While the life of your party will always be your entertainment and guests, it does not hurt to have a fabulous set up that everyone can admire. One of the most unique things anyone can do with several pieces of sweet fruit is create a carved fruit piece that people can admire while eating the contents. Using a specific set of fruit carving tools, you can achieve the same perfection of those chefs’ masterpieces you see on TV.
Most of the tools you will need to complete the job are sold in a garnishing kit, which usually contains six different tools for getting the job done. Garnishing kits with scoops, hooks and knives are common, but you may want to supplement your collection with a set of carving knives with finer points to assist you. With a great set, you can turn many fruit pieces into a master piece.
Fruit Carving Ideas
The most commonly seen piece of carved fruit is the watermelon basket because it fits into the spirit of summer. It is a relatively easy shape to make and even if you do not care for watermelon, you can recreate the basket with any medium sized melon. Using the melon scoop in your garnish kit, you can scoop out the pieces of the melon into an attractive bowl, saving what you remove to serve to guests. Once the bowl is hollow, you can fill it with your scoops of watermelon, grapes, cantaloupe, mango, or any other fruit you are sure your guests would love.
While the watermelon basket is the most basic of fruit shaping ideas, with a little practice you can take your experience to the next level. One particular talent that is especially admired at parties is fruit that is fashioned to look like an animal. It is possible to create an apple swan with the right set of fruit carving tools. Other ideas include flowers in the face of mangoes, or even the silhouette of the person the party is honored carved into the side of a watermelon.
The price you pay for your set of fruit carving tools really depends on the quality of the set you purchase. A six piece set by Chef Harvey Deco only costs $30 and the quality is decent, but if you are serious about turning fruit shaping into something more than entertainment, the Sur La table 80 piece kit has everything you need for the modest price of $180.
Tags: sweet fruit, garnish, carving knives, fruit carving tools, fruit pieces