Do you plan on hosting a fabulous holiday party this year? Wow your guests with a beautiful spread and delicious food this holiday season!
At Table & Thyme, we love creating unique and unforgettable displays of food and decor to mark a number of special occasions! Of course, the holidays are a great opportunity to test out these designing skills, and if we can offer any advice on curating an unforgettable experience, we are glad to do so! In order to do the season justice, we’ve gone through some of the events we’ve worked on in the past to show you examples of elements that can help to make your holiday party an unmatched experience! Filled with grace, elegance, and style, find exactly what you’re looking for in Table & Thyme’s 2021 holiday grazing table inspiration guide!
If you’re hoping to get your guests in the festive, holiday mood, you have to create the right environment! A table filled with seasonal food is only that, but a table filled with seasonal food and seasonal decor? That’s an entirely new level of fun! This holiday season, why not spruce up your grazing table with some aromatic spruce needles, pinecones, and maybe a few tiny ornaments to conjure the spirit of the season! Florals and botanicals are always a good go to for filling in empty spaces on event tables, so seasonal florals like poinsettia, holly berries, and red, velvety roses are great alongside candlelight and delicate tablecloths and linens.
One of our favorite elements of our gourmet grazing tables is the expansive selection of finger foods and unique soft appetizers. We particularly enjoy placing a diverse range of fresh fruits and vegetables, which can easily fit within a seasonal framework. For the holidays, why not opt for more rich flavor and color varieties of produce such as pomegranate, squash, and fig? We also suggest adding some savory bites into the mix with tangy olives, colorful beet hummus, and baked brie with an unlimited selection of toppings! Top it with fruit and honey or sun-dried tomatoes and olive tapenade! A great grazing table will also sport the basics of any good charcuterie board, such as aged meats, hard and soft cheeses, mixed nuts, and even homemade breads! These are easy and effortless ways to elevate your menu for your holiday event, so don’t be afraid to mix and match!
Before moving into the entrées, it’s a good idea to provide a few heavier appetizers. Luckily, this is where you can expand your creative culinary skills! These are slightly more complex than the soft appetizers shared above, but still not quite hearty enough to constitute being an entrée. That’s not to say these dishes have to be intense, rather they are strategic dishes composed of flavors that complement each other all together in a single bite! Caprese salad with balsamic vinegar, bacon wrapped string beans, steak and bacon bites, toast topped with shredded brussel sprouts on a bed of ricotta cheese, quinoa and sweet potato stuffed acorn squash, and dinner rolls with pesto dip are all great examples of holiday appetizers that are sure to elevate your evening!
If you are a strong cook, this is your moment to shine! The entrée will probably serve as the centerpiece to your grazing table, and depending on the dish you prepare, can impact the way guests interact with your grazing table throughout the evening! In our experience, opting for entrees that can be prepared in a single-serve fashion is much more practical for events with a large number of guests. Not only does it help to occupy empty space on the grazing table, but it aids in creating a system of ease for guests to come and go from the table, grabbing food items they want without creating blockades. Braised beef ribs or glazed fried chicken are a few examples of entrees prepared in this way, but you can also prepare dishes such as glazed ham or roasted turkey that can be placed as the centerpiece for your event!
The holiday season is particularly sweet, with it being characterized by a collection of delicious desserts! Similar to our recommendation for entrees, desserts that can be prepared and served in a single serve fashion are oftentimes more practical in event settings. Examples of these kinds of tasty treats are red velvet cookies dusted with powdered sugar, or even chocolate dipped and cream-filled cookie sandwiches! Or, desserts like berry bread pudding can accompany your tantalizing holiday spread and satisfy every guest’s sugar craving!
Aside from having a variety of irresistible dishes and foods, it’s important for guests to have something to sip on that complements the food on the grazing table. Having options for guests to choose from is always a good idea, but here is a guide for wine pairings that can never go wrong!
Red Wine- beef, sausage, and bold meats
White Wine- fish, chicken, and light-flavored meats
Rosé- salad, salmon, and duck
Champagne- citrus, seafood, and cheeses
You can also use this opportunity to create a unique cocktail for your event if you’re on the adventurous side! Check out these helpful tips for creating your own drink concoction!
Hopefully, with these tips and tricks, you have the inspiration and tools you need to create a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable holiday grazing table this holiday season! We are so intrigued to see how your events turn out, so if you used this guide to plan your holiday festivities, share your experience with us!
For more information on Table and Thyme, contact them today! Follow us on our social media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest to see the other amazing events, lavishing grazing tables and beautiful graze boxes we have created.