The Grazing Table Featuring All Things Delicious
You can pretty much sum up what I love in one word...CHEESE! Savory, stinky and full of heady umami flavors, cheese is probably one of my guilty pleasures. So imagine a table filled with a variety of cheeses from around the world. Add to that some choice charcuterie items, nuts, bread, fruit and pickled vegetables and you have the recipe for a great grazing table.
A grazing table or aperitif table is an impressive tablescape with artfully arranged appetizers like cheese, meats, nuts, seasonal fruits and vegetables, bread and some sweet snacks. It is a fitting feature in any gathering so that guests can munch on these great appetizers during cocktails while waiting for dinner to be served. It is meant to encourage guests to mingle in a relaxed atmosphere while helping themselves to some aperitif. The food for a grazing table can be prepared in advance and the clean up is so easy. That's why grazing tables are all the rage these days.
For my grazing table, I serve anywhere from 4 to 6 kinds of cheese varying from soft to hard, mild to stinky, and creamy to nutty. There are always at least 3 kinds of nuts and dried fruit. These are bunched together with honey and jam in cute little jars. Not to be missed are some bread rolls and sliced baguette with some crackers and breadsticks. Because I gotta have my carbs, baby!
I also like to include fresh fruits like grapes and bite-size servings of pineapple, strawberries and cherries. Hearty sausages are also part of my repertoire for guests who want a little more filling option. With that I usually serve ham, salami or pepperoni slices. Of course, options for vegetarian or vegan guests should also be made available. So I also serve a green salad and some fresh and pickled bite-size vegetables and crudité.
I also like to include fresh fruits like grapes and bite-size servings of pineapple, strawberries and cherries. Hearty sausages are also part of my repertoire for guests who want a little more filling option. With that I usually serve ham, salami or pepperoni slices. Of course, options for vegetarian or vegan guests should also be made available. So I also serve a green salad and some fresh and pickled bite-size vegetables and crudité.
For smaller gatherings, one can always serve a cheese board. It is a miniature version of the grazing table but the cheese board features most if not all of the delicious items from the former. Serving a cheese board offers a way to host a gathering with minimal effort but maximum impact. You can entertain in style and focus on spending time with your guests. Afterwards, a light dinner with a few entrees and a fantastic dessert will suffice.
When preparing a cheese board for a party, I normally serve 3 or 4 cheeses: a soft one like brie or herbed goat's cheese, a hard one like a sliver of manchego curado, and a stinky one like a Dana Bleu. I always include nuts, crackers, dried fruit and some honey and jam. Some charcuterie also make an appearance but not always.
Whether you are hosting a big or small event, here are a few tips to make a gorgeous grazing table:
1. Decide on a theme.
This will determine what kind of platters and utensils as well as the colors and decors you will use.
2. Start with a good base.
Select a sturdy table that is the right size to make your spread look bountiful. A table that is too big with too much negative space will look bland and uninviting. Stick to a neutral tablecloth and skirting which are theme-appropriate too.
3. Mix and match serving dishes.
Use a variety of serving dishes from wooden boards to ceramic plates and platters to keep your table from being boring. It will help too to vary the heights of the platters to make your arrangement dynamic.
4. Keep serving options bite-sized.
The key to make your grazing table a hit is for guests to have no trouble eating while mingling. Stick to food they can just pop in their mouth.
5. Always have proper serving utensils.
If you want your guests to easily serve themselves, make sure you have serving utensils on hand like tongs, spreaders and forks.
6. Serve food with a variety of textures.
A variety of textures from soft, chewy to crunchy will be appreciated when choosing food to serve to cater to everyone's tastes.
7. Lighting and decor.
Don't forget to adequately illuminate your grazing table with lights that make your spread inviting. To fill up some blank spaces, include a few themed but tasteful decors to complete the look you are going for.
8. Festive, bountifully colorful.
As much as possible, make your grazing table look bountiful and colorful that guests are naturally drawn to partake of the appetizers.
When preparing a cheese board for a party, I normally serve 3 or 4 cheeses: a soft one like brie or herbed goat's cheese, a hard one like a sliver of manchego curado, and a stinky one like a Dana Bleu. I always include nuts, crackers, dried fruit and some honey and jam. Some charcuterie also make an appearance but not always.
Whether you are hosting a big or small event, here are a few tips to make a gorgeous grazing table:
1. Decide on a theme.
This will determine what kind of platters and utensils as well as the colors and decors you will use.
2. Start with a good base.
Select a sturdy table that is the right size to make your spread look bountiful. A table that is too big with too much negative space will look bland and uninviting. Stick to a neutral tablecloth and skirting which are theme-appropriate too.
3. Mix and match serving dishes.
Use a variety of serving dishes from wooden boards to ceramic plates and platters to keep your table from being boring. It will help too to vary the heights of the platters to make your arrangement dynamic.
4. Keep serving options bite-sized.
The key to make your grazing table a hit is for guests to have no trouble eating while mingling. Stick to food they can just pop in their mouth.
5. Always have proper serving utensils.
If you want your guests to easily serve themselves, make sure you have serving utensils on hand like tongs, spreaders and forks.
6. Serve food with a variety of textures.
A variety of textures from soft, chewy to crunchy will be appreciated when choosing food to serve to cater to everyone's tastes.
7. Lighting and decor.
Don't forget to adequately illuminate your grazing table with lights that make your spread inviting. To fill up some blank spaces, include a few themed but tasteful decors to complete the look you are going for.
8. Festive, bountifully colorful.
As much as possible, make your grazing table look bountiful and colorful that guests are naturally drawn to partake of the appetizers.
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