Stem by stem, ever so carefully, they pluck these tiny, delicate leaves using tweezers and measure them into portions for that night’s service. It’s tedious work—an exercise for the brain as well as the eyes, but these precious greens are so beautiful that it’s never a bore.

When a new dish is being developed, oftentimes greens like these are the only thing that’s missing to make it perfect. That last touch—a vibrant green basil leaf resting on top of a watermelon air; beautiful flower petals placed around the edges of a sauce.

They can be what transform a combination of flavors into a work of art, because products like these are really someone else’s art, too. Now, every time I hold one