Food

The Grazing Craze

February 2024

Grazing tables are a popular and fun way to enjoy each other’s company during the holidays — and for good reason! They get your friends and family up, chatting and moving as you prepare other appetizers or a main course. They’re also good for those who are new to your family or friend group. Chatting about cheese selections and local mustard is a simple way to ease into a conversation.

With this in mind, members of the Free Press Creative team have pooled their event-planning experience to bring you a few tips on handling grazing boards so you can build a lovely one at home.

 

KNOW YOUR CROWD: The number of adults and kids, as well as their allergies and dietary choices, dictates what to purchase. Some groups eat more than others, so that common recommendation you often read online of a one to two ounce serving of each cheese per guest may not be enough.

 

SELECT SAFE SPOTS AND LABEL ALLERGY-FREE FOODS: If you know someone is allergic to nuts, avoid them — the nuts, that is. Save a spot for those who have food restrictions so they can safely choose and mark that spot. Cute cheese tags or simple folded paper cards can indicate which food is which. Letting people safely graze is important. No host can hover the entire night.

 

PLAN FOR THE NIGHT, NOT JUST THE BOARD: If you have potluck appetizers and a meal, your board can be much smaller than if it’s the star of the show.

TIME WELL: A board laid out at 5 p.m. meant to sustain guests for the evening needs to be replenished throughout the night. That two-hour rule for foods requiring refrigeration is a thing — even with cheese. Don’t put everything out at once. Have swap-outs ready so that you can swoop in to remove wilting and warmer items and replace them with ease.

IF YOU CAN’T SPREAD OUT, GO UP: Bring out that cake plate or place another board on top of sturdy glasses. This classic catering trick has now increased the board size. It’s also an opportunity to add and subtract items throughout the night without disturbing items below. It’s the perfect place for dips or hot items.

 

STOCK THE PANTRY: Have filler options such as cheese sticks, gluten-free almond crackers, bread, chips, dried fruit, nuts and chocolate handy just in case that board is starting to look sparse.

PLAN FOR THE SWEET TOOTH: Nothing can replace the delight of chocolate. If your board is the star, make sure you sprinkle in sweeter items to entice those with a sweet tooth.