You eat with your eyes first. That’s the old saying, and I believe that it’s really true.

Let’s try it.

Which one of these would you rather eat?


Now, that steak on the left may very well be the most delicious steak ever made, but the plate on the right is the one I’d pick. It just looks so much more delicious and inviting. . .

And why does the plate on the right look so much more appetizing? Well, there are lots of individual reasons, but the short story is that a bit of effort went into making sure it looked good, as well as tasted good. Just that little bit of forethought, that touch of planning and care, makes a huge difference in the end result.

That’s what Pretty Tastes Better is all about – plating and presentation for home cooks. We will be discussing everything that affects the end result on the plate – food preparation, plating, garnishing, tablesettings and more.

We home cooks are rockin’ our kitchens all over the world, and with just a little attention to detail, we can turn our humble home-style meals into gorgeous, drool-worthy dishes that people would pay big bucks for at a restaurant.

So, take a look around. Perhaps you’ll find a tip or two you can use, or maybe you can add one for everyone to share! Please comment freely and drop me a note if there’s something in particular you’d like to see.

About Me

Hi! My name is Valerie Williams. I seem to be one of the few foodies in the world who DIDN’T grow up with fabulous food. My mother didn’t enjoy cooking, so it was just the basics – boxed mac ‘n cheese, the occasional pork chop & rice casserole and a lot of KFC.

For the first 37 years of my life, I was the same. Then I moved to Texas in 2004, and two things conspired to get me into the kitchen.

First, we were REALLY broke, so we cooked at home instead of going out, and I tried making a few things from scratch, to save money.

Second, it took me 3 long months to get a job (unheard of for me!), so I had plenty of time to watch cable TV. After watching a lot of Food Network, I decided that I could definitely do that stuff.

Shortly after I got started, obsession took over. Now, I cook dinner from scratch most nights of the week. Sure, I have my lazy nights, but most of the time I’m trying out a new recipe. I love to try new things and wow my boyfriend with a fabulous new dish.

I dream of someday going to culinary school, not to become a professional chef, but just so I can have the knowledge.