Grazing tables...wtf?

[BiffChipsandKippers]

Anyone seen this craze for just dumping a load of food in a table as the catering at a party? AIBU that this is unhygienic and gross?

Isn’t this really normal?

AKA a buffet?

Isn't this just a buffet?

It’s been going a while, well before covid, it’s pure boke 🤮

Is it a buffet?

I think it's gross, but they seem very popular

No there’s no plate under the food - straight onto the counter or table

I mean it’s not a typical buffet

It's hardly new!

Different from a buffet as grazing tables dont often have things on plates. Just piles of food on the table cloth.

It is usually served (en-mass) with tongs etc but between friends, just using fingers.

My only problem with this is my allergy stops be from being able to take part usually

I think it's different to a buffet in that there's no segregation. Scotch eggs pushed up against the pickled onions, salami underneath egg butties. I'm making myself feel sick now.

Well I guess it is essentially a buffet but all the plates removed and the food systems arranged directly on the table. Seems a nightmare from an allergy and hygiene perspective, but maybe I'm overthinking. Just looks like an invitation for little ones to get their grubby fingers all over all of the food, whereas at a traditional buffet mine would show more restraint (though not much!) and wait to be served onto a plate

It’s not a buffet though, a buffet generally all the different options are plated up separately and you use utensils to take whatever portion you want from each option, grazing tables everything’s just fucked onto a massive platter and you pick out with your fingers what you want so you inevitably (and everyone else there) touch all the other bits around the bits you want

They're supposed to be arranged so food only touches food it works with IE salad

Had a great one recently with nachos, chilli, cheese, salsa etc

Luckily I have never seen one in real life. I won't even eat from a normal buffet if I can help it. These are fucking disgusting.

No it's not a buffet, as buffet food is on platters. This is crisps intermingling with sausage rolls, intermingling with cherry tomatoes, intermingling with parma ham. All just lying on the tablecloth.

If done by a professional food stylist, it can look good before anyone starts into it, but it looks like the contents of a rubbish bin as soon as they do.

And it looks totally shit if you do it DIY.

It’s been around for years. At least the past seven or eight since we used to have them at a regular event I went to. It isn’t just on the table though it’s onto large chopping boards/“grazing boards”.

I've seen the type you mean, similar to a buffet but with meat, crackers and dips and such all piled together on a table, a giant charcuterie board almost.

Doesn't look appealing at all, all those greasy fingers on everything, not for me at all.

I've had a few done by a professional. She covers the table with a new plastic sheet before placing food on the table. She uses plates / baskets and props to artfully arrange the ( delicious) food and they've gone down a treat at my parties.

@LegodOut that made me laugh, yes! You only ever see images of beautifully looking curated and arranged grazing boards on the internet never the 5 mins in cat tipped over the dustbin out the alley version of it that it descends into!

I've googled. I made a grazing platter for our evening meal on Christmas Eve. It was great! It's just a charcuterie/cheese board with salad and fruit. What's not to like?

I find the idea of them pretty gross but how's this for madness.....we went to a 4 year olds birthday party with a professional grazing table!!!!

4 year olds!!!!!

It made me grimace thinning about it and I ran my kids up there first and carefully did their plates......after that it was a mass of grubby hands and sneezes!

I do find they look impressive until people start at them.

I started a rageful thread about this last year 😂
loathe them, don’t want to eat cheap cheese and sliced meats that have been sat sweating on crackers pushed up against strawberries and pate for a couple of hours thanks.
They make my stomach churn just thinking about them although I do have weird ‘food touching’ issues in general so this maybe contributes to it somewhat.
But I think even without my quirks they are still just disgusting 🤢

I don't think this is the same. I often serve food 'family style'- ie everything in the middle and help yourself (with utensils!) and don't mind a family size sharing platter/cheeseboard with close friends or family... But a huge table shared with 10s of strangers...urgh

I think it’s the scale. And the mix of different foods.
So, one platter of food that ‘goes’ is ok, but a whole table of everything is a bit yuck to some people (me included).

Not my thing at all, mentally filed with balloon arches, gender reveal parties and grey crushed velvet sofas - all a bit last decade Instagram none of it appealing then.