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With the festive season just around the corner, many of us intend to spend time with our loved ones by throwing in some gatherings. Of course, a festive feast is not complete without good food. Throwing a festive lunch or dinner can be stressful, since there is always a balance to strike between prep and show, not to mention spending quality time with your guests. In this regard, you are definitely not alone in that scenario. Luckily, the super on-the-rise trend may have the solution: the grazing table. Much more than just a service, grazing tables are an above-and-beyond experience for the eye and the taste buds, allowing the host to lay out a plethora of dishes in a relaxed communal space. With the festive season approaching other celebrations around the corner, Grazing Tables uniquely offer you an out-of-the-box, interactive way to make your party leave an impression forever amongst your guests.
Grazing Tables: The Versatility Factor
One reason grazing tables came up is due to the fact that they are outstandingly versatile. Grazing tables hold the advantage of providing a mix of flavours, textures, and cuisines, which make guests explore and taste for themselves—all that at once and presented in an outstanding manner. So, whether you serve a group of vegetarians, meat lovers, or a mix of everything, a grazing table will help accommodate everyone's taste. A wide array of dishes can be added to this, comprising cheeses, cured meats, fresh fruits, nuts, bread, regional dishes and even desserts, all put together to make a set-up that looks inviting.
Incorporating regional flavours into a grazing table is a great idea for displaying value to the place's local cuisine while throwing in a twist of modernity. For example, samosas, pakoras, chaat, an assortment of traditional Indian snacks with dips, chutneys, and freshly cut vegetables all hobnob together to create flavours that are reassuring yet exciting at the same time. Be it any celebration with its peculiar traits, grazing tables can be constructed easily and applied to casual gatherings, formal events,house parties, or festive celebrations such as Diwali, Dusherra, Durga pujo and more such gatherings. .
To understand some more about the appeal of grazing tables, we spoke to Kashmiri B Nath, who is the founder and owner of KNOrders, a bespoke catering company in Guwahati. Being one of the connoisseurs of grazing tables, Kashmiri tells us what actually got her into the idea of it and, most importantly, why, in recent years, it has seen a surge in acceptance from hosts in many parties. "I was initially drawn to the concept of grazing tables because they offer a unique blend of visual appeal and culinary diversity. The idea of presenting a variety of foods in a way that encourages guests to explore and interact with the spread resonated with me. In India, where we have such a rich tradition of communal dining and sharing food, grazing tables felt like a natural extension of our cultural practices. The trend has gained popularity because it combines the artistry of food presentation with the practicality of offering a variety of flavors and textures that cater to different tastes. It’s also a great way to modernize traditional Indian hospitality, where guests are encouraged to take a little bit of everything."
Kashmiri emphasizes the importance of incorporating regional cuisine into grazing tables to create a spread that feels both local and modern. “Incorporating regional cuisine into a grazing table is a wonderful way to celebrate local flavours while offering a modern twist. For example, I once created an entire grazing table using traditional pitha with modern plating, and it was a complete hit with the guests. Our regional cuisine has such a wide and diverse choice of food. All it needs is careful planning and understanding what flavours work well together. Petite portions are an important aspect to keep in mind while designing a grazing table.”
Tips for the Festive Season
With the festive season fast approaching, Kashmiri offers her top tips for arranging a grazing table that will impress your guests. “For the festive season, especially during celebrations like Diwali, it’s important to incorporate elements that resonate with the spirit of the festival. My top tips include using traditional festive colours like gold, red, and maroon in your table decor, and adding elements like diyas or marigold flowers for that extra touch of festivity. Must-have items could include a variety of mithais like kaju katli or ladoos, mixed dry fruits, and savoury snacks like namak pare or chakli. And always provide interesting and flavoursome dips. Avoid items that don’t hold up well at room temperature or those that are overly messy, as they can detract from the overall experience.”
How to Blend Aesthetics and Practicality
A grazing table really does need to be a harmonious blend of aesthetics and practicality. Kashmiri shares, "Balancing aesthetics and practicality is key to a successful grazing table. While it’s important for the table to look beautiful, everything should be easily accessible and enjoyable to eat. I like to use a variety of serving platters and utensils to create depth and organization, ensuring that guests can serve themselves without disrupting the overall presentation. A common mistake is overloading the table, which can make it difficult for guests to navigate. Another is neglecting to provide sufficient serving tools or plates, leading to a messy experience. The table should be as functional as it is visually appealing"
Creating Texture and Flavour Mixes
A central component of the grazing table is, in actual fact, a mix of textures and flavours. In fact, without this mix, the grazer gets turned off after some time and doesn't want to come back for more. Kashmiri puts it well: "I make sure that appealing mixes of textures and flavours are all about nailing a perfect balance, and I really do try to include all different elements, like crunchy, creamy, sweet, spicy, or savoury, so as to accommodate different tastes in the area.". Crispy papad or lavash with a velvety dip, such as a yoghurt-based raita, or cooling cucumber slices with spicy chaat, among others. One of my personal favourites includes various cheeses, from hard to soft cheeses, and gives it an Indian twist. The other feature entails giving it a separate section in which chaat with various toppings and chutneys is kept, from which the guests can mix and match their preferred ingredients. This doesn't just increase the level of fun and interactivity but also ensures that each of the guests finds something to their liking.
Grazing tables make an exclusive way of serving food in the festive season and help give hosts an interactive and truly visually stunning dining experience. The overall feel of the grazing table—with regional flavours thrown in— something achieved by something as simple as aesthetics combined with practicality; a myriad of textures and flavours combined. Be it Independence Day, Diwali or any festive occasion for that matter, grazing well at a planned out dining table will have your guests mostly impressed and contented, leaving you to revel in the very same festivities with them.
