Restaurant designs special plates for people to Instagram their food

Many museums have banned selfie sticks, citing danger to artwork and a high frustration factor for other visitors.

But then, museums started to spring up that embraced selfie sticks, touting the theory that the world is changing and that you can either change with it or be left behind.

Now think about all the food photos that cross your Instagram stream or Facebook feed every day and apply the same concept. 

What if, rather than shunning diners who seem more interested in snapping photos of their food than eating it, restaurant owners based their entire concept on embracing such customers?

Enter Tel Aviv restaurant Catit and Israel's Carmel Winery, an establishment that's turning the food photo craze into a trend that works for them.

Plates with smartphone holders

Catit's focus is to help diners (well, photographers really) take the best Instagram photos of their food. This includes special plates that spin, hold smartphones in place, and even bend to provide a backdrop.

The restaurant also features photography-friendly lighting and colour-coordinated dishes.

The concept is called "Foodography" and Instagram's foodie fans are encouraged to post photos with the hashtag #fdgr.

"We wanted to reconnect with a new generation of consumers – youngsters who connect with food through the lens of a smartphone," the company says.

Here are some of the results, bordering on food porn: