As a party host, you don’t want to spend all of your time running around cooking and serving food. If you want more time to enjoy your guests, try a grazing table.
What is it? A “grazing table” is a tablescape filled with artfully arranged meats, cheese, crudité, as well as seasonal fruit, flowers, decorations and serving utensils and dishes. It’s a relaxed way for you and your guests to mingle without actually cooking and preparing a formal meal.
Benefits of a grazing table include:
- Food prepared in advance
- Easy to put together
- Guests will be impressed
- Simple clean up
Whether you choose to create a basic table for a small family brunch or you’re hosting a weekend party, we have 7 tips on how to create a gorgeous (and functional) grazing table.
7 tips to create a grazing table:
#1 The base layer is important.
Start with an interesting table or piece of furniture that reflects the overall décor of your party. Unique tablecloths can spice up the plainest table.
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#2 Think location, location!
Leave plenty of room for guests to mingle around the table. This works best if the table isn’t jammed against the wall, allowing guests to access it from both sides.
#3 Mix and match serving dishes.
Various height serving boards, trays, and stands make for an exciting visual for your food. Wooden boards add a rustic look, while marble gives a more sophisticated feel.
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#4 Use fancy cutlery and serving utensils.
You want the dishes, utensils, plates and glasses to all look great too. Skip the red Solo cups and white plastic forks and spoons. Mix and match fun items you have around the home or head to the dollar store or thrift store for some even more character.
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#5 Choose a variety of textures when selecting food.
Choose creamy, hard, crumbly, and aged cheeses, different types of cured meats, nuts, dipping vegetables, dips, and a mix of hard and soft fruits. Add in an array of crackers, bread sticks, condiments, and preserves to round out your offerings. The more variety, the better!
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#6 Don’t leave any white space.
When all is said and done, the table should be totally covered in a rainbow of color. Fill in any gaps with greenery, sprigs of herbs, nuts, or flowers. Be sure to choose flowers without a strong scent so they don’t compete with the food.
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#7 Keep food options bite sized.
Don’t include any food that is too big or too messy to eat. The ultimate goal of a grazing table is to be able to eat a little bit of everything. A good rule of thumb is to keep everything to one or two bites maximum.
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Have you created a grazing table? Tweet your favorite foods to include to us at @EatSmartScales.
You may also enjoy reading Easy Party Foods You Can Make in Advance (So You Can Party Too!).