Grazing tables...

[upandmummin]

Seen them gaining popularity on Instagram and TikTok over the last year and came across my first as the evening food at a wedding recently. No one there serving it, no gloves provided, just a grubby fingered free for all. Also flies were very attracted to it

AIBU or are they a bit yuck?! They look great, but I was really put off especially after kids went up first

Oh god just zoomed in and the ham is touching raspberries. And how do you cling film it. Surely rule is that it’s Cling filmed til the last moment and then someone’s mum takes that off and the buffet is declared open by the DJ!

I think it's more for looking at than eating - I'd not eat from a table like that.

The last time I ate from one of those, I ended up with a doughnut half soaked in welsh rarebit.

It was covered in flies too (outside buffet).

I'd eat butter on its own. I don't because it isn't good for me, but proper salted butter...mmmm

Absolutely revolting. Hygiene and the pure gluttony puts me off.

We were at a 50th party a few weeks ago and they had the grazing and butter boards. People were eating from them, licking their fingers and going back in for more, breathing over it and I couldn’t stop thinking not one person had washed their hands before descending on the food 🤢. We had cheese on toast when we got home.

I don’t eat from buffets or salad bars in restaurants either, they turn my stomach.

I went to a wedding with a grazing table recently and the cheesecake was touching meat. 🤢

Ex Food safety officer here....absolute nightmare. The risk of cross contamination from leaves, flowers, unwashed; or poorly washed, fruit skins is very high.
I never touch one!

The images actually made me feel a bit sick. Just too much food all mixed up !

I don't get the butter board at all. Are you supposed to dip in and have loads of buttered bread ?

Yick! I don't eat pork Nd barely any meat so anything with meats touching the veg etc is a no go for me. But tbf it looks gorgeous in the pics.

It's probably the celiac's meal.

I have a small catering company and I do parties and weddings. I always try and steer clients away from these as they look amazing before anyone has touched them (agree, for the photos / insta) and then 2 seconds later they look dreadful and unappetizing - leading to lots of waste.

I agree, it's a buffet but with no plates and no serving utensils.
Even the word grazing is for animals.

🤮 No thanks. I'm not a germophobe but I'd rather not have my lunch picked over by the non hand washing contingent.

They're nasty.

That is vile. Is this the new food presentation trend after the stupid slate/flat cap/filthy piece of wood/miniature shopping trolley etc? FFS, as if that wasn't bonkers enough.

Oh my god it is the same as that!

Yeh, not for me either.

Whilst I love a buffet, where everything is separated and pretty civilised, grazing tables look really unappealing to me. They look horrible after a few people have tucked in. I imagine there is a lot of food wastage too.

Don’t get me started on the latest instagram trend of butter boards 🤣

It’s just not practical, the second photo - is anyone actually taking the passion fruit?! Surely it will just be wasted.

What about a small one for 2 or
4 people? 🤔 I think these aren't so bad?

For a while everyone I know has had these at function

Sorry too soon

Everyone had them at functions. I hate them. I don't want to eat food a hundred other people have touched. I only eat if I'm one of the first at it or there are loads of tongs.

@Rosio

I don’t mind the small ones, sharing with family. They are like cheese boards , which are always welcome.

@Rosio I think that's how the whole trend started, people doing those kinds of overstuffed cheese and charcuterie boards, then people like why not a whole table.

I don't like the small version either. Let the food breathe! Too much cross-contamination and bad for veggies.

It just seems vulgar, like look at how much food I can pile in one place.