FEAST FOR THE EYES
Think of it as a super-sized sharing platter – a grazing table is the cool take on summer entertaining. The experts at Grape & Fig reveal how it’s done
As delicious to look at as they are to eat, grazing tables are your new go-to
Old-fashioned buffets laden with uninspiring beige food have had their day. Type #grazingtables into Instagram and you’ll be dazzled by colourful, mouthwatering spreads. Grape & Fig, the UK’S first grazing table caterer, is one of the companies proving that buffets can actually be works of art, and it’s giving the humble spread a modern makeover.
The company’s founder, Toria Smith, created her first grazing table for her own wedding three years ago, but has since catered for Tom Hardy, Davina Mccall and Damian Lewis. She says that, while the display may look luxurious, it isn’t about ‘caviar
and foie gras’, but just simple, high-quality food. All of Grape & Fig’s creations, from sharing platters to six-metre-long grazing tables, are created from locally sourced produce, including speciality cheeses, artisan-cured meats, quiches, antipasti and freshly baked bread. The company has even branched out into dessert tables.
As impressive as these look, you can easily recreate them at home. ‘Grazing platters can reflect your personality and suit your budget and, because they become the main decorative feature of the table, there’s no need for a separate, expensive flower display either,’ says Smith. Genius!