The Gourmet Mama

There`s something about fresh herbs that makes a dish look truly gourmet. You don`t need much to add that special touch to your food and while herbs are great IN the food, they are also a wonderful way to garnish your plate.

To make your dishes look really professional, there are a few tips to follow:

• When using leaves like basil, opt for either a two-leaf pair attached to the stem or the upper bit of the stem, with two baby leaves and two larger ones.
• Don`t be afraid to use flowering herbs. Chocolate mint has lovely flowers that add a great touch to dessert dishes.
• A sprig of rosemary is just fine, but you can also strip the spiny leaves and sprinkle them around the plate or across the food.
• Consider combining herbs with other garnishes. For example, a sprig of mint laid across a lemon slice or a couple leaves of basil tucked into a tomato slice look great.

Fresh herbs are a wonderful way to make your dishes come alive. Just make sure they are really fresh, since wilted leaves just don`t have the same effect.