“A grazing table is aesthetically arranged and often includes meats, cheeses, crudités, dips, sauces, fruit and flowers to spruce it up,” explains Stacey Weber, the chef and owner at EAT by Stacey Weber and Amelia’s by EAT.
Weber—known for her catering, her restaurant, and her work with local celebrities like the Arizona Cardinals—is also often called upon to create stunning grazing tables.
“These glorified boards are impressive in look and perfect for entertaining,” she says.
Here are her tips for creating a gorgeous grazing table that will impress holiday guests.
1. Seasonality. Use seasonal fruits, vegetables, decorations, and recipes. In winter, board items can include roasted vegetables, warm soups, cranberry sauces, baked brie, spiced mixed nuts, stuffed figs, and roasted meats. In warmer months, consider chilled light foods like fruit salsa, gazpacho, and mini salads.
2. Theme. Incorporate a theme like a holiday breakfast/brunch or a delectable dessert board (like an array of Christmas cookies). Creating a theme makes it easier to plan, prep and execute your grazing table.
3. Something unexpected. Add a twist. Just because it’s on a board doesn’t mean you can’t add something unique. Love a good dip? Go for a mini fondue pot! You can also offer mini sandwiches, avocado toast, sushi, or pizza slices. As long as it's bite-sized, anything goes!
4. Decor. For holiday entertaining, dress your grazing table with wintery decor like pine sprigs, fig leaves, bunches of herbs or lavender, fresh flowers, candles, ornaments or pine cones.
5. Organization. A great grazing board has many elements, so make sure it makes sense. For example, put crudités near the dips; cheeses and meats near the crackers or crostini; and bunches of grapes or whole fruits around the outside to hug the board. You can utilize elevation for canapés or composed bites, easily done with a cake stand. Also, mix colors so white cheese and white crackers are not next to each other, and utilize decorative items to fill space.
Grazing Table
A table or spread of various easy-to-eat bite-sized foods for people to graze and enjoy.
Make Sure To...
Put personality into it. Pick your favorite items, family recipes, and cherished holiday decor.