Why we've all gone crazy for 'grazing': Forget canapes and cocktail sausages. The chicest hosts now wow their guests with picture-perfect platters

  • Grazing ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ës have Áý²Ã¤¹¤ëd in ¿Íµ¤ at events since the end of lockdown
  • ¤µ¤Þ¤¶¤Þ¤Ê delicacies are artfully laid out to ½üµî¤¹¤ë ¤®¤³¤Á¤Ê¤¤ Ì£Êý¤¹¤ë of social events
  • UK-based cookery writer Rose Prince, ³ô advice for creating a spread??

Remember the Îäø¤Ê buffet, the kitsch of party catering? Pineapple chunks stabbed with cheese and ham on cocktail sticks, platters of devilled eggs and the dreaded chicken in aspic, without which no µ¡Ç½¡Ê¤¹¤ë¡Ë¡¿¹Ô»ö was ´°Á´¤Ë¤¹¤ë.

Today, astonishingly, the ¡Æspread¡Ç is »Ù±ç¤¹¤ë ¡½ but in a very different form. Welcome to the summer grazing ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ë, the Îäø¤Ê buffet of the Instagram »þÂå, where the art of entertaining is taken to ¶Ã¤¯¤Ù¤­¡¿ÆÃÌ¿¤Î¡¿Î×»þ¤Î levels.

Think of a Dutch still life you can ¸½¼Â¤Ë eat. The best of seasonal fruits, vegetables, pickles, artisan breads, cheeses and more, piled on to a dining ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ë that is not just a feast for the stomach but also for the ÃíÌܤ¹¤ë¡¤¤â¤¯¤í¤às.

There are no separate serving plates, and ¡ÆÆ»¶ñs¡Ç are ¸º¤º¤ëd to cocktail sticks or little ·ë¼Òs made from bamboo. The food goes straight on to the (clean) ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ë, with perhaps a sheet of baking parchment here or there to catch crumbs or drips.

Cookery writer Rose Prince, ³ô advice for creating a successful spread as the ·¹¸þ for grazin g ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ës (pictured) ¿­¤Ó¡Ê¤ë¡Ës ¿Íµ¤?

The beauty of the grazing ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ë is not only in the way it looks but also in its please-all variety. The ¤µ¤Þ¤¶¤Þ¤Ê delicacies are laid out ¡½ artfully, mind you ¡½ for guests to Áª¤Ö at as the party ¿ÊÊâs. No waiters, no enquiries as to ¡Æbeef or salmon?¡Ç, no ¡Êµ¿¤¤¤ò¡ËÀ²¤é¤¹ing necessary or a host sweating to heat things up.

Behind the idea lies the ambition to ½üµî¤¹¤ë the ¤®¤³¤Á¤Ê¤¤ Ì£Êý¤¹¤ë of social events: it is a more convivial form of eating, with no more squirming in the Îó for food, self-consciously clutching a plate.

If the ¤µ¤Þ¤¶¤Þ¤Ê À®Ê¬s for the grazing ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ë have been ʬÇÛ¤¹¤ëd °æ¸Í¡¿ÊÛ¸î»ÎÀÊ, the idea is not only to help yourself but perhaps ¿½¤·¹þ¤à¡¿¿½¤·½Ð a tidbit of this or that to another guest and begin a conversation with ´ËϤ¹¤ë rather than ÅöÏÇ. Food is a leveller.

I love grazing ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ës. Since the end of lockdown, their ¿Íµ¤ at events like weddings has µÞ¤Ë¾å¤¬¤ëd both here and in America. It is democratic catering, jaw-droppingly good-looking and also value for money.

Guests È¿±þ¤¹¤ë diversely to this type of ¿½¤·¹þ¤à¡¿¿½¤·½Ðing. Some pile in, taking up a ±Êµ×¤Î position by the ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ë; others take a little something, then nothing more. There is undoubtedly ¤¤¤Ã¤½¤¦¾¯¤Ê¤¯ waste.

