In many places it is said to "Serve risotto on a hot plate - or else" or "you better serve it on a hot plate".
Why is that so?
Seasoned Advice is a question and answer site for professional and amateur chefs. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this communityWhat moscafj says is true, but it doesn't explain specifically for risotto.
Basically, the creaminess** is because of a starch-based solution. Starch based solutions are temperature dependent and will get much thicker as it cools. If there's enough starch, it can solidify to the point where the sauce will break into pieces if you try to manipulate it.
** Don't start with the 'it's not creamy because there isn't cream in it' crap again.
Using hot plates allows food to retain it's heat between plating a service...also works with cold plates, if you want to keep something cold.