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Trend Spotting: Grazing Boards

Grazing Board with Eggs, Cheese, Charcuterie and Fruits Grazing Board with Eggs, Cheese, Charcuterie and Fruits

At recent count there were about 8.2 million results for a Google search on grazing boards. A foodie work of art, a good grazing board is also a culinary treasure trove of symbiotic snacks. But how exactly does it differ from a cheese board?

Grazing boards often but not always include cheese as well as traditional cheese board accompaniments like cured meats and crudités. Like many cheese platters they may include crackers, condiments, olives, nuts, fresh and dried fruits, veggies and maybe even chocolate. But not all grazing boards actually include cheese and its most common partners. They may even feature assortments of just a few of these items or be limited to an assortment of just fruit or only chocolate foods.

Another key feature of the grazing board is the inclusion of dips and spreads, from jams and caramel sauces to chip dips and hummuses. Like cheese boards, the foods on a grazing board are no-cook and ready to eat, but one differentiating factor is that grazing boards are often composed of bite-sized or individual portions – no cheese knives needed. Delicious and fun foods – including sweet and salty snack foods not often found on a traditional cheese platter, like mini pastries, cookies, potato chips, pretzels and candy – are also increasingly common.

Grazing boards have a particularly artful arrangement that's a little different than a traditional cheese plate, too. It's common to swirl, pile, layer and swoop like foods together with little to no space between the components. Small bowls to hold spoonable or spreadable ingredients are typically nestled between ingredients around the board. With such lovely presentations of colors and textures, grazing boards usually have little to no inedible garnishes and many times no garnishes at all.

Like cheese boards, themes are always fun, with grazing boards providing even more opportunity to branch out to unique occasions. Here are some ideas for your upcoming spring and summer get-togethers:

Grazing Board with Fruit, Cheese and Crackers Grazing Board with Fruit, Cheese and Crackers
  • Mother's Day Brunch or Breakfast – Mini croissants, muffins, scones and other breakfast pastries, assorted fresh berries, jam, hazelnut spread, shortbread, butter, honey and Kowalski's Soft-Ripened Brie Cheese
     
  • Baby or Bridal Shower – Toffees, chocolate bark, Kowalski's Chocolate Covered & Cocoa Dusted Almonds, Kowalski's Deep Dark Hot Fudge Sauce, dried apricots, fresh strawberries, mini cookies, macarons (from the Pastry Case), meringues and Orange-Ginger Marcona Almonds (from the Specialty Cheese Department)
     
  • Prom or Graduation Party – Yogurt-covered pretzels, M&Ms, Kowalski's Candy Popcorn, jelly beans, cheese crackers, Kowalski's Dill Dip, baby carrots, Cheddar cheese cubes, Kowalski's Hunt & Seek Trail Mix, red grapes and gummy worms
     
  • Father's Day Picnic or BBQ – Deviled eggs, Kowalski's Pimento Cheese Spread, pretzel crisps, Kowalski's Grass-Fed Uncured Beef Sticks, Kowalski's Garlic-Stuffed Olives, Kowalski's Signature Salami, Kowalski's Sriracha Hummus, pita chips, watermelon spears and mixed nuts

Selection and availability of products vary by market. 

Photos in this article are courtesy of Brooke Lark.