Guests divide on the way they eat socially, but most agree that ¸ºß pestered to take a canap? is a conversation stopper. In my experience, those who want to eat will happily Áܤ·½Ð¤¹ it out.

Catering ²ñ¼Ò¡¿·ø¤¤s who specialise in ¡ Ægrazing¡Ç ¹ðȯ¡Ê¤¹¤ë¡Ë¡¤¹ðÁʡʤ¹¤ë¡Ë¡¿ÎÁ¶â by the metre of ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ë. Grape & Fig, a catering company which ¾ÇÅÀ¡Ê¤ò¹ç¤ï¤»¤ë¡Ës on grazing ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ës, start at ¡ò305 for one metre, feeding 30, up to a 12-metre ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ë feeding 360 for ¡ò3,605.

This may seem pricey, but when you considering how much it would cost to cater for the same number at a sit-É餫¤¹¡¿·âÄƤ¹¤ë meal, it is still a cheaper way to ÎÁ¶âd a ¡Ê¿Í¤¬¡Ë·²¤¬¤ë.

Rose (pictured) said grazing tables are an opportunity to support local businesses, as it's essential to choose food that have a handmade look

Rose (pictured) said grazing ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ës are an ŬÀڤʻþ´ü to support Ãϸµ¤Î ¾¦Çä¡¿»Å»ös, as it's ɬ¿Ü¤Î to choose food that have a handmade look?

It can, of course, be done for ¤¤¤Ã¤½¤¦¾¯¤Ê¤¯ without help. Then it becomes a »öÊÁ of shopping °æ¸Í¡¿ÊÛ¸î»ÎÀÊ and keeping in your mind¡Çs ÃíÌܤ¹¤ë¡¤¤â¤¯¤í¤à how °æ¸Í¡¿ÊÛ¸î»ÎÀÊ all the food on the ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ë will go together, and, ¡¼¤¹¤ë¤¿¤á¤Ë create the strongest ¾×·â, how the colours and ·ÁÂÖ¡¿Ä´À°s will Ä´À°¤¹¤ë.

So au revoir, les canap?s; see you later, reheated spring rolls; and good riddance to the Ë¡°Æ for catering ¸Û¤¦. With the arrival of the grazing ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ë, a host can now be a guest at their own party and the buffet is no longer Îäø¤Ê but very Î䵤¡¿´¨¤¬¤é¤»¤ëd.

HOW TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL SPREAD

·×²è¡Ê¤¹¤ë¡Ë: A grazing ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ë with wide ¹µÁÊ¡¤¾å¹ð is one made of foods that can sit Ì£Êý¤¹¤ë by Ì£Êý¤¹¤ë, that go °æ¸Í¡¿ÊÛ¸î»ÎÀÊ together but ¿½¤·¹þ¤à¡¿¿½¤·½Ð choice to people with Áê°ã¤¹¤ë diets, from carnivores to flexitarians to vegans.

For the protein, choose cured meat (charcuterie), cheeses and a lemony ²¼Í¤ë made with blended pulses. Äɲ乤ë raw or steamed vegetables, something ÁêÅö¤Ê such as new potatoes; peppery salad leaves, ½Ï¤·¤¿ seasonal fruit, handsome artisan bread, crackers and pickles.

Shop: This is a chance to support your best Ãϸµ¤Î deli, artisan ¥Ñ¥ó²° or greengrocer and buy good-¼Á cheeses and deli goods. While a whole or half cheese may cost more, grazing ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ës are still very good value when feeding a large number. Choosing food that not only tastes the best but has that special, handmade look is ɬ¿Ü¤Î.

Design: Next to ¼Á comes colour and ·ÁÂÖ¡¿Ä´À°. The fun in making the ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ë look beautiful is to choose foods that look pretty Ì£Êý¤¹¤ë by Ì£Êý¤¹¤ë: figs next to ham, colourful pickles by cheese, breads and crispy breads that come in Íø±×¡¿¶½Ì£ing ·ÁÂÖ¡¿Ä´À°s.

