One of the trendiest categories of food bloggers is “grazing table” creators. we have spent many a lockdown-induced evening watching food videos on Instagram. Perhaps you’ve also noticed that These are people who build stunning displays using all kinds of foods, with their final creations incorporating anything from prosciutto and cheese to raspberries and rosemary. After watching these videos time after time and seeing perfect grazing table after perfect grazing table, I decided to give it a shot myself. It turns out that building your own grazing table isn’t as hard as I thought it would be—and the result (as seen above) was well worth it! If you’re looking for tips on how to make your own grazing table at home, look no further: I’ll be sharing some of my best tips for creating a platter that’s sure to impress anyone who sees it.
Pick a theme.
Deciding on a theme for your grazing table is one of the most fun parts of creating it, and also one of the most important! You want to pick a theme that fits in with what you’re doing, whether it’s an elegant soiree or an all-out party. Your guests will enjoy having something to play off of as they move from dish to dish and try different foods, so make sure you go beyond simple pasta and sandwiches in favor of something more interesting (which has its own challenges). If you’re having people over for dinner, picking out cheeses or charcuterie could be a great way to start things off with high-quality ingredients that everyone can enjoy while they chat before moving on to other types of foods later on.
Think outside the charcuterie box.
Next, think outside the charcuterie box. A selection of meats and cheeses is a great start to any grazing table (and we do love those), but there are plenty of other ingredients that would be equally at home on the platter.
Add some vegetables to the mix: cucumbers and radishes are easy to pick up with your fingers, as are cherry tomatoes and olives. You could also include carrots cut into sticks or celery sliced into batons for a little crunch.
Consider adding some fruit: grapes and apples work best here because they’re sturdy enough not to slip through your fingers. And if you want something sweet that isn’t too messy (or just want another serving of chocolate), try serving raisins or dried cranberries alongside your cheese plate—they make great accompaniments without being heavy on greases like crackers or chips can be!
Finally, add some bread: plain baguettes will offer guests an alternative way of eating their food—much better than reaching around everyone else’s plates and trying not to touch anything! If you have room left over in your basket (or don’t mind making more trips back downstairs), why not throw something sweet in there? A few slices of cake would go nicely alongside coffee or tea at the end of an evening spent catching up with friends over drinks instead.”
Go with what’s in season.
Try to get in the habit of eating what’s in season. Not only is it fresher, but it will also be more flavorful and nutritious.
Another big plus is that seasonal foods tend to be cheaper because they are less popular than out-of-season produce. The food you buy at the grocery store might look great on display, but if you find yourself unable to resist a bargain, go with the seasonal option instead!
Seasonal foods are often more visually appealing as well — there are so many different colors and varieties available when eating locally grown produce that can make your plate more attractive than anything else!
Finally, eating seasonally has many environmental benefits as well — buying local reduces your carbon footprint by eliminating transportation costs associated with transporting food back and forth across long distances; using fewer resources (fuel) means less CO2 emission from those trucks; buying from local farmers keeps the money circulating within communities rather than sending it overseas or interstate.
Consider the color of your food.
The first thing you should think about when choosing the colors for your grazing table is the color of the food that will be served on it. Food with different colors, like a fruit and cheese platter, looks much more visually appealing than a plate full of white meat. However, if you’re serving burgers and fries or pasta salad, then using contrasting colors might not be necessary.
Once you’ve determined what you want to serve on your grazing table, choose some complementary colors for each item so that everything looks unified as well as appetizing! An easy way to do this is by referencing a color wheel — one simple trick for picking complementary colors is choosing two hues that are direct across from each other (like red and green).
Vary the texture on your grazing table.
As you’re setting up your grazing table, don’t be afraid to put in a little extra thought and effort. You don’t have to go overboard with this idea and make it into a science project, but there are some basic principles that will help make sure your guests get the most out of their buffet.
First and foremost: variety! Your grazing table should feature a wide range of textures, colors, flavors (sweet or savory), scales (tiny bites like crudités or balls of fried dough vs. hand-sized portions), shapes (think slices versus cubes or wedges), temperatures (cold salads versus warm dips), consistencies (creamy spreads vs. chunky salsa) and aromas.
Incorporate flowers into your display.
Flowers are a great way to add color to your grazing table. Whether you choose fresh rosemary, chives, or lavender in low vases or wooden baskets; or use colorful fruits and vegetables like yellow peppers, red tomatoes, and purple potatoes; flowers will provide some much-needed contrast. To up the ante on this idea, try mixing some edible flowers with the non-edible ones above! Some popular choices include nasturtiums, borage, and marigolds (just make sure they’re not sprayed with any chemicals).
Use edible garnishes.
On the surface, a plate of food is a plate of food. But if you’re really paying attention to what you’re putting out for your guests, there are some simple ways to make your platter pop. Don’t be afraid to use garnishes! Fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley, and basil can add an extra layer of flavor that will make your whole dish feel more complete. Edible flowers are also amazing in everything from salads to desserts—and they look beautiful too!
The perfect grazing table should also include some seasonal touches: think about things like apples in fall or citrus fruits during springtime. You want the foods on your grazing table to speak to where you live (and when).
Pulling off the perfect grazing table takes a little forethought and creativity, but it’s definitely worth it!
Pulling off the perfect grazing table takes a little forethought and creativity, but it’s definitely worth it
To sum up, the most important part of creating a beautiful grazing table is to make it your own. Your grazing table is a chance to express yourself creatively and put your personal stamp on any kind of gathering. Don’t get too hung up on rules or stressing over the details—at the end of the day, grazing tables are all about eating, drinking, and enjoying life with good friends (and there’s no rulebook for that!).
