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How to Create a Grazing Table in 5 Steps

Say goodbye to traditional hosting and hello to a new way of party planning. With no rules, recipes or last-minute grocery trips, grazing tables make any gathering fun and stress-free. What’s even better? This smorgasbord of delicious foods provides anything you and your guests could ever want to taste. If you’re ready to get started, read our top five tips on how to create a grazing table that’s both stylish and functional.

How to Create Grazing Table

What is a grazing table?

A “grazing table” (also called a “feasting table”) is an elaborate tablescape laid out with attractively arranged meats and cheeses as well as fruits, florals, decor and quality serveware and dinnerware. It’s meant to be both low key and high impact, allowing hosts to mingle with their guests without worrying about cooking or meal planning. No cooking or preparing a formal meal required.

What are the benefits of a grazing table?

The biggest draw of grazing tables is how easy they are to set up, leaving more time for interaction with friends and family. The bulk of the food is already prepared so that all you have to do is figure out presentation. Create a visually striking scene to leave guests impressed, or keep it simple for a more practical approach. Either way, party-goers will love trying a little bit of everything. Another perk: minimal cleanup. The only thing you’ll have to worry about when the fun is done is throwing a few serving platters and eating utensils into the dishwasher and clearing the table of any multi-tiered servers and baskets.

How to set up a grazing table

It’s true: grazing tables are incredibly versatile. There are, however, a few simple ideas you might want to take into consideration before diving in.

How to Create Grazing Table

Picking the theme

The most common grazing table theme tends to be charcuterie-inspired. Why? This is a spread that’s easy-to-eat and bound to be popular. Guests find plenty to eat among the variety of breads, meats, cheeses and sweet accompaniments such as honey or dried fruits. You can also tailor the offerings to match the occasion. Hosting a sleepover for the kids? Create a tablescape of popcorn and candy. Keep classic popcorn boxes at one end of the table, and fill a drink dispenser at the other with fruity punches, thick milkshakes and other refreshing favorites. If you’re more of a morning person, consider a brunch theme instead. Provide all the staples, including bacon, eggs and sausage, and don’t forget to include mimosas. Want to keep the fun going? Consider baby shower, picnic, wedding and dessert themes, too.

How to Create Grazing Table

Find a location

Your grazing table sets up just about anywhere—along the beach, in the backyard, at the park. Just make sure you follow one simple rule: leave enough room on either side of the table for people to mingle and to it easier for everyone to have easy access to the spread.

How to Create Grazing Table

Creating the tablescape

Now begins the fun part—creating your tablescape. The first step is to find a piece of furniture that can act as the base layer. Ideally, this is a table that complements the event’s theme, but a sideboard or buffet work just as well for larger gatherings. Cover the surface with a tablecloth or parchment paper to catch food scraps and crumbs, which will make post-meal cleanup a breeze. When the base is complete, it’s time to arrange tiered servers, platters, baskets, bowls and other serveware at various heights. Staggering levels not only creates visual interest but enables guests to easily see what’s being served. Don’t forget the cutlery and serving tools. Since it’s important for non-food items to be just as appealing as the food ones, these smaller utensils should always be high-quality. Think stainless steel or copper in place of paper plates and plastic cups.

How to Create Grazing Table

Set out the food

Finally, it’s time to set out the food. While the offerings may vary from event to event, there are a few ground rules you’ll want to follow. First, fruits and vegetables are always good for adding a pop of color, especially when they’re placed alongside staples such as bread, meat, nuts, and hummus. Next, add something simple for dessert, such as chocolate-covered strawberries, fudge squares or cookies to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth. Feel free to arrange food on small plates or to set it on the table itself. Think about texture, too. Offer hard, crumbly and creamy cheese varieties as well as dips that are both chunky and smooth. Hosting guests with dietary restrictions? Be sure to label foods with markers indicating allergies, and what’s vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free. What else is there to know? The foods you serve should take no more than two bites to complete. This makes it easy for party-goers to try a bit of everything and minimizes mess.

How to Create Grazing Table

Add the finishing touches

As a final note, it’s important to fill any gaps on your grazing table with decor that promotes your theme. Keep it simple by only using two or three colors, and avoid brighter hues unless the party is for kids. Greenery and herbs are lovely table accents, easily incorporated while adding a touch of nature. If you’re using real flowers, consider ones with a light fragrance, so as not to overpower the aroma of the food. Working with bigger gaps at the table? Add a drink dispenser or two to either end, complete with drinking glasses, napkins and other mealtime accessories.

Once you know how to create a grazing table, it’ll be the only way you host a party. Show us your grazing table at the hashtag #CrateStyle.

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