Tripod TUBE Plating Tool

Could a production-led design change the way a chef builds a plate? The Tube plating tool comes from Maarten Baptist’s ongoing fascination with the round tube as a starting point. It’s a small, laser-cut object with a flat base that sits steady on the plate, offering three points to lean, balance and arrange food into a composition — a single bite on each point, a build of textures, or a frame to plate around. It turns presentation into something to play with.

The first version started from a 30 mm tube with a cutting edge on the bottom. It worked, but felt a little too small to really compose with, so a larger 60 mm version followed — its three points set at three different heights, giving the plate more depth and rhythm and a nicer presentation.

Like much of Maarten’s work, it’s the result of an experiment with an industrial laser cutter. A round tube goes in as the base material and the shapes are cut at a slight angle, giving the object its curve and quirky character. Using the full tube this way leaves almost no leftover material — something he designs for whenever he can.

The Tube is an open invitation to chefs, restaurants and food stylists to play: to build steady, repeatable plate-ups, develop a signature presentation, or work together on a customised set for a menu. It’s at home in fine dining and tasting menus, with amuse-bouche, garnishes and cocktail bites, and on set for food styling and photography — anywhere the plate is part of the experience.

Available in two sizes:

• 60 mm x 80 mm — three points at three different heights, flat base
• 30 mm x 80 mm— the original, more compact version with cutting edge

Details

• Thickness 2 mm
• Material: 304 stainless steel
• Dishwasher safe
• Finish: glossy

Production Made in Eindhoven