How-to style the perfect breakfast grazing table

A breakfast grazing table is the perfect solution for those who are sick of all the planning that goes into an evening of festivities?

Constructing a grazing table can be as intimidating as they are mouth-watering. Here are a few easy tips that are sure to make your grazing table look like it was created by the pros.

SIZE MATTERS

To style a grazing table it’s important to have different sized elements. If all your components are small it tends to look messy, and if they’re all large it will be hard to fit everything together.

Below are some ideas of what to include on a breakfast grazing table.

Bigger bits

• Waffles

• Clusters of grapes

• Croissants

• Halved coconuts

• Bowls of yoghurt/berries/granola

• Pots of honey

Smaller bits(use these as fillers between the bigger items)

• Berries

• Fruit

• Mini muffins

• Granola (loose)

CREATE HEIGHT

Your platter will look more abundant if it seems like there are layers – everything on a flat surface will look one dimensional and lacklustre! You can achieve the Illusion of layers by using bowls, stacking crockery, using tall bottles or jars, or adding some flowers or greenery.

MAKE CLUSTERS

Create little pockets of ingredients and repeat these across the table. For example, instead of scattering blueberries across the table, which can look quite messy, add a cluster of blueberries in one spot and another cluster on the other side to visually balance it out.

BUILDING STEP-BY-STEP

Step 1.Choose your serving platter. You could opt to use the table top or a wooden or marble chopping board.

Step 2.Separate your items into sizes - large, medium and small.

Step 3.Begin by arranging the larger items. It doesn’t matter if there is space between them as you will fill this in later. It is good to have a focus spot – the largest bowl could be what all the other items surround. Don’t forget to add height at this point – try elevating your bowls or adding a small posy of flowers.

Step 4.Start filling in some of the spaces with medium sized items, such as little pots of honey or yoghurt, waffles, pancakes – the list goes on…

Step 5.Fill in the remaining gaps with the smaller items. Clusters of berries, granola and halved kiwi-fruit are useful here.

Hint. Make sure you have spread the elements evenly across the platter. This is to make sure that everyone has a sample of everything within reach and to balance out the colours on the platter.