Circular Attraction: Why We Are Attracted to Circular Foods

Have you ever wondered why cookies taste better round? Why is it that chefs turn simple rice into circular mounds on each plate? Why is the shape of an apple so ravishing?

Our attraction to circular foods can be related to our societal wants and needs. In the legend of King Arthur, the round table was a circular table that represented unity and equality.  Everyone at the table was at the same level and had the same opportunity to voice ideas. This table was designed to avoid giving one member a superior position over the others at the table.

The same can be said about a round cookie. It represents wholesomeness, as the rounded edges are all the same distance from the center of the cookie. The circular cookie lacks the rugged edges and the irregularities found in many noncircular pastries.

Let’s take Pop Tarts as an example;  “the pièce de résistance,” is the warm gooey filling. The corners are the worst part, nothing but dry and flaky dough, deprived of the flavorsome, sugary filling.

Fruit inspires a perfect picture for painters. It has something to do with the sensuality represented by the forbidden fruit. Apples are symbols of rounded cheeks, cushiony breasts and a curvy bottom. The young pubescent girl’s first encounter with the curvaceous shape of her body is a reminder of the sins of Adam and Eve.

When Eve crosses all boundaries with her bite of the forbidden fruit, the apple becomes the symbol for sin. Since sin attracts us, the rounded curves of the apple are a beautiful reminder of self indulgence and the luscious pleasure we seek both sexually and in the foods we eat. This may be on a subconscious level, but the curviness of certain produce fits our standards of aesthetic beauty. Not only is it visually stimulating, but the feeling of fruit in our hands is such an impressive sensation that we feel the need to trace the curves with our fingers in order to determine its quality.

Chefs use rounded images to stimulate our eyes and our palates. By molding risotto into a circle rather then dropping it onto a plate, it influences us to try the dish as a whole.

Placing the carefully molded mound of food in the center of the plate allows the white surface around it to serve as a frame for the masterpiece in the center. Melon ballers are used to shape fruit into one-bite circles that disperse the natural sugar evenly on our entire tongue. Ice cream on a cone is a pleasurable game that lets you lick around the circle evenly, each time leveling it out. Would a square scoop of ice cream be as much fun?

The round lollipop is a symbol of playfulness. The image of the naughty school-girl holding a lollipop in her mouth is one that signifies crossing boundaries.  It represents a pendulum between innocence and sexuality. Sushi is a circularly framed picture, beautiful to the eyes. All of the bursting flavors crammed into one bite – the vibrant fish, against the white rice and the green background. The way everything comes together into a symmetrical shape that looks picturesque on the thin rectangular plates sometimes used for serving sushi. The miniature circle is just the right size to hit all the parts of the palate at once.

Although the overly aesthetic emphasis is usually invested in what is known as a “higher level” of cuisine, circular shapes in everyday comfort food are just as prominent.
Homemade pies and pizzas are made from the heart. These round dough creations signify the importance of equality in which every person gets an equal amount of love in each slice.

Now that we have realized the effect that appearance has on our food. How do we create circular food at home that has the flare found in restaurants? The simple trick is to use a   circular shaped cutter, called a chef’s ring mould.  This can be used with rice, mashed potatoes, or any other soft food. Place food in the cutter and level off with a knife.

Remove the ring to reveal the mound of beauty, use a paper towel to wipe off any residue on the plate, and garnish with a sprig of parsley. If you do not own a ring, you can use an empty can of tomato paste, with both lids cut off or even a small cup or mug. Melon ballers can be used to shape melons, apples, or other fruits into spheres. They can also be used to carve certain cheeses, potatoes, or even to form chocolate truffles.

Remember that although beauty is skin deep, a little eye candy never hurt anyone.

Enjoy the simplicity of Mother Nature’s curves and try not to blush the next time you reach for a banana.

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