How to Make an Apple Bird
ChefGary demonstrates how to carve a beautiful swan from an apple.
I love being creative and food art is something that never fails to impress. I first learnt how to carve/slice an apple into a bird when I was in my first full time position quite a few years ago and I used to make them as a commis chef to help decorate the salad bar. These days I love to use them as centre piece to the table so that they can be admired and they always become a talking point. Ocassionaly at the end of the meal they will get put away in preparation for a second viewing, though more often than not they succumb to being devoured.. :(
I like to make a swan like bird with red apples though there are many different styles of apple birds that you may make and some take more intricate cutting than others. I often get asked how long it takes to make them and the simplest ones literally take a few minutes and the more stylish designs up to about 6 minutes though I always mention that it.s takes taken me nearly 30 years and thousands of birds to be able to do so… ;)
To make your Apple Bird You will need
An apple - a sharp knife - lemon - chopping board - cocktail stick
Choose a fresh apple with no bruises
Set up your board, have your knife and lemon to hand
Cut the first slice of the apple near the bottom which later becomes the head
Use plenty of lemon juice as you cut to stop the apple from oxidising - repeat through each step
Cut out three wedges from the top and sides which will make the wings and the tail
With each wedge, cut out smaller wedges until they becime too small to continue - the thinner you cut, the more wedges you will have and the prettier your bird
Fan out the wedges and replace to the main oart of the apple
When you carve the head, use the natural curve of the apple to create the neck and head
Push one of the pips into the flesh to make the eye
Use a cocktail stick if necessary to hold the head in place
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