Are grazing tables good?

NotSpaghetti

Another option is a charcuterie board and a cheese board with the buffet.

Our daughters use of special boards for cheese and meat, whilst it doesn't work for vegans, is a lovely surrounded by normal buffet trays (which aren't as messy and easily removed to refill).

Sounds great kitty I'm sure your caterers will manage the various dietary considerations well.

I’ve never heard of grazing tables but I am not really a fan of buffets. I can’t be doing with all the juggling involved, plus as has been said, they soon look messy.

I would far rather be seated at a table and order food from a menu which is then brought to me.

Another option is a charcuterie board and a cheese board with the buffet.

kittylester

NotSpaghetti that is exactly what the caterer offers along with ordinary buffets and the grazing tables. Think that is the way to go.

We think there could be 50 people!!

I misunderstood. I'd no idea you were hiring caterers.

I'd think platters round grazing boards could be lovely.

Yes, there are lovely vegan and vegetarian salads, mains, etc.

GF/allergies can easily be accommodated separately as well.

NotSpaghetti that is exactly what the caterer offers along with ordinary buffets and the grazing tables. Think that is the way to go.

We think there could be 50 people!!

kitty if you like the look of them why not just have one board as a centrepiece and have other buffet type items around it?
I don't know how many of you there will be but a largish board might be nice to start the event off - even if it deteriorates quickly.

People who are fussy about hygiene or cautious with foods touching can simply not eat it as there will be other delicious things to eat!

We have a lot of vegetarians and some vegans in our immediate family so to the person who said "no salads" I'd say lots of lovely salads always go down well here - puy lentil ones, quinoa ones, tomato ones ... obviously you know your guests best.

merlotgran

Homestead62

Looks a mess to me and is it not just a buffet? One thing I would say is, if you have any Coeliac guests, you would have to keep any food for them completely separate so they do not encounter cross contamination.

I am coeliac and so is one of my grandsons who is 6’3” with an appetite to match. We were all at a memorial afternoon ’do’ last month and I had a feeling there would be nothing safe to eat other than a few slices of ham or cheese before everything was destroyed.

I was right so the picnic for two in the boot of DD’s car which I had prepared ‘just in case’ was a life saver.

Yes, it's a nightmare for people with auto-immune conditions, intolerances or allergies trying to negotiate eating away from home. Even if restaurants say the food is gf, mistakes can be made.

We had one last year at a small family party, it was fantastic and everyone loved it.

I think it would be a no from me too.
My guts are very fragile and would be very wary of contamination from all those hands diving in.
I prefer restaurant sit down meals but shun tapas bars too as I don't like fiddly little plates which are usually too spicy for me.

Homestead62

Looks a mess to me and is it not just a buffet? One thing I would say is, if you have any Coeliac guests, you would have to keep any food for them completely separate so they do not encounter cross contamination.

I am coeliac and so is one of my grandsons who is 6’3” with an appetite to match. We were all at a memorial afternoon ’do’ last month and I had a feeling there would be nothing safe to eat other than a few slices of ham or cheese before everything was destroyed.

I was right so the picnic for two in the boot of DD’s car which I had prepared ‘just in case’ was a life saver.

For my granddaughter’s 18th there was a grazing table. It looked great, but in my opinion, it is not very hygenic, and soon becomes messy. It is perfectly possible to have a buffet with copious choices in separate dishes or plates looking very colourful.

We have covered that.

Looks a mess to me and is it not just a buffet? One thing I would say is, if you have any Coeliac guests, you would have to keep any food for them completely separate so they do not encounter cross contamination.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202504/medium-bfoc2c-1000031920.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202504/medium-aw6qha-1000031919.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202504/medium-c5zkqb-1000031918.jpg

No.
I don't like other people touching my food.
I have been in quite fancy places and still noticed people not washing their hands after using the loo.
It's not just children who aren't very careful.

Also as a vegetarian it can be off-putting to have meat or fish items too close to each other... and then there's allergies too!

Lots of tasty colourful ideas for a buffet out there.

kittylester

The people we have contacted provide separate food. First question as I am GF.

Agreed.

The foods can be noted or prepared separately, as at any other meal.

SueDonim

A grazing table must be a nightmare for anyone with allergies or for vegetarians/vegans.

👏👏👏
Biscuits in amongst the fruits, cheeses?
Cheeses amongst the fruits and vegetables?
Ham with the salads?

What about coeliacs, lactose-intolerant and vegetarians?

So thoughtless and in fact irresponsible.

SueDonim

A grazing table must be a nightmare for anyone with allergies or for vegetarians/vegans.

We're vegan, our children are not. Some have allergies.

However, as with any meal, people ask or know of the allergies and preferences. Our daughters (for example) say butter, eat this instead.

Allergies could be serious, I believe.

Vegans typically make animal based choices - no issues caused.

The people we have contacted provide separate food. First question as I am GF.

A grazing table must be a nightmare for anyone with allergies or for vegetarians/vegans.

Depends what event I am catering for. A buffet lunch. you need meal sized portions of traditional meal food - salads, cold meat, pies etc.

Canapes are for when you ask a number of people around for drinks and nibbles.

Lunch I'd prefer a meal, not a grazing table - you asked.

I prefer at home catering, I always prepare too much, pictures of pretty grazing tables appear to be too much food as well. I serve on trays, finger food, then run round changing out trays and plates.

Our daughters have friends round to "graze" -- but only small numbers - maybe 10-15 people. They've purchased special boards and knives. Can all look nice, but messy after a time.

Allira

I've just had a look at some pictures of grazing tables.

Look pretty at the start, but all those fingers delving in - Ugh!

Cows and sheep graze, humans, no.

I had a country-style outdoor luncheon during Covid and everything was grazing I suppose but separated into little glass jars for guests to choose from. No fingers!

Style over substance I reckon.

All of the above plus a lot of the catered ones I've seen are actually a basket full of stuff from Tesco or the Co-op just cut up and made to look fancy. And often weirdly laid out just to look good. Not sure I want strawberry juice leaching it's way into my sausage roll.

Just looked up what a grazing table is and seen some illustrated and it just looked like a normal buffet to me. What is served is just ordinary cocktail canapes.