The Most Impressive Holiday Grazing Boards Start With an Online Order

We’ve teamed up with FreshDirect to help with this year's holiday menus. From grazing boards and hors d'oeuvres to dinner party entrees and show-stopping desserts, FreshDirect has the essentials to keep things stress-free for anyone hosting this season. Order online or via their app to shop your go-to groceries.

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Whether you’re throwing a potluck, gathering for carols, decorating cookies, or pulling out all the stops for the holiday party to end all holiday parties, no celebration is complete without a well-executed grazing board. While I love snacks of all varieties, a grazing board isn’t just about throwing some cheese on a platter and calling it a day. There’s an art to putting them together in a way that’s cohesive, suits everyone’s dietary needs, and of course, looks Instagramable. This may seem like many elements to consider, but fear not, by starting with an online order from FreshDirect you’ve taken out half the work.

Read on for our top five tips and tricks for creating the perfect holiday grazing board.

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1. Cheese, Please

The first thing I scan when I’m scoping out a snack selection is the assortment of cheeses. As an equal-opportunity cheese lover, I can get on board (sorry, I had to!) with just about any cheese, but for a grazing platter it’s all about curating the right selection. A good rule of thumb is to have at least three different types of cheeses at a minimum. Consider a mix of cheese types by region and animal variety, like cow, goat, and sheep, as well as an assortment of shapes that can add visual interest.

If you need some inspiration, I love a trio with Gruyère d'Alpage Jeux de Quilles, Choco 21 Blue Cheese, and Nettle Meadow Kunik, Button, which conveniently can all be ordered from FreshDirect. Pro tip: Set cheese out 30 minutes before guests arrive to let them come to room temperature. It’s one less thing to do as your friends pile in, and it’s easier to cut and slice the cheese.

2. Buff Out the Board

While you can totally make a board just focusing on cheese, adding some sort of meat and fish is an easy way to really create something extra-festive. Tinned fish has taken the country by storm—and for good reason. It’s a super affordable option when you’re looking for a quick meal, and it’s an easy addition to a grazing board.

A nice tin of anchovies, pickled mussels, or Conservas de Cambados Octopus in Olive Oil are all solid options. To spare yourself a dish, just serve them straight out of the tin. I like putting out a charcuterie, like Brooklyn Cured Uncured Hot Soppressata and MeatCrafters Sliced Duck Breast Prosciutto. And while fanning out salami always looks good, when it comes to prosciutto, I tend to get a bit more creative and ruffle it together to create something that almost looks like a flower.

3. Something Salty

Have you ever seen a grazing board without some type of salty, briny ingredients? I didn’t think so. As much as I love cheese and meat, it’s important to have a few items to cut the richness and add some acidity and saltiness to the spread. Olives are always a must (my go-to is Big Picture Foods Organic Greek Whole Olives Mix), but cornichon and caper berries work, too.

4. On the Sweeter Side

To balance out all the salty snacks, I recommend adding a few nibbles on the sweeter side, like a combination of fresh and dried fruit. Grapes are a classic snack board staple, but I like to take it up a notch with Grapery Moon Drops Grapes. They have a unique shape and smooth texture which always elevate the look. Dried apricots, dates, and Loi Authentic Mediterranean Sun-Dried Figs are all great options. Adding little bowls with honey and jam is another great way to add a bit of sweetness, too.

5. Put it All Together

The only thing left to consider is what you want to offer as a vessel to scoop it all up with. You can’t go wrong with a classic baguette, but I find that adding unexpected options like Eli's Bread Sliced Raisin Pecan Bread or slices of dense pumpernickel are always a hit. When it comes to crackers, once again consider how the different textures, flavors, and shapes add interest to your selection.

Firehook Organic Mediterranean Baked Crackers are always a staple since they go with everything and are a real crowd-pleaser. Depending on what I have on my board, I also love putting out Ritz, water crackers, and even rice crackers. Since bread and crackers take up a lot of room on the board, I only put out a handful at a time and keep refilling as the night goes on.

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How do you like to build out your grazing board? Let us know below!

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