If you love hosting or attending parties, you’ve likely noticed the growing trend of grazing tables. These artistic spreads have breathed new life into the way we serve appetisers and refreshments, doubling as both a culinary experience and a charming centrepiece.

Grazing tables are everywhere these days, from weddings and birthday parties to baby showers—and even funerals! Though the concept dates back centuries, they’ve recently taken the Internet and our social gatherings by storm.

What is a grazing table?

A grazing table is essentially a large, elaborately arranged spread of food, designed to be shared and enjoyed by guests at their leisure. Unlike traditional buffets, which often follow a formal structure, grazing tables are all about abundance and variety. The best part about grazing tables is their versatile nature— they can cater to a wide range of dietary preferences, from plant-based to gluten-free, ensuring there’s something for everyone.

Suramya Uppal, who trained as a chef at Le Cordon Bleu in London, returned to Delhi and founded The Maison Pantry by Saloni’s Kitchen three years ago. Her brand specialises in curating grazing tables, charcuterie boards, and even gift hampers for events.

Suramya enthusiastically describes grazing tables as “all your favourite foods laid out beautifully on a table with precision and love.” These tables can include a wide array of appetisers, cheeses, desserts, fresh dips, breads, salads, fruits, crackers, chips, and even beverages.

Richa Agarwal, the Mumbai-based founder of The Platter Tales, offers her take on the concept: “Grazing tables are about thoughtfully arranging small, bite-sized portions like zucchini lasagne roll-ups, sliders, and chips with dips that are easy to pick up and enjoy while mingling. Our focus is on balancing a delectable food experience with visual appeal, using fresh flowers, sleek wooden boards, and minimalist decor to create a chic, contemporary look that aligns with milestone chic house parties and brand launches.”

Richa adds that “over the past year, grazing tables have gained increasing popularity due to their elegant convenience and visual appeal. The food spread facilitates easy socialising, allowing guests to move around freely while focusing on the event itinerary.”

A taste of history

While the concept of communal dining has existed for centuries, the modern grazing table finds its roots in the antipasto and mezze traditions of the Mediterranean. These spreads have long embraced the idea of leisurely, communal eating, where food is as much about the experience as it is about sustenance.

In ancient India, communal meals were common, symbolising unity and togetherness. The concept of the Thali, a round platter used to serve meals, originated from these communal gatherings. In many communities, the tradition of sitting together on the floor and sharing food from a common plate or leaf still exists.

The grazing table, as we know it today, began gaining traction in Australia and New Zealand in the late 2010s. Caterers started offering these visually stunning displays as a casual yet sophisticated alternative to traditional event catering. The trend quickly spread to the UK, the US, and beyond, as people sought more relaxed and aesthetically pleasing ways to entertain.

This trend is also gaining momentum in India.

Grazing table vs charcuterie board vs buffet

Now, don’t confuse a grazing table with a charcuterie board. While they share a similar concept, there are some key differences in the elements.

Say Cheese by Ruchi is another Delhi-based brand that specialises in cheese and charcuterie platters, as well as grazing tables. Founder Ruchi Rai explains the distinction: “A charcuterie board is a French style of serving cold cuts, cheese, crudités, fruits, preserves, and bread or crackers, typically on a wooden board for smaller gatherings. In contrast, a grazing table offers a similar spread but on a larger scale, designed for bigger events.”

She further differentiates the two, “A grazing table setup differs from a charcuterie board in three ways: audience size, variety, and purpose. While a charcuterie board is meant for intimate gatherings, focusing on a smaller menu with an emphasis on cheese and raw fruits—often complementing wine and served as part of a larger feast—a grazing table caters to larger gatherings. It offers a wider variety of bite-sized options, designed to accompany a primary activity like socialising or product launches.”

Now, when it comes to buffets, Richa Agarwal points out: “These setups typically cater to larger audiences, usually 75 to 100 people, whereas grazing tables are designed for 20 to 50 guests. Additionally, while a grazing table serves as an accompaniment to an event, a buffet is specifically intended to serve elaborate meals after the main event.”

