Dinner parties can be daunting. The work and the formality often puts off both hosts and guests alike. A grazing shindig, however, consisting of a myriad of small plates, creates a casual, fun atmosphere that makes it easy for guests to mingle without the confines of a traditional sit down.
Set the Scene: First, create an inviting, casual space to better promote mixing. Provide comfy groups of chairs, serving trays at a central locale or spread throughout, and assorted tables to place drinks on or congregate around.
Add a Dash of Color: Choose a fun color theme and let it run throughout with floral arrangements, cloth napkins and, for ease, paper plates. The food itself will add just the right amount of complementary hues when you vary lettuce greens, vegetables and fruit.
Savvy Self-Service: Create quick height differences for displaying and serving of tapas-style samples by flipping over serving bowls and placing platters atop. Use colorful tongs and oversized spoons and forks for easy access.
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Variety is the Key Ingredient: Choose mostly cold dishes as they are easy to refill and don’t require warming trays. A good rule of thumb is one hot dish to every three cold. Lean toward bite-size selections that are easy to eat standing or sitting. Make sure all dietary needs are satisfied by having a nice mix of vegan dishes to cheese and meat platters. Keep ingredients simple and flavors bold. Think bruschetta, gourmet cheeses, prosciutto and melon, artisanal potato chips and grilled shrimp.
Join the Party: Remember to have fun! The best part of grazing-style dinner party is that you are free to mingle.
