Instagram food: how Hong Kong restaurants are making dishes more photogenic

There is no stopping the phenomenon of sharing food photos on social media. According to a recent report in The Guardian, the influence of social media photos is being taken so seriously by some restaurants that it's influencing what goes on the menu. The newspaper cites the example of a restaurant chain in the US that hired a consultant (at a cost of US$750,000) to come up with ideas on how to make its dishes more photogenic and increase the likelihood of the photos being shared.

In Hong Kong and Macau, posting photos of meals on Instagram and other social media sites has become a craze. In response, some restaurants are making it a priority to have their dishes Instagram-ready, while others still have mixed feelings about the trend.

One restaurant catering to the social media crowd is the recently opened Tycoon Tann. Its modern Chinese menu was developed jointly by its marketing and kitchen teams.

"With more and more people engaging in social media platforms, it has become an integral tool to include in the marketing communications mix. With eye-catching visual images shared on these platforms, it helps attract people to come and try those dishes for themselves," says Cherry Lo, Tycoon Tann's catering management director.

Blogger Ale Wilkinson of Dim Sum Diaries says restaurants are definitely taking advantage of the sharing of food photos, getting free PR, but that the extra emphasis on presentation could be a boon for diners, with nice plating now extending beyond fine-dining venues.

There are places, however, that go overboard.