You Can’t Do 100% On 50%

by Sean Dackermann

Looking at the title, it might seem like a contradiction.

In the world of tabletop you have to look at all facets of creating the experience and make sure that all details are being 100% completed. In other words, and an often used phrase, ‘you’re only as strong as your weakest link.’

Take for example a song. When you hear a complete song it is the embodiment of an emotion with the instrumentation, and the lyrics as well. You don’t hear a song that truly moves you when one of those criteria is lacking. When the production value equally matches the lyrics and emotion behind the words, you have a complete piece. The two criteria are being fulfilled 100%. This brings us back to the point of ….. you can’t go 100% on 50%. 

When you look at all factors of your image and brand you cannot put 100% into one piece of the puzzle and leave the others to struggle and weigh down the overall outcome. Take this into account with your plating and taste of your dishes. If you have a product that is showing respect to all eight senses (yes, when you’ve created a dish that hits on all 8 – including the newly adapted senses) you know you’ve hit a homerun. For that to be achieved you have to show your personal appreciation to your brand and what you’re looking to accomplish. If the taste of your food is subpar to your standards but your plating is cutting edge, you’re almost baiting and switching the consumer at the point of presentation. 

Vice versa, if the plating is floundering they may not want to open their palette to discover the taste of your offering. You ultimately show respect to your customers by first showing respect to yourself and your brand. This isn’t to say that your plating has to be something extravagant or over-the-top, but at the very least it must complement the soul of your dish and its point of existing. 

Likewise if you’re not doing your produce and food ingredients justice in your cooking methods and preparation .. Well, you may not be in the right industry. Keeping the thought in the back of your head of making sure you’re not going for 100% on 50% or any other minimal percentage will ensure your product is being granted the chance for your customers to indulge it in more ways than through just eating it.

So….yes…..Tabletop Matters.

Sean Dackermann is a creative problem solver from the Baltimore-metro area. Using his mix of life experiences and passion, he has been able to make a career out of visual communication in diverse fields.