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?

She doesn't mean that. Look at the pictures on the thread and google grazing tables for other examples. As far as I can make out (I've never been unfortunate enough to experience one of these myself) the person preparing the table covers it with plastic or foil and then covers every square millimetre with food. The whole point is that everything touches. It's a long way from the traditional buffet - something like the picture, everything on separate plates/trays.

My query is because what I understand to be a grazing table can't possibly be suitable for the dietary restrictions mentioned. Well, I suppose you could do an entirely coeliac grazing table, for example, but that wouldn't make it vegetarian or kosher. It's not something that can cater for multiple dietary needs at once.

I'm guessing there may be a large crossover between people who think these grazing tables are great and those who don't really believe in allergies and food intolerances, and think 'picky eaters' just need to get a grip of themselves or starve.

If you google and look at the images you’ll see what is meant.

Food sitting for hours, no refrigeration, no sneeze guard, no protection against flies or fingers , flavours mingling ...no thanks

Scotch eggs pushed up against the pickled onions, salami underneath egg butties

^

Give me strength 😅

How do you know how clean your 'party goers' hands are? Hmm

^^

Ooh er missus

We had one for a party a couple of years ago. It wasn’t straight onto the table; they lined the table with a long roll of extremely thick grease proof paper which all the food sat on. They also provided a large number of knives / scoops / obvs etc which people used to pick up the food. It really wasn’t any different to a buffet!

We had a company do an entirely vegetarian one for us. It wasn’t for a large party, 30 people max, and I knew in advance that there weren’t any allergies or dietary requirements other than vegetarianism.

I agree it wouldn’t necessarily be suitable for something like a corporate event where you might not know about allergies and dietary requirements in advance, or for a private party where your guests had specific requirements - although the company we used could accommodate certain things (e.g. they could do a nut free table or a gluten free table etc).

That’s not a grazing table. That’s a cheese board. A grazing table is like a buffet but without plates/boards, etc.