Kmart kicks off new ‘1 ingredient’ food trend going viral in 2025
The budget retailer has got behind a much easier and cheaper version of a popular food trend.
Food
Don't miss out on the headlines from Food. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s 2025, and the grazing platter trend is well and truly here to stay.
But if you’re sick of the hassle of neatly folding prosciutto and arranging slices of cheese, you’re in luck – because there’s a new iteration of the trend and it promises to be easier, cheaper and way less fuss.
According to Kmart’s head home buyer, Nicholas Holmes, entertaining this year is all about minimalism, and taking a more pared-back approach.
“I start by styling a table with a large central piece,” he shared last week at the launch of Kmart’s February Living range.
“Using fresh cuttings from the garden and adding them to a vase adds height to the table. Just make sure you position it off to the side so it doesn’t get in the way.”
Next, he said that Kmart’s new line of tablecloths and serving boards provide an excellent base for your set up.
The $10 Natural Stripe Tablecloth is already quickly becoming a favourite, as is the $16 Round Paddle Acacia Board.
The 2 Tier Acacia Serving Stand, $20, is also set to be a winner, perfect for displaying tarts, brownies or other finger-food.
How to create an on-trend grazing platter
When mixing and matching timbers, Mr Holmes emphasised the importance of using unique shapes and heights to create a seamless yet stylish look.
And here’s where the trend takes a new twist.
He suggests focusing on fewer, larger ingredients instead of the intricate arrangements of platters in the past that had lots of small items mixed together on the same plate.
“This new approach of creating bountiful and beautiful displays is fantastic for entertaining,” said Sammy Jakubiak, owner of Frank’s Deli in Waverley, Sydney.
Ms Jakubiak, who was the winner of My Kitchen Rules in 2011, is currently loving the ‘butter tower’ trend, where guests can dip their breads or raw vegetables.
“For me, a grazing table is the easiest way to entertain because much of the prep can be done in advance. Everything can be pre-plated, including cheeses, salami, and cured meats, allowing them to sit out without a worry about freshness,” she explained.
“You can prepare the table half an hour before your guests arrive and then enhance the set up in the last few minutes. The key is to focus on one or two beautiful ingredients per plate instead of overcomplicating the platter with too many items.”
She also likes including small pastries or vol-au-vents that can be pre-made and warmed up before serving.
A large wedge of parmesan cheese, crumbled into bite-sized pieces, is another favourite of hers.
“Even when entertaining a large group of 50 to 100 people, you can still enjoy using the cheese for up to six months afterwards if stored correctly. It’s fine to leave it out for a few hours since it’s cured, and you can always refrigerate it after serving.”
Grapes are another way she likes to add visual interest and an artistic touch to a grazing board.
“They look almost like a still life scattered across the table,” she noted.
She also mentioned that you can dry grapes to create raisins, which can later be used on cheese boards.
Lastly, she said she loves using jars for multi-tasking – they can store herbs or serve as decorative accents to grazing tables.
The grazing platter trend is popping up at weddings
The trend of serving large, abundant portions has been gaining traction in recent years, especially at weddings.
Couples are now choosing a “less is more” approach to grazing tables on their big day, according to Wedshed.
The publication dubbed the trend “clustering,” and described it as “placing different types of grazing foods together en masse.”
Instead of mixing everything on one board, you might find a large bowl dedicated entirely to olives, a plate piled high with figs, or a section showcasing an array of nuts.
This not only helps to organise the food but also transforms the grazing table into a striking styling feature (read: photo opportunity) in its own right.
It provides a clean, luxurious look that aligns with the larger trend of effortless and family-style hosting.
Restaurants are also embracing this new dining style
In hospitality, this single-ingredient serving trend has been embraced by trendy restaurants like Tottis in Bondi.
Diners can order a plate of sardines, prosciutto, cucumbers, melons, zucchinis, and mushrooms – all on separate plates, and of course, that famous wood-fired bread.
The menu is designed to mimic a grazing board or picnic, and is intended to be shared.
The history of grazing boards can be traced back to ancient civilisations, such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, who enjoyed lavish platters filled with meats, cheeses, fruits, and bread.
This new bountiful grazing board trend draws more inspiration from these historical platters than from the more recent practice of meticulously arranging food on cheese platters.
Will you be trying out this new trend? Tell us in the poll above.
Originally published as Kmart kicks off new ‘1 ingredient’ food trend going viral in 2025
Woolies stripped bare in ‘never seen Aus first’
A Woolies store has closed down after Coles purchased the property in a bold retail deal that has left Aussies stunned.
$5 Kmart meal item Australians love
A nifty contraption from Kmart promises to shred chicken “in seconds” with little mess or clean up required.