Grazing Table for 20 Guest – ultimate guide how to create sophisticated spread
Grazing tables glory started in Australia, where it became all the rage in 2019, hitting the Pinterest boards of millennials and young couples who wanted to entertain but with style and less hassle! It seems like grazing table trend quickly became must have of any gathering. Grazing tables are so simple and so easy – guests just choose what they want to eat, how much they want to eat and when! Here is our ultimate guide how to create a real show stopper that your guests will be talking about for a long time.
1. Be realistic with your grazing table budget
Let’s be honest with a current food prices (compering to pre pandemic ones) you wouldn’t be able to create sophisticated grazing table with £5/head budget unless you want to feed your guest egg mayo sandwich and salt and vinegar crisps 😂😂 If we are talking DYI Grazing table you would need to set yourself at least £10/guest budget. The best product prices on the market are currently in Aldi so we would strongly advise looking at their cheese and charcuterie selection before heading to well loved M&S where you would need to add additional 30% to your budget.
Aldi has great continental cheeses options like classic Stilton, decent quality British Brie or Spanish Manchego especially around holidays.
2. Learn how to present cheese on your grazing table
Watch few videos “how to cut cheese” on YouTube. It will take 30 minutes of your day (30 minutes that you normally spend scrolling down the reels anyway) and keep practicing. Will your first grazing table be perfect? Absolutely no! Will it be better that the previous one? Totally! Have you ever seen a kid learning how to walk? Do they fall down a lot? Yes! Will they eventually get to learn how to walk properly? Exactly.
Practice will make you better at anything.
So practice away! Prepare cheese board for your mum, friend, husband etc.
Do you want to see our first cheese board? Please promise not to laugh. It is always a journey to learn new skill so don’t expect to be a pro at the first try.
3. Fundamentals of great grazing table
If you really want your grazing table to stand out you need to remember to choose the theme and stick to it. Simply try not to go overboard with the styling – the table must look artistic but still be accessible, and your guests should not be hesitant to touch or eat the food. Including simple greenery like eucalyptus stems will make it look much more sophisticated.
4. Elevate your grazing table
To provide visual appeal, create height using cake stands, boxes, wooden boards, metal baskets, and tiered stands. All of these elements will contribute to one of a kind grazing table. Consider stocking up on neutral coloured plates, bowls, serving trays, platters and boards, which will work well for any theme for future grazing tables.
5. Food at your grazing table – the real star of the show
Let’s talk food. Most of the memories are made gathered around the table. Food is the most important bit of your grazing table and here is a guideline how not to spent fortune on it. As mentioned before your go to shop is Aldi. If you are just starting your journey with grazing tables, we strongly recommend choosing “safe cheeses” like classic Brie, Manchego, vintage aged cheddar etc. You can not go wrong with them and most of the people will dig in straight away as they are well known classics. If you don’t know much about charcuterie simply choose ready made platters selection. Most of the time it’s salami Milano, Prosciutto and Spianata Romana. More tips of creating ultimate grazing table in this article
Is a Grazing Table worth it?
Totally! It’s a showstopper and this is what you want as a host. It’s easy to set up – meaning you can focus on what’s important like spending time with you guest. It lets them to taste a little bit of everything. Grazing table allows large degree of creativity tailored to specific event. It’s not only delicious but extremely eye catching and it’s a great way for your guest to start those conversations flowing over nibbles and drinks.
The beauty of grazing tables is that you can design them whichever way you like with your favorite finger foods and be as creative as you like, and they will always impress your guests!
Contact us today to discuss your catering needs. Our professional catering team in Derby and surrounding areas will help you make your event a success. We have helped thousands of clients have successful events with phenomenal food and exceptional service.
