Yep, presentation both on and off camera is the secret to making most food look more appetising. Even a meal at home can be made to look much better if plated carefully.
One only has to look at tv and magazine ads for food, including cheap burgers, which are all very carefully laid out before being put in front of a camera.
I'll argue that flavour and texture is far more important. Presentation is nice, but hardly important when you get to a point that goes further than just looking at it.
You can make acrylic and Styrofoam look damned tasty, but its still going to be acrylic and Styrofoam...