Its the biggest race of the year Melbourne cup 2018 https://www.racenet.com.au/melbourne-cup.
Win your guests over with these fabulous grazing platters. Sydney Food Stylist shows you how to create a grazing platter to rival a "Marie Antoinette feast!
A social and trending way of feeding your guests without the formality of a seated event.
Its almost that time of the year when punters and fashionistas from around the world gather for Australia most well known horse race that stops the nation. Flemington race course will be a flurry of fashion, colour and glamour the Spring carnival.
If you are unable to head to the race, why not create a glamorous party at home! I hear collective sighs at I write this...what will I serve besides the obvious champagne cocktail! The best accompaniment to any cocktail is a grazing table or platter. Grazing tables are emerging as the happiest thing in entertaining! Grazing tables encourage guests to mingle, try a variety of tastes and a great conversation starter. From tables to boards here are a few of my tips and tricks to create a winning grazing table.
A sweet treat with a glamorous touch
Steps to create a delicious chocolate board
- Choose a large round board, work from the inside out
- Use a small container or dish in the centre of your board and work outwards
- Chocolate dipped strawberries add a pop of colour to your board
- Use a mix of white and milk chocolate, break up into rough squares
- Make chocolate shards, simply melt chocolate and decorate with crushed flake, pistachios, cranberries, or even white chocolate drizzle. Refrigerate and only take out just before serving
The Grazing Tables have take our Instagram feeds by storm! Tables of heavenly fare piled high and spread wide!
Creating a simple and effective grazing table es easy, here are a few of my tips..
- Use high quality ingredients
- Offer a wide variety of textures and flavours
- Work with a theme if its race day it would be fun to include themed props like fake grass down the centre of your table, or even using champagne glasses filled with nuts, fruit or any kind of nibbles
- Play with props, containers, rises and foliage and flowers to compliment your table
- Combine a variety of eats from breads, cheese and charcuterie (cured or smoked meats)
- Add fruits,nuts,dips and seasonal herbs to add colour to your table
Small dishes with dips, olives and nuts are filling nibbles to use on your grazing table
Tie in your Melbourne cup theme with props like strips of turf and green foliage' .
Have fun with your Melbourne cup theme using 'fake grass' or even wheat grass. Cut up sandwiches and place on turf. Carry on your theming with pops of green by using butter lettuce and containers filled with herbs.
Make sure your grazing table is visual in taste and appeal Like a buffet your grazing table should flow, fill in with greenery, fruit, vegetables and leaves.
Shopping list
- Fresh breads, baguettes, sourdough loaf cut into chunks
- Olives, dips and nuts. Use a combination of green and kalamata olives. Bowls of nuts and dips can be scattered across your tablescape
- Cheeses... invest in good quality cheeses. I love the Meredith goats cheese in herb and olive oil
- Bread sticks, crackers, flavoured biscuits, golden top greek pitas are also delicious
- Fruit, seasonal fruit like strawberries and cherries add a punch of colour. Figs are a wonderful accompaniment to your cheese display
Use seasonal fruits to add glam to your graze!
Sydney Food Stylist is passionate when it comes to creating and photographing 'drool worthy' dishes for brand and businesses. Yael has designed and themed stylish parties and also offers these amazing grazing tables in her services. Follow her journey on instagram #sydneyfoodstylist or get in touch hello@sydneyfoodstylist.com.au