© maegan brown

Amazing graze

Grazing tables are a tasty and decorative way to serve food for large gatherings

A beautiful grazing table is an inviting and impressive way to serve a crowd. The key to making a successful grazing table is covering it with an abundant variety of bite-size finger foods. The beauty of a grazing table is that once you have it built, you can relax and enjoy the time with your guests.

Similar to a buffet, grazing tables are great for holiday parties, wedding receptions, birthday parties, family reunions, baby or engagement showers, or any occasion when you need to feed a lot of people. Here are some tips for building a grazing table.

Table setup

First, determine the number of servings needed, the table size and the number of dishes and platters needed for serving. If possible, position the table so guests can graze around it from all sides. Clean the table really well or cover it with butcher paper so you can place some foods, such as crackers, breads, nuts and dried fruits, directly on the table. Create a beautiful visual down the table by selecting serving platters, cake stands, tiered stands, wood boards and bowls in a variety of heights. Keep your serving platters consistent, complementary and somewhat neutral in color, because the abundance of food covering the table will be the star of the spread.

Food prep

Plan your grazing table by shopping for ingredients in advance, cleaning and prepping as much food as possible the day before the event, and then putting the food out right before it will be enjoyed. Recruit three or four helpers for prepping, building the display on the table and cleaning up in a reasonable time so the food is not sitting out too long. Plan for about 3 to 5 ounces of meat and 6 to 8 ounces of cheese per person.

For prepping, clean and chop the fruits and vegetables, slice the meats and breads, and roll the meats. When possible, purchase foods that are already cut and ready to serve. Store perishables in the refrigerator until it’s time to assemble the table.

Provide plates, napkins, small utensils and toothpicks for guests to use as they graze the table. Position plenty of cheese knives, condiment spreaders, tongs and any other serving utensils next to the foods. Plan for the grazing table to sit out for about four hours, including the time it takes to assemble the foods. If you need the table to be grazable for more than four hours, put out smaller portions and plan to replenish with fresh meats and cheeses throughout the event.

Assembling everything

Allow at least 90 minutes to build the table with prepped ingredients. Begin food assembly in the middle of the table with the tallest piece, and work outward to the ends of the table. Have a plan for where you want each of the larger items, such as a cheese wheel or a Serrano ham leg, to go, and then fill in with the other foods. The key to building it quickly is having a vision for what you want on the table and where you want it to go.

Place complementary foods next to each other so guests can easily combine foods that taste great together. To save on time, serve most of the cheeses in blocks or rounds on a cutting board with serving knives. This also helps keep the cheeses fresh throughout the event.

Fill in the table with dips, whole fresh fruits, vegetables, breads, crackers, nuts, other nibbles and decorations so the table is covered completely. Scatter foods of different colors across the table, and let foods overlap and stack to create a bountiful display.

End your event by setting out take-out boxes for guests to fill with any leftovers before they go.

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Maegan Brown is a Costco member, cookbook author and food blogger at TheBakerMama.com.

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