When planning a special occasion such as a wedding, anniversary, or family gathering, having a grazing table should be on your to-do list. With smart construction, one can create a good-looking grazing table without too much fuss.
An ideal grazing table will combine flavor, texture, and color in a way that will amaze the guests even after the event.
The owners can relax in that the grazing tables fit in with just about any event theme and dietary requirements.
Here’s how to easily put together a great grazing table for 50 guests to impress the eyes and the taste buds.
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Ensure There Is A Direction In Corridors And Good Flow Of Elements
When preparing such an elaborate offering as a grazing table for a large audience, the first step is planning the layout so that everyone can effortlessly reach every single morsel of food.
For fifty heads, it is recommended to have a big centerpiece like a table or two smaller tables placed adjacent to each other.In a way, I prefer to zone the table areas.
Oversized platters that are placed in the center serve as a distraction and smaller edges and dispersed plates and bowls keep it bland. And don’t forget to take some tiny spaces and straight-cut pathways to enable the users to circulate from one part of the table to the other without causing bottle-necks.
Using multiple levels for serving at a wedding or a formal event, may be used to achieve a ‘cascade’ effect, which not only is aesthetically pleasing but also helps in using the space more effectively.
You may use standes or apprepriate sizing and types of cake stands to raise a few dishes. This increases the height of the table and makes it easier to incorporate different foods in a more creative sequential order.
To Choose Appropriate Kinds of Charcuterie to Compose the Palette
Charcuterie is one the essential ingredients in order to be able to craft an impressive grazing table. Charcuterie boards have assumed a place of prominence in the construction of grazing tables and rightfully so , they are practical , beautiful and full of tastes.
For 50 people, a wide assortment of an assortment of assorted cured meats, cheese, and other foods with the scope of whiteness will be required.
I would suggest an order of about three to four types of meats such as, prosciutto, salami, chorizo, and soppressata to address different preferences.
Set the meats in a grid pattern along the edges of the corners of the tray and overlay sections of the meat rolled or arranged with the edges folded, to create an attractive display.
This way they can grab what they want and makes the table look more conspicuous and creative.Use a combination of soft and hard cheeses to bring about good flavor synthesis.
Some aged cheddar and brie will work well with gouda and aged cheddar too – they taste good and go well with most meats.
Add range for the cheeses to avoid monotony and add a mild cheese like mozzarella to avoid overwhelming the selection. Place cheese on different places on the table, with cheese knives for each piece for convenience.
Include Fresh and Dried Fruits for Garnish and Flavors Too
Fruits are appealing and create balance within the grazing table by improving the appearance of meats and cheese.
A good ratio would be one variety for every 50 people, both dried and fresh fruit. Such a mix creates beauty and sweetness to the table outlook making it feel more alive.
Tasty favorites include grapes, berries and sliced apples or pears which complement meats and cheese well.
Just a few of the clusters of fresh fruit can be placed on the table, slices of dried apricots and figs go nicely in between.
I find dried fruit to be particularly useful for those tedious areas around the edge of the platters, creating a more full, rich appearance.
Also, dried fruits will not go bad, rot or even turn brown allowing interesting elements to the table throughout the event.
Crackers and Breads
Breads and crackers are a must for a grazing table as they are the base providing a common base to all the bites.
While serving for 50, have variety of them to cater to all. I prefer having different types of breads like baguette, sourdough, and whole grain bread, sliced thin for easy holding.
Crackers are another area with great potential, especially for those in the crowd who prefer one bite noshes.
Make a display of various kinds of crackers: seeded, whole wheat, even gluten-free. Take bread and cheese and meats and put them on tackle boxes and use baskets to keep it tidy.When it comes to weddings or some specific event, breadsticks or artisanal flatbreads can lend more textures and a pleasing aesthetic that I truely adore.
Apart from that, wedging them with dips or spreads allows guests to create their own bites.6. Nuts, Olives, And Pickled Foods To Liven Up The Grazing Table
To successfully cater for a larger audience, say about 30 or more people, try spacing out these bowls to several spots along the length of the table in order to enhance the overall look of the set up.
These items cooked with or against the cheese-shaping charcuterie make the entire bite much richer and more interesting as a whole. Also, nuts together with pickled stuff bring a different feeling to the table and enrich the overall experience of the guests.
For weddings, few of these bowls can contain small proportions of specialty nuts such as cashew and even candied nuts which would added deliciously. But do not forget to tag some of the bowls that contain nuts or even nut oils to be sure all persons can enjoy the table without fears.
Garnishes to add a Bit of Class, more as the Final Touch
Garnishing serves the purpose of making any grazing table feminine in look and integrated in character. My favorites are fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or basil.
Although they aren’t the main expansion, these instead add a fresh aromatic scent that brightens everything the herb surrounds and allows for pops of green to be incorporated into the design.
They are not only visually impressive when placed delicately around cheese and meat cuts, but also give off a delicate scent and improve the impression even more.
One can use edible flowers such as nasturtiums and pansies which are safe for food to beautify the wedding.
These little changes definitely elevate the curated look of the table and show the guests how much effort was taken to create an inviting display.
Setting Up The Table For Self Serve
One crucial support of a grazing table is the gentleness in which the host encourages the guests to help themselves.
While having around 50 guests, be sure to have each area featuring food in easy grasp so that the table does not have a bottle neck. For convenience I place the small keister plates, servile napkins and serving forks on the outer sides of the table.
When cheeses and meats are cut into smaller or bite sized pieces and ready to be served, it is efficient. In this way, they will be easy to grab and the time spent at the table would be less without losing the flow.
If the event includes food placement only, I would arrange food clockwise to give the guests a simple, smooth directed movement around the table hoping that everyone would crowd around one side of the table.
Using Themed Decorations to Beautify the Table
Grazing tables are charming and stunning when they are decorated with themed items.
For example, if you are having a wedding, you can use rustic wooden boards, vintage cutlery, small lanterns for a bohemian look or match the theme. Lay linen napkins on the even wedding colors or arrange small flower bouquets in vases to complement the scene.
Small chalkboards or menus are ideal decorative elements which are delicious in appearance and enable the guests to avoid confusion regarding the food options.
This does not only make a beautiful sight, but it also enables guests with food allergies or restrictions to look at the display and immediately know what they can eat.
These decoration accessories do not have to be overly complicated, although they do contribute to tying the look of the grazing table all together so that not only how it looks, but how it tastes as well, is consistent.
Suggestions for Maintaining the Freshness and Appeal of the Table
In case the event lasts a couple of hours or even longer, maintaining the grazing table’s appearance becomes difficult.
One strategy that worked really well for me is having additional quantities of crowd favorites around so that they can be used to keep the table well stocked.
If the event is conducted outside somewhere, it is advisable to serve food in trays with lids to protect the food items from heat or insects. And for events which take a longer duration, one can rotate certain perishables.
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