Spring is a wonderful time to picnic and entertain. Grazing platters tend to feature at almost every occasion these days, and there’s an art to creating them. Central West Mums has reviewed several of the best platters available across the Bathurst, Orange and Mudgee region.
With many of us making the most of the outdoors when the sunshine is smiling upon us, one of the most enticing ways to welcome guests when hosting a party, is to set up a grazing table complemented by your cocktail bar. To further make things simple and convenient, why not order a grazing box and have it delivered all dressed up and ready to go?
I decided to try out several savoury grazing boxes who service Central West pockets; Orange, Bathurst and Mudgee. I chose them based on finding a box around the $50-70 mark (including delivery) and I paid for all of these myself. When you are having a few friends around, this size seemed reasonable for 3-4 people. You can of course order larger boxes from these businesses as well. Many of these businesses also provide a range of options including mixed, sweet and fruit boxes. I have reviewed these taking into consideration how responsive and punctual they were with order and delivery, the presentation, flavour & quality of produce, sustainable packaging and price versus value (in my opinion).
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Grazing box reviews
Graze By V in Bathurst is currently on instagram, however Victoria was by far and away the most responsive and provided very friendly and accomodation service. Most of her ingredients are sourced locally from artisan producers. This was a very family friendly box, something for everyone.
This generous box contained: a packet of biscuits, a handful of grapes, mandarins, strawberries, blueberries dried apricots, baby cucumbers cut into slices, raspberries, and half a passion fruit. There were also a handful of pretzels, Maltesers, choc honeycomb pieces, and raspberry bullets (which I did not request). An individual quince paste was included with a half camembert cheese and some other cheese pieces which were so creamy. There were several slices of delicious salami, ham and prosciutto.
- Small box is $60
- Punctual, arrived on time as per request
- Presentation – Bright, colourful and beautifully packed
- Flavour & quality – 10/10
- Packaging was recyclable product
- Value – Excellent
To order: Insta @graze.by.v
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Red Chilli Deli in Orange were also very responsive to my request to order and a platter and they created a $60 arrangement. This platter has a mediterranean flavour to it with some imported ingredients like cheeses. This platter had a good range of crackers to meats/cheese/dips ratio which I thought gave it a good balance. Three varieties of cheese, a large selection of deli meats, salami, ham and beef with two kinds of crackers, dip and sun dried tomatoes, olives and strawberries. This is a platter that I feel is better suited to adults as some of the meats and crackers had more depth of flavour.
- Small is $60
- Punctual, arrived on time as per request
- Presentation – Balanced, colourful and beautifully arranged
- Flavour & quality – 8/10
- Packaging was a plastic platter which is recyclable back to Red Chilli Deli
- Value – Excellent
To order phone: (02) 6360 1166
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Brie & Oak Grazing delivers to Orange, Nashdale and Borenore. This box included Brie cheese, hard trilogy cheese, beetroot dip, spinach dip, mini fruit, strawberries, chocolate dipped strawberries, blue berries, dried apricots, mixed nuts, shaved ham, salami, olives, dried capsicum, cucumber, mixed seed biscuits, water crackers and some bread. This arrangement of items had a gentle flavour as most of the produce is sourced from Woolworths and Harris Farm with some from local Hillside Orchard. It is family friendly without any overpowering produce in there.
- Small is $65
- Punctual, arrived on time as per request
- Presentation – Neat, thoughtful arranged box
- Flavour & quality – 7/10
- Packaging is a recyclable box
- Value – Good
To order message via Facebook to: Brie & Oak Grazing
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Orange Grazing Co. in Orange took some time to get in touch via email, however once my order was secured, I was very happy with the box that arrived. Local produce is sourced from ‘Cured’ meats (prosciutto was melt in your mouth amazing), country fruit, Fresh Fodder dips, home made quince paste and Harris farm for the cheese. There was a whole brie cheese, a mature cheddar, extremely fresh fruit and olives. My only comment is some more crackers would be wonderful. This is a sophisticated selection and one that will surely impress.
- Small is $70
- Punctual, arrived on time as per request
- Presentation – Stylish arrangement in box
- Flavour & quality – 10/10
- Packaging is a recyclable box
- Value – Excellent
To order phone: 0403 455 517
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Prim & Platter services Central West NSW and East Coast TAS. Ordering appears seamless on their website with several well-priced options to choose from. It had a reasonable variety of items sourced from supermarkets; two cheeses, a dip, olives, salami, crackers, pretzels and berries. Although given I requested a savoury box, some more meats would have been good rather than an assortment of sweets. A gentle flavour which would suit children and adults.
- Small is $55
- Punctual, arrived on time as per request
- Presentation – Pretty branding and creative arrangement
- Flavour & quality – 8/10
- Packaging is a recyclable box
- Value – Very good
To order phone: 0431 563 077
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Olive and Co Grazings is a new business on the block in Orange, and funnily enough I was their first customer! This box was the only one with baguette in it, which I personally love and great texture with the sesame grissini sticks, three cheeses, salami, prosciutto, dip, olives and fruit including pear, kiwi and strawberries. The entire family hoovered this up, it was a thoroughly delicious and enjoyable ‘picnic’ dinner and service was very friendly.
- Small is $70
- Punctual, arrived on time as per request
- Presentation – Fun, colourful and quality produce
- Flavour & quality – 10/10
- Packaging is a recyclable box
- Value – Excellent.
To order, email: oliveandcograzings@gmail.com