What’s on the menu

From different types of cheese to jams, dips, and cold cuts, a typical grazing table can feature a wide variety of items and even be themed according to guests’ tastes and preferences.

Suramya explains, “We like to stick to the 4-4-4-4 rule—four types of cheese, four types of bite-sized appetizers, four types of dips, and four types of crackers. We also include a variety of fresh fruits and individually plated salads to add a pop of colour.”

However, a grazing table can also focus on specific themes, such as baby showers, pre-wedding functions, corporate events, store launches, or house parties, and can include different kinds of finger foods beyond just cheese and charcuterie.

“The most interesting grazing table we’ve ever done was themed ‘Festivals of India,’ where we featured various street foods like Bombay vada pav, bhel puri, dhokla, and even fusion dips like pudina tzatziki. It was our most colourful and grand table. In addition to themes, people often prefer to include a wide variety of healthy salads and appetisers, alongside the cheese and crackers,” Suramya adds.

Grazing table etiquettes

Richa Agarwal suggests that there are three perspectives to consider when setting up a grazing table: the chef, the host, and the guests:

• Chef: When laying out the grazing table, keep the serving sizes modest, avoid complex double-dip items, and steer clear of crispy, flaky, or hard-to-eat foods. The focus should be on accessibility.
• Host: The food items should be well-labelled, especially regarding allergens, and arranged spaciously to allow for hassle-free serving and movement. Bar-height tables work well for such events, and small, light plates are preferred.
• Guests: Since the focus is on socialising, plates should be filled minimally to avoid mess. Cutlery should be used whenever possible to keep hands clean.

There are benefits too

One of the benefits of arranging a grazing table is that it eliminates the hassle of needing someone to serve, as guests can simply pick what they like. This convenience is a key reason why more people are incorporating grazing tables into their events and parties.

“Since all the food is already set up, it removes the fuss of cooking and serving during an event, making it more enjoyable for both guests and hosts,” says Ruchi.

“At the core of a grazing table lie three benefits: ease of use, visual appeal, and audience engagement – the latter being a lesser-known advantage. Imagine a luxury brand launch, where high-profile guests are invited. Convincing them to carve out time from their busy schedules is always a challenge, and keeping them engaged at the event is even more so. A grazing table typically allows the sales team to spend more time with guests, fostering stronger relationships, while also encouraging guests to mingle and network – somewhat akin to a golf meeting,” adds Richa Agarwal of The Platter Tales.

The downside

While a grazing table can be a great addition to any party or event, there are some considerations to keep in mind.

“The hot and humid weather in our country can pose a challenge when setting up a grazing table for extended periods. We recommend keeping the table out for no longer than 4–5 hours to prevent spoilage,” advises Suramya.

It’s best to set up a grazing table indoors, where you can control the temperature, rather than outside. This will help ensure the longevity of perishable items, as hot and humid conditions are not ideal for such setups.

Why so popular?

If you are someone who keeps up with trends on Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok, you’ve likely noticed the growing popularity of grazing tables. “The concept of grazing has become so popular that we’ve come up with options in open-and-serve boxes for smaller gatherings. We’re delivering these boxes across Delhi NCR through our website as well as on Zomato. These boxes are a more compact version of grazing tables,” says Suramya.

Richa attributes the popularity of this trend to several factors, including increasing dietary restrictions, time constraints, evolved sales practices, and the rising importance of visuals and aesthetics.

“While sourcing delicious food isn’t much of a challenge in metro cities like Mumbai or Delhi, aligning décor with home or store aesthetics for parties can be. Grazing table setups address these challenges effectively,” she adds.

The notion that a grazing table fosters intermingling, discussions, and small talk isn’t just a cliché—it’s a reality.

Savour the trend

The market for this trend is growing rapidly. “What began as a simple comparison with restaurant prices is now evolving to recognise the effort involved in batch size, fresh ingredients, and meticulous attention to décor and presentation,” says Richa.

The increasing popularity of this concept highlights a broader shift towards more interactive and visually appealing dining experiences, offering a glimpse into the future of culinary and dining trends.

But whatever the case maybe, isn’t all of this for Instagram anyway?