Rose recommends putting the food in groups, while blending greens, deep reds, pinks and pale yellows

Rose recommends putting the food in groups, while blending greens, ¿¼¤¤ reds, pinks and pale yellows?

Greens, ¿¼¤¤ reds, pinks, pale yellows and Çö¾Æ¤­¥Ñ¥ó¡¿ÁǾÆÆ«´ï-brown blend beautifully. Structure is important. Put the food in groups ¡½ cheeses in one place, meat another ¡½ not blended together in Îó¡¿Á椰¡¿ÁûÆ°s or it will look like an Axminster carpet.

½àÈ÷¤¹¤ë: You can »Ï¤á¤ë¡¤·è¤á¤ë up a grazing ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ë in good time before the doorbell goes but do µö¤¹ yourself plenty of time to ¡Æbuild¡Ç. This is the Ê¿°×¤Ê way to cater but the £Äè needs time and thought.

It is ¹­Âç¤Ê¡¿Â¿¿ô¤Î¡¿½ÅÍ×¤Ê fun to do but not if you¡Çve left it all to the last minute. Make sure ɬ¿Ü¤Îs like bread and pickles are ʬÇÛ¤¹¤ëd all over the ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ë ¡½ what you don¡Çt want is a five-¿¼¤¤ Îó for them.

Be °ÂÁ´¤Ê: Èãɾ of grazing ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ës concentrates on food safety. Some abhor the idea of 100 people Áª¤Öing up food with their fingers, thinking it ´í¸±¤Ê, ÆÃ¤Ë at the moment.

Hosts should ¶¡µë¤¹¤ë cocktail sticks and small bamboo skewers for guests to use instead of fingers. And choose foods that sit °æ¸Í¡¿ÊÛ¸î»ÎÀÊ at an ambient µ¤²¹ for a »öÊÁ of three hours, °·¤¦ it cleanly and divide it into groups (meat in one area, smoked fish another etc): it should be ¤¢¤ê¤Õ¤ì¤¿ sense.

½àÈ÷¤¹¤ë as ¶á¤Å¤¯ as possible to the start of the party, leaving the more volatile foods (cured meat or smoked fish) until last. Keep your ¼êÅϤ¹s very clean, washing them between °·¤¦ing each food group.

Take Care: Keep À®Ê¬s we ll spaced if they could cross-±øÀ÷¤¹¤ë. If food is placed on the ¡ÊÊÆ¡Ëê¾å¤²¤¹¤ë¡¿¡Ê±Ñ¡ËÄóµÄ¤¹¤ë within two hours before serving, all should be °ÂÁ´¤Ê. But keep proteins ¡½ fish, meat and cheese ¡½ apart.

?

THE PRETTY WAY TO STICK TO THAT DIET?

Laura Billington, 43, (pictured) set up Graze Cheshire last year and has penned a book sharing advice for creating grazing plates

Laura Billington, 43, (pictured) »Ï¤á¤ë¡¤·è¤á¤ë up Graze Cheshire last year and has penned a Ä´½ñ¤ò¤È¤ë¡¿Í½Ìó¤¹¤ë ³ôing advice for creating grazing plates

Fresh, delicious, artistically arranged platters ¡½ ÁȤßΩ¤Æ¤ë¡¿½¸·ë¤¹¤ëd just for you. Laura Billington »Ï¤á¤ë¡¤·è¤á¤ë up Graze Cheshire last year and her new Ä´½ñ¤ò¤È¤ë¡¿Í½Ì󤹤ë, ʳµ¯¤µ¤»¤ëd Grazing, shows you how to create grazing plates that are as much a feast for the ÃíÌܤ¹¤ë¡¤¤â¤¯¤í¤às as they are for the tastebuds.

Laura, 43, a mother of three, started ¼Â¸³ing with grazing boards and plates in July 2020 and, thanks to high ¼ûÍס¦Í׵᤹¤ë for her plates, which start from ¡ò40, has now ¤ä¤á¤ë her ¿¦¶È in ˡΧ to ¾ÇÅÀ¡Ê¤ò¹ç¤ï¤»¤ë¡Ë on it ½½Ê¬¤Ê time.

Here, with th e help of nutritionist Amanda Hamilton, she has put together five plates for whatever diet you¡Çre ¤Ë°ú¤­Â³¤¤¤Æ ¡½ ²Ã¤¨¤ë one cheat plate for when you¡Çre having a bad day and the diet¡Çs gone out of the window.

500 CALORIES PLATE

Laura said?start with the biggest objects and work down to the smallest, when constructing a grazing plate. Pictured: 500 calories plate

Laura said?start with the biggest È¿ÂФ¹¤ës and work É餫¤¹¡¿·âÄƤ¹¤ë to the smallest, when ·úÀߤ¹¤ëing a grazing plate. Pictured: 500 calories plate

For those doing an intermittent µÞ®¤Ê¡¿ÊüÆ¢¤Êing diet, everything on this plate Äɲ乤ës up to 500 calories for you to graze on throughout the day. ¡ÆWhen ·úÀߤ¹¤ëing a grazing plate, start with the biggest È¿ÂФ¹¤ës and work É餫¤¹¡¿·âÄƤ¹¤ë to the smallest,¡Ç says Laura. ¡ÆAlways begin by placing your dipping ¥Þ¥ê¥Õ¥¡¥Ês on the plate, then artfully arrange everything else around them.¡Ç

You¡Çll need: 200g ¥Þ¥ê¥Õ¥¡¥Ê of tzatziki at 120 calories (such as M&S), 3 small carrots, 3 stalks celery, 100g blueberries threaded on to skewers, 1 little gem lettuce, half cucumber in ά¾Ïs and batons, 2 rice cakes in £´È¾´ü/4ʬ¤Î1s, 3 s lices watermelon, 100g sugar snaps.

All above plates use edible flowers (ÍøÍѤǤ­¤ë at Waitrose and M&S) to garnish.

ANTI-AGEING

Laura recommends focusing on plants known for?antioxidants and polyphenols, when creating an anti-ageing plate (pictured)

Laura recommends ¾ÇÅÀ¡Ê¤ò¹ç¤ï¤»¤ë¡Ëing on ¹©¾ì¡¿¿¢Êªs known for?antioxidants and polyphenols, when creating an anti-ageing plate (pictured)

The ¾ÇÅÀ¡Ê¤ò¹ç¤ï¤»¤ë¡Ë is on antioxidants and polyphenols ÀßΩ¤¹¤ë in ¹©¾ì¡¿¿¢Êªs that help Êݸ¤ë the ÃÄÂΡ¿»àÂÎ from the ageing ±Æ¶Ás of oxidative ¶¯Ä´¤¹¤ë¡¿¥¹¥È¥ì¥¹ from ²òÊü¤¹¤ë¡¿¼«Í³¤Ê ²á·ã¤Ês and toxins.

You¡Çll need: 1 cooked chicken breast sliced, 1 red pepper, 100g blueberries, 200g ¹õ¿Í¡¿¥Ü¥¤¥³¥Ã¥È grapes, 100g pickled red cabbage, 100g silverskin onions, small ˸¤²¤ë¡¿Ë¡ÄÊÛ¸î»Î¶È of high-¼Á dark chocolate, half a ´Å¤¤ potato and £´È¾´ü/4ʬ¤Î1 of butternut squash roasted in olive oil for 45 mins then cubed. Thyme and flowers to garnish.

KETO

Laura said you'll need?plate that is high in good fats, has moderate protein and low carbs, when following a keto diet

Laura said you'll need?plate that is high in good fats, has ²º·ò¤Ê protein and low carbs, when ¤Ë°ú¤­Â³¤¤¤Æ a keto diet?

Those who follow a Keto diet (designed to help your ÃÄÂΡ¿»àÂΠdz¤ä¤¹ fat for dzÎÁ and ±ç½õ¡Ê¤¹¤ë¡Ë Éé¤ï¤»¤ë loss) need a plate that is high in good fats, has ²º·ò¤Ê protein and low carbs.

You¡Çll need: Bresaola rolled and °ÂÁ´¤Ê¡¦Êݾڤ¹¤ëd with cocktail stick, half Ĺ¡¤Î¨¤¤¤ë of cauliflower roasted for 45 mins, half Ĺ¡¤Î¨¤¤¤ë broccoli roasted for 20 mins, baby spinach, pistachios, walnuts, 2 boiled eggs £´È¾´ü/4ʬ¤Î1d, half a green and red pepper, 80g large green olives, 6 slices of goat¡Çs cheese.

MENOPAUSE

Laura suggests?a mixture of phytoestrogen-rich foods, fibre, c
alcium and omega 3s when following a diet beneficial to the menopause

Laura ¼¨º¶¤¹¤ës?a mixture of phytoestrogen-rich foods, fibre, calcium and omega 3s when ¤Ë°ú¤­Â³¤¤¤Æ a diet Í­±×¤Ê to the menopause

This plate is a mixture of phytoestrogen-rich foods to help balance hormone levels, fibre to balance ·ì sugars, calcium for bone strength, omega 3s to lubricate the ¶¦Æ±¤Îs and turmeric for inflammation.

You¡Çll need: Edamame beans, two types of cheese, oat cakes, sliced cucumber and celery, celery leaves, almonds, walnuts, fresh salmon, turmeric hummus (shop-bought or use the recipe below) and ¤ʾ¶É.

To make the hummus, drain and rinse 2 tins of chickpeas (leaving some aside for decoration). Put in a food ²Ã¹©¶È¼Ô along with 2 cloves of peeled garlic, 6 tbsp tahini, 6 tbsp olive oil, the zest and juice of a lemon, 1 tsp ground turmeric, ? tsp ground nutmeg and pinch of salt. Whiz together.

TEN-A-DAY

Laura revealed it's possible to create a plate filled with the essentials for consuming ten-a-day

Laura ÌÀ¤é¤«¤Ë¤¹¤ë¡¿Ï³¤é¤¹d it's possible to create a plate filled with the ɬ¿Ü¤Îs for ¾ÃÈñ¤¹¤ëing ten-a-day

Forget five-a-day ¡½ ¸¦µæ now ¼¨º¶¤¹¤ës eating ten-a-day is the best way to live longer.

You¡Çll need: 2 carrots ºï¸º¡Ê¤¹¤ë¡Ë into batons, 8 cherry tomatoes, 2 kiwi fruit, red/green peppers, 10 strawberries, 1 stick celery chopped, 40g spinach, cucumber in °ìÏ¢¤Î²ñµÄ¡¢¸ò¾Ä¡¿´°À®¤¹¤ës and batons, guacomole and beetroot hummus (whiz cooked beetroot in a blender with 2 tins of chickpeas, 2 cloves garlic, 6 tbsp tahini, 6 tbsp olive oil, juice and zest of 1 lemon and pinch of salt).

BLOW-THE-DIET

Laura said a?mix of snacks in co-ordinating and complementary colours is great for movie nights

Laura said a?mix of ·Ú¿©s in co-ordinating and c omplementary colours is ¹­Âç¤Ê¡¿Â¿¿ô¤Î¡¿½ÅÍ×¤Ê for movie nights?

¡ÆThese are ¹­Âç¤Ê¡¿Â¿¿ô¤Î¡¿½ÅÍ×¤Ê for movie nights,¡Ç says Laura. ¡ÆYou need a mix of ·Ú¿©s in co-ordinating and complementary colours.¡Ç

you¡Çll need: Strawberry bon bons, pink fudge, lemon ̸±« Çö¾Æ¤­¥Ñ¥ó¡¿ÁǾÆÆ«´ïs, pear ¸º¾¯¡Ê¤¹¤ë¡Ës, strawberry and cream truffles, chocolate pretzels, cupcakes, chocolate buttons, Æý¤Î ˸¤²¤ë¡¿Ë¡ÄÊÛ¸î»Î¶È Cookies ¡ÆN Cream Bites, pink and yellow Squashies and marshmallows.

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