We talk the graze-craze with Tapas Addict

As a city of food lovers, Perth is quick to pick up on Australia’s latest fads in food. With our love of premium produce, it's no wonder gourmet grazing tables and picnic platters have become one of the latest rages to take over the city. Ebony Talon, Founder of Tapas Addict, creates show-stopping platters for special events across Perth (the proof is in the pictures). With that in mind, we caught up with Ebony to talk the graze craze, food fetishes, and everything local … we’re drooling just thinking about it!  

So tell us a bit about Tapas Addict! How did it all start?

Well, I’ve always been a foodie. I used to make platters all the time for me and my family.  Anyway,  my boyfriend and I were throwing a housewarming party, and I got a bit of inspiration online and made a grazing table.  Everyone was raving about it, taking photos, and it all just kicked off from there. My friends started asking me to prepare grazing tables for events and it became really popular on my Instragram.  It’s been unreal how much support I’ve had from people!  

How did you come up with the name ‘tapas addict’?

We always used to go out for little bits and pieces for breakfast and lunch. It just kind of flowed at the time—it went really well with what I was doing before the whole grazing table trend came about, and the name just stuck!  

What would be the main benefit of enlisting the help of tapas addict as opposed to making a grazing table on your own?

The main thing is the convenience—I buy all the products, set it all up, and then I come back and take it all away at the end! It’s super easy and not messy at all! And it means the host gets to spend more time with guests - they can literally just get ready and enjoy the night. It’s also a really good conversation starter. I normally set the grazing tables up in the middle of the room, and people always chat about it saying it looks too good to eat!  

What kind of events do you cater for?  

I get lots of interest for engagement parties, birthdays, baby showers and work functions…and hens parties are also massive. I have visual portfolios of platters so clients can choose from lots of different options! I recently set up a picnic platter for a couple celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary— I always wanted to get into preparing picnics, and it was so much fun!  

Where abouts in Perth do you call home?  

I moved to Vic Park last year…it just has everything! It’s close to the markets, the cafés, the city, and it’s not too far from Freo. Seeing the new venues pop up here, it’s really coming along. The Balmoral is just an awesome pub with great food, and we’re always getting coffees at The Precint. We’re moving to Sydney soon, so I’m really excited to meet some suppliers and build a network over there! I hear there’s loads of places for meats and cheeses…  

Where would you go to eat in Perth before Tapas Addict became a sensation?

We used to mainly go out for breakfast. Bib and Tucker has some really nice tasting plates, and it’s right near the water and the beach. Anywhere where there’s a mix is great. The Cott has some really tasty chilled platters and breads. We mostly go to the markets and try all the different food stalls, but we pretty much eat everywhere!

Which food are you hands down addicted to?  

Bread! I’m talking fresh Turkish bread, straight out the oven. There’s a Turkish place right across the road in the shopping centre, and I go there every Saturday (sometimes for my clients, sometimes for me)! Nothing beats when you get it home and it’s still warm. I try not to eat it a lot, but you can’t resist! It just goes with anything—cheese, Nutella, hummus, on its own…

What’s the biggest platter you’ve done to date?

I made a platter for a client who was hosting a rooftop engagement party—it was really cool. There were 180 people coming, so that was probably the biggest one I’ve done to date. I brought my Mum along for a bit of help! The wind was crazy, but it was really cruisy and such a nice night.  

How would you describe Perth to someone who’s never been here?

That’s a hard one. It’s just the Perth vibe—there’s nothing better than driving down the coast on a sunny day. You can’t beat that feeling…it’s so beautiful and relaxed.  

If you could change one thing about Perth, what would it be?  

This isn't something you can change, but it would be awesome if Perth wasn’t so far away from everything! We just got back from England, and the travel to get back here is massive! The price of flights can be a bit ridiculous, and just dealing with the time difference is really hard! 

Do you have a favourite place to go for a night out in Perth?

I love anywhere where you can start early and go for a few drinks in the afternoon. Any bars with good vibes and sun, like the Raffles or the Cott.

What’s your drink of choice on a night out?

Vodka lime soda every time! I know it’s boring, but I