So, you want to look like a domestic legend for your next lot of guests…

If the thought of preparing food for guests freaks you out a little, please meet our guide to grazing platters – otherwise known as the little platter weapons of delicious destruction that will make you look like a fancy pants gourmet traveller type that spends hours in the kitchen preserving your own home made something or other…

The humble antipasto platter has been given a dramatic makeover – sayonara tasty cheese  and cabana skewers (yuk!).  Hello modern, stylish grazing platters that you can casually  pick on, glass of wine in hand, while pondering life’s big questions with your friends and family (like what Gilmore Girls ep are you up to on Netflix?).

Many a time I have had a little grazing platter ready to distract my visitors from the fact the roast is still not done or the table isn’t quite set – none the wiser, the poor suckers are too busy stuffing themselves with d’Affinois and strawberries to notice the impending chaos that is basically me entertaining…

So here are our rules for grazing…

• The first rule is, there are no rules! You can make your grazing plate as simple or as elaborate as you like – it’s all up to you and your budget
• Keep it simple when there are only a couple of guests, all you may need is some strawberries, a wedge of brie and some sea salt crackers arranged casually on a cheeseboard and you’re done!
• A wooden cheeseboard is the perfect foundation to your grazing plate – looks rustic and hey you probably already have one, right?
• Don’t be afraid to combine different flavors – an old Italian antipasto favorite has been cantaloupe wedges wrapped with slices of prosciutto – sweet, salty, delicious and a little retro!
• If you have dinner cooking in the kitchen, make your platter simple and small as you don’t want your guests to fill up before their main meal
• Work within your budget – some cheeses, cured meats and preserved small goods can be quite pricey. You only need small wedges of cheese and a few rolled slices of marinated eggplant to make a great impression.
• Ask your local deli for assistance – let them know you are after some items to make a little grazing plate and they will offer some items you may not have tried in the past.

Shopping List – Our Favourite Grazing Platter Items

I like to mix things up and include both a hard and soft cheese on my platters. Some favourite soft cheeses include Brie, Camembert, goats cheese, blue vein to name a few. Can’t live without d’Affinois Bleu…an entire wedge may or may not have been consumed during the writing of this blog…As far as hard cheeses go try pecorino, cheddar, Provolone, Edam, Swiss and whatever else tickles your fancy! Have always loved Pecorino Chilli for a subtle and spicy Italian twist.

If you would like to include cured meats you cannot go wrong with some thinly sliced Prosciutto – this can be lazily placed on your platter or wrapped around cantaloupe slices or grissini sticks. There are so many meats to choose from – it will depend on your guests and your personal taste as to what cured meats to include, if any.

Antipasto – so many items to choose from and too many favourites to name but here are a few: semi sun dried tomatoes, grilled eggplants, roasted capsicum, baby octopus, bell peppers stuffed with goats cheese, caramelised figs, olives of many many different varieties….all these items are available at good delis and Mediterranean supermarkets. You can often find jarred versions of marinated artichoke hearts for instance at any local supermarket. Around 95% of the time my platters include some quince or fig paste – Maggie Beer’s brand is my preferred and widely available.

Crackers or some crusty bread is essential. I mentioned ‘Grissini’ earlier –  thin, long crackers perfect for wrapping with prosciutto and lovely on their own too. In writing this, I have discovered Valley Seed Crisps in a Fig and Olive variety by the Valley Produce Company. They are the dark crackers that appear in the pics here. Absolutely delicious and definitely a new favourite to accompany some blue vein and quince paste…drool! I always have a packet of ‘Gourmet Provisions’ Cracked Black Pepper Crackers in the pantry too – just as delicious with some provolone and marinated olives as with some peanut butter to keep certain little people busy while trying to create the perfect platter.

Grapes, strawberries, blueberries and figs are also great accompaniments to cheese and can help your platter to look ‘fuller’ – know what I mean? Very useful to fill in the gaps and add colour and a seasonal aspect.

Have a great time creating grazing sensations for your next round of guests!

Psst…here are a few of our favourite stockists of gourmet deli items:

  Leo’s Fine Food and Wine

  Plaza Deli, (Northcote)

  DOC Delicatessen and Produce Store, (Mornington)