Grazing tables have been increasing in popularity for a few years now, and they just continue to grow! These giant charcuterie boards are as delicious as they are aesthetic, and they are a great way to let your guests sample a variety of fresh foods as they leisurely “graze” at your cocktail hour, baby shower, holiday party — you name it! Many professional catering companies specialize in creating the perfect grazing table, but there are certainly times when professional catering is just not in the budget. Don’t worry! With a little bit of planning, creativity, and attention to detail, it is possible to DIY a grazing table at home. 

Prep Your Foundation

Start off your grazing table by prepping the table itself. Set up your table in an easily-accessible area, preferably with room on all sides for your guests to graze. Wipe down the tabletop, then lay down a disposable, food safe barrier like parchment paper or fitted plastic tablecloths.

Create Visual Interest

Choose a variety of servingware to create visual interest at the table. Incorporate different sizes, materials, and textures. Wooden boards are great for creating smaller charcuterie arrangements or providing a solid base for wheels of soft cheeses. Small ceramic bowls are perfect for holding jams, dips, and condiments, as well as brined items like olives and gherkins. Metal platters can be used as fruit trays or to house collections of prepared items like caprese skewers, crostini, and mini quiches. You can also create visual interest by including specialty items like a chocolate fountain or pretzel rack.

Add Some Height

Give your table some dimension by incorporating different layers of height. Consider the table as the ground floor and build up from there. Platters, trays, and boards add a small degree of height, and placing these items on pedestals, downturned bowls, and small wooden boxes can add another layer. This is also a good chance to take advantage of tiered trays, cake stands, and food risers to get that extra boost of height. You can add both height and depth by including asymmetrical bowls of warm bread, dip, or antipasto salad. You can also add height in the way you arrange the food itself. For instance, you could stack a few cheese wheels with varying diameters to create a cheese “cake”.

Source Your Ingredients

The best places to source food for a grazing table is either a wholesaler, like Costco or Sam’s Club, or a discount retailer, like Aldi. Places like these will allow you to obtain relatively large amounts of ingredients for a more reasonable price. You will want to pick up a variety of cured meats like prosciutto, mortadella, and salami, as well as a mixture of soft and hard cheeses like brie, cheddar, gouda, and gruyere. When shopping for fruits and vegetables, choosing items that are in season can help ensure you are getting fresh, flavorful, quality ingredients. Seasonal produce tends to be cheaper as well. Pick a few different breads and crackers to round out the menu, then choose a few smaller accompaniments like pickles, olives, and a variety of nuts and seeds. Don’t forget to include sauces, dips, and condiments as well.

Build Your Display

Once you have chosen where all your platters, bowls and trays will live on the table, start laying down your food. Play around with the shapes that collections of items take. Snake items around in flowing rivers, fold meats into ribbons and roses, slice and crumble cheeses, create intentional piles, arrange pinwheels, and strategically place colorful accents. Try to place items that pair together close to each other, but don’t stress about making it perfect. You can visually suggest intended pairings, but your guests will ultimately decide what they want to mix and match.

Add the Final Touches

Once all the food is displayed to your liking, go around the table and add the finishing touches. Add springs of herbs, drizzle over any sauces, compotes, or honey, accent here and there with a few nuts or berries, and fill any remaining gaps with greenery and edible flowers. Don’t forget to add cheese knives, skewers, and small sauce spoons where needed, and designate an area for guests to collect their plates, napkins, and any needed utensils.