was one line in Eleanor’s preface that really struck a chord that struck me when she explained the talent of Virginia McDonald. Mrs. McDonald, she explained, had a talent “for extraordinary good cooking and beautiful decoration of foods.”
Of herself, Virginia says, “I have always felt that food should be beautiful to look at as well as appealing to the taste. The visual appeal is aided, and often fully accomplished, by the well-chosen of garnishes.”
It’s All in the Presentation
The importance that she placed on the presentation was exemplified in the first chapter dedicated to “Garnishes.” From Frosted Mint Leaves to Turnip Daisies, Mrs. McDonald, explains how to make garnishes to complete a dish as well as which dishes for which they best provide a finishing touch.
The headnote for Cheese Strawberries particularly tickled my fancy: "These are colorful. They add a lovely touch to fruit pies." Oh, how I would have loved to have a warm slice of Mrs. McDonald's apple pie with a cheese strawberry decorating the plate, I thought. As I continued to read about Cherry Roses, Candied Flowers from Orange or Lemon Rinds, Turnip Calla Lilies, and Butter Roses, it became exceedingly clear that Mrs. McDonald was not only a talented cook but also a culinary artist.
My Day “with” Mrs. McDonald
The fact that an entire chapter was dedicated to garnishes piqued my curiosity about the art of crafting decorations from food, particularly fruits and vegetables. Feeling inspired by Mrs. McDonald's creations, I endeavored to make some of the flower garnishes from her book myself.
But rather than simply garnishing dishes with the flowers, I wanted to create a standalone composition where the garnishes themselves would become the centerpiece artwork.
I think I accomplished it :)
There’s Beauty Everywhere
One of the things that I learned from my time spent cutting, trimming, and sculpting veggies is that the garnishes Mrs. McDonald created were so much more than pretty little accents on the plate. They were edible works of art in their own right!
This lady had some serious talent and dedication not only to the art of cooking but to serving each dish with exquisite execution. Each garnish was a miniature masterpiece demanding the appreciation for and attention to the food that was served to each customer. It's almost like she was saying "Hey, don't just gobble down that food, take a moment to admire the beauty and savor each moment!"
There's this whimsical, approachable quality to using everyday fruits and veggies, you know? It's like Mrs. McDonald was reminding us that true beauty can be found in the most ordinary things if you just have the vision and creativity to unleash their potential.
If you happen upon this sweet little book at an antique shop, second-hand store, or estate sale, don’t hesitate to scoop it up. And take up your paring knife to create a little whimsy for your next dish.
Have you ever tried your hand at crafting edible garnishes or food art? What culinary creations have you fashioned using fruits, veggies, or other unexpected ingredients?
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You nailed it, Leigh! Miniature works of art.