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AIBU?

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Original poster

Grazing tables...wtf?

185 replies

BiffChipsandKippers · 14/02/2023 22:20

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?

OP posts:
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8
pristinesurfacesGBTD · 14/02/2023 22:44

MyBloodyMaryneedsmoreTabasco · 14/02/2023 22:42

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.

Grey Crushed velvet sofa? I quite like the sound of that 😝

WeCome1 · 14/02/2023 22:45

Here’s one I found as an example

Grazing tables...wtf?
Spectre8 · 14/02/2023 22:47

WeCome1 · 14/02/2023 22:45

Here’s one I found as an example

Thats the type of grazing table I would do, a big massive cheeseboard. So long as what the food is out on is clean does it matter if it isn't on another board.

HoboHotel · 14/02/2023 22:49

WeCome1 · 14/02/2023 22:45

Here’s one I found as an example

My god but that is revolting.

Orange juice and kiwi juice leaking over everything.

No good for vegetarians / halal / kosher as the meat is touching loads of other stuff.

Can you imagine the mess after someone's touched anything?

Also what is with the crappy lightbox sign? Is that saying someone is getting married in 15 days' time?

Run away and nuke the site from orbit i say.

Cherryblossoms85 · 14/02/2023 22:49

Fools and their money.

AutumnCrow · 14/02/2023 22:50

HoboHotel · 14/02/2023 22:49

My god but that is revolting.

Orange juice and kiwi juice leaking over everything.

No good for vegetarians / halal / kosher as the meat is touching loads of other stuff.

Can you imagine the mess after someone's touched anything?

Also what is with the crappy lightbox sign? Is that saying someone is getting married in 15 days' time?

Run away and nuke the site from orbit i say.

Show quote history

It's the only way to be sure

Hankunamatata · 14/02/2023 22:51

The are gross. Use a plate for the love of god

magicthree · 14/02/2023 22:54

We had a grazing table at my work Christmas function - it was fabulous and everyone loved it. And no, they don't just "dump" a lot of food on the table, it was beautifully arranged.

canihaveacoffeeplease · 14/02/2023 22:58

Anyone for a picture of one 'after'??? I'd love to see that Grin

WhoNeedsSleepNotISaidMyBody · 14/02/2023 23:00

MeghanThyStallion · 14/02/2023 22:22

Isn't this just a buffet?

No it's not, it's like merged good.

it was a 'thing' pre covid. I assumed civid had put an end to it, it's minging.

GoldilockMom · 14/02/2023 23:04

They use a baking sheet of brown paper - not some random worktop.

These are amazing and we love them here - loads of choice! I might do one for DH birthday - much cheaper to do your own.

AutumnalLeaves38 · 14/02/2023 23:54

Bonus points if it includes the now mandatory "sharing butter board", for double-dip smearing!

MrsMiddleMother · 15/02/2023 00:01

Yanbu buffets make me feel funny at the best of times but all the food on the table touching each other just makes me feel sick. That's before adding in people picking up the bits they want etc. I couldn't eat it and thank god I haven't been to a party where this has been there.

Alexandernevermind · 15/02/2023 00:04

I can't cope with food like that. It doesn't help that I'm vegetarian, but the idea of sweets touching savouries and crisps touching tomatoes makes me shudder.

EmmaEmerald · 15/02/2023 00:07

MrsMiddleMother · 15/02/2023 00:01

Yanbu buffets make me feel funny at the best of times but all the food on the table touching each other just makes me feel sick. That's before adding in people picking up the bits they want etc. I couldn't eat it and thank god I haven't been to a party where this has been there.

Same here. I don't know why but buffets gross me out, this a whole other level of gross.

Luredbyapomegranate · 15/02/2023 00:10

It’s gross and naff but it’s old - I’m surprised it’s survived covid.

Agree w PP who says its up there with gender reveal parties and baby showers.

Carouselfish · 15/02/2023 00:43

How much of our DNA is shared with pigs again? SIgh.

SpookyBlackCat · 15/02/2023 00:47

They’re quite old hat now.

Im more bothered by this latest trend where parents tip out a pot of spaghetti or something similar on a table and give their kids forks. Why on earth is this a trend?

Mostexpensiveplug · 15/02/2023 01:04

How on earth would you be able to serve soup?

CupidCantAimStraight · 15/02/2023 01:12

They're instagrammable before anyone has started touching them. Once some of it has been eaten then it starts to look like shit.

Absolutely dire for anyone with allergies / vegetarian / vegan / halal / etc. Frequently on a buffet the items are unlabelled, which is bad enough as you have to deduce an ingredients list just by looking at it, in a game of allergen Russian roulette. On a grazing table you have to do that and try to guess what it might or might not have been touching before.

UnicornsHaveDadsToo · 15/02/2023 01:25

BiffChipsandKippers · 14/02/2023 22:25

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

I was initially thinking "isn't this a buffet?", but now that you've explained it, I'm already having nightmares about it... 😱😱😱I've never seen or encountered anything like that, and never in a million years would I ever serve anything like that. The hygiene, allergy and cross-contamination prospects fill me with dread even thinking about such a set up!

ashitghost · 15/02/2023 01:30

Yeah they look like an overflowing compost bin. Random forlorn ham flaps and tumbling eggs. Ugh, Christ.

LeandraDear · 15/02/2023 01:35

They look repugnant and often advertised on FB by people who do all the other crap like Xmas cones and Easter baskets - another way to make money with cheap food.

Grazing tables...wtf?
UnicornsHaveDadsToo · 15/02/2023 01:38

LegodOut · 14/02/2023 22:27

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.

What in the name of fuck is a food stylist?? 😂Love your description of how they would look within minutes of people starting into them! 😄

LemonJuiceFromConcentrate · 15/02/2023 01:43

So intensely unappealing 😶

I am curious as to why those who like it, like it. What’s the appeal?