What do you want/expect in a relish tray? (Updated for 2012, post #49)

[hawing]

OK, silly question here...the S.O.'s family has assigned us a "relish tray" to bring for Christmas Eve dinner.  The extent of the instructions says, "Relish tray (olives etc.)."  I haven't paid attention to what typically appears at this family gathering because frankly, I usually see the olives, say bleah to myself and move on to other foods.   The S.O. is less detail oriented than I am and does not have any ideas either.

 

So what else would you put in a relish tray?  What do you like?  I'm open to trying your suggestions and if the S.O.'s family dumps on it, blaming some anonymous guys on the internet.  http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif 

 

Thanks in advance.  (I'm hoping some of you visiting this weekend for the Greinkewatch will stop by and comment.)

[TooLiveBrew]

All I have to add is that the thread title's seriousness made me giggle. I just imagine you berating, until you're red in the face, a relish tray that didn't live up to your expectations, hawing.

YOU'RE WORTHLESS!

[logan82]

What the heck is a relish tray? The only relish I know of is the pickle relish I put on brats. So I would like to see brats on a relish tray. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

[pitchleague]

pickles (sweet, dill, gerkins), olives (black, green, garlic-stuffed), cheese (cubes, curds, slices), meat (sliced, nuggets, smoked, jerky), and then something sweet like little cookies or petit-forts or something.

 

 

Okay, that's all I got.

 

(toolive, that's too funny!)

[hawing]

What the heck is a relish tray?

Thank you! Apparently "Relish tray (olives etc)" is supposed to be enough for me to figure out what exactly they want.

 

This assignment came from the same household that laid a guilt trip on the S.O. two Christmases ago when it was snowy/icy and he decided not to make the drive to Kenosha. "It's not that bad here!" (apparently not caring that we had several snowier counties to drive through before getting "here") Excuse us for wanting to stay out of a ditch on Christmas Eve. So I probably would be at least mildly berated if I called to ask what the heck they expect in a relish tray.

 

We'll put something together and they'll have to like it. I think as long as there are black olives for the kids to put on their fingers, it'll be OK.

However, since replies so far have been entertaining, keep them coming! even if it is borne of Greinkewatch excitement.

[Invader3K]

Olives, pickles, carrots, cauliflower, possibly some dip.

[endaround]

Do they want this to be a crudites vegetable tray? Or is it just a bunch of salty and sweet/sour pickles? I'd say get some olives, some pickles (likely two varities) and just to make life good throw some these on there

http://www.foodnetwork.co...ackers-recipe/index.html

[trwi7]

You're way too nice hawing. Just put some stuff on a tray, if they don't like it, too bad.

[JoeHova]

I have to say that this is one of the more intriguing thread titles I can remember seeing. I've never heard of a relish tray so anything would meet my expectations. You say the family expects olives. I know a lot of grocery stores have "olive bars", where they sell various olives by the pound. I don't really like olives so I've never looked real closely at what they tend to have, but maybe buy a few varieties from one of those and a couple jars of pickles. Unless they mean crudites like endaround surmised. To conclude, sorry they expect you to bring something you know little about. That seems kind of unreasonable.

[JoeHova]

I googled around and found a site where people have suggestions. Hope that helps.

[Funketown]

Epic title. I'm just picturing a fight breaking out over this. At my family's gatherings, we usually had basic dill pickles, cheap black and green olives, along with veggies and dill dip.

 

If I were you, I'd just hit an olive bar and grab a few things. Maybe some pickles as well. Basically I just think brined/pickled/salty when I think relish tray.

[TooLiveBrew]

endaround, Principessa tried out that Firecrackers recipe you linked. Alton Brown is to be trusted in general, but we haven't gotten to eat them yet.

[craigharmann]

I like relish on my relish tray.....but I prefer cheese and meat trays to relish trays. Relish trays are a little too fru-fru for my liking. Give me meat and cheese, chips and dip, and I'm good to go. Especially pigs in a blanket. I'm telling ya, I could eat my weight in those things....and I'm not a little man.

[JimH5]

To me a relish tray must include the essentials:

 

Pitted Black Olives

Small Pimento Stuffed Olives

Small Sweet Pickles

Small Dill Pickles

 

Then you can do more. . .Greek Olive Mix, Pickled Beets, Cocktail Onions, Giardinera Pepper Mix, Sun Dried Tomatoes marinated in olive oil. . .

 

It should be served on a divided tray, with each category in its own little compartment.

 

To me, if you show up with that, you'll have met any social obligations where you are required to provide a relish tray.

[mothershipconnection]

My family has had radish slices on their relish tray for at least the 30 years I've observed.

[GAME05]

i'm already excited to see Hawing's future relish-tray avatar.

[hawing]

Do you think Zack Greinke will do interviews with the Milwaukee media this week? Because maybe someone could sneak in a question about his favorite holiday relish-tray eats. I am certain if I put together a Greinke-approved relish tray, it would be permanently above criticism. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[bork]

Some things my relatives usually include on a relish tray: Various types of pickles and olives, pickled beets, herring, that sour 3 bean salad. Veggies, meats and cheeses are typically different trays, not on a relish tray, unless they're pickled, high sodium, or sweet/sour.

[RockCoCougars]

Whatever Pick 'N Save deems fit to include.

[Beerambassador]

Definitely need to include those mini ears of corn. Those are my favorite.

[dadofandrew]

I never touch anything on the relish tray, and neither do half the guests. You'd win a lot of fans if you took a tiny veggie tray and also a tray with cheese, meat, crackers, and some kind of cream cheese dip. And, deviled eggs. At our office party last week, no fewer than 10 people complained the deviled eggs were gone before they got to the table (potluck, someone brought a dozen).

[LouisEly]

How about a little celery stuffed with cream cheese cut into 1/2" sections in addition to the pickle and olive varieties?

 

Oh yeah, and some Lil' Smokies on mini-buns (or bread) with relish on them.

[TooLiveBrew]

Man, that lil' smokies idea sounds delicious.

[hawing]

You know, we never have a good excuse to buy lil' smokies. Maybe now we do...except we will be driving two hours with this relish tray masterpiece and we would not be able to keep the smokies warm.

 

I don't know how I'll incorporate these great ideas by Friday.

[GAME05]

Whatever Pick 'N Save deems fit to include.

Beer 'N Brat mustard? it's buy 2 get 1 free, ya know.