: Is garnish meant to be eaten? Are sprigs of plants decorating meat dishes, or the slice of lemon/olive in drinks meant to be consumed? Are they at least safe to eat?

Vote Up Vote Down   0 Reactions

Login to give Reaction!

I would expect that whatever is on my plate or in a drink could be consumed and in the case of a Lime, Lemon or Olive garnish in a drink, highly encouraged.

Vote Up Vote Down   0 Reactions

Login to give Reaction!

Garnishes brighten the plate, give a clue to the flavor of the meal, complement the taste of the dish or fill empty space on the plate.Garnishes aren't just for show. You can eat lemon slices or other citrus garnishes only if they are peeled and can be eaten with a fork.

Vote Up Vote Down   0 Reactions

Login to give Reaction!

Garnishes should always be edible - there may be laws depending where you are, but in general anything on your plate should be edible or very obviously not meant to be eaten (like a skewer or a paper wrapper). Depending on the specific case, it might not necessarily be meant to be eaten, though. The defining characteristic is the appearance.

Springs of parsley or stronger herbs might not always be too pleasant to eat on their own, so there's nothing wrong with skipping them. I don't think whoever cooked your meal is going to be too upset if you don't like eating sprigs of parsley - but eat them if you want!

With lemon on a glass, you can enjoy the scent as you drink water without actually eating it, or you can squeeze it into the water if you enjoy that little hint of acidity.

So probably the best garnishes are ones that look good and are pleasant to eat. For example, a dish sprinkled with something small (finely chopped herbs or cheese or nuts or anything else that's already in the dish). Some garnishes are really all about the appearance, though. You'll have to use your judgment to figure out which is the case for whatever dish is in front of you!