A bevy of buffets: Harvest table

HARVEST or grazing tables, have become a must-have for soirees during the festive season. The best thing about it is that it diminishes the seriousness of having caterwaiters in your home, going around with canapes for your guests.

Crammed with cheeses, charcuterie, fruits, vegetables, dips, breads and other savoury tid bits and bites, it’s an upgrade from a cheese board. It is quite elaborately set up and usually takes up a whole table.

This is perfect when you want to try something with some wow-factor for your festive season gathering. Grazing tables are growing in popularity, with more than 280 000 posts dedicated to the meal on Instagram.

We got some nice tips from experts on social media on how to set up the perfect grazing table for the festive season.

Sourcing local, fresh produce is key. Make friends at your local farmer’s market. Their passion for fresh and seasonal produce will give your board an authentic edge.

Who says the whole table has to be meats and cheeses for charcuterie? Fresh wraps, rolls, and decadent fruits and vegetables have an inviting farm-to-table flair.

Add interest to your board by using different heights. Place produce both on and around props such as wooden boxes or metal baskets, depending on your theme. This helps grazers easily access all areas of your table.

Dips are easy to DIY and add a colourful dimension to your platter. If time isn’t on your side there’s nothing wrong with buying premade dips. Beetroot, basil and cashew, roasted carrot and bean, hummus or a caramelised onion dip will add colour and texture.

A grazing table doesn’t have to be elaborate. In fact, it can be as simple as just setting up a great option for guests to have a snack. We love the idea of setting up a grazing cart with fresh olives to munch on.