Cold, rinsed grapes, though very tasty, always have a slightly dusty look to them. The “secret” here is quite literally “Secret Deodorant”—in the spray version. Apparently, it’s strong enough for men, women, and grapes.
Food that begins to dry out can be revitalized with hairspray—any brand will do.
Steaks that have that perfectly seared look have had strategically placed grill marks enhanced with brown shoe polish.
To prevent the lettuce and tomato from wilting under the moisture of a raw burger (except for the blow torched edges), cardboard is placed between burger and lettuce, where the cardboard prevents the meat from smashing and wilting the lettuce. And if your burger doesn’t have enough sesame seeds—or perhaps you would like the seeds more artfully arranged, you can always glue some in the desired places.
White glue is also used in place of milk when photographing a bowl of cereal. It’s also handy in repairing anything crumbly.
Syrups that are lavishly drizzled over the top of ice cream are usually made out of shortening, powdered sugar, and food coloring. And to get this concoction to stick to the top of the ice cream, paper towels are torn into small pieces and placed on the ice cream prior to the shortening drizzle.
So next time you’re wondering why your meal doesn’t look like those in the glossy food magazines, don’t fret—remember theirs involve cardboard, motor oil, hairspray, and shoe polish.
Bon Appétit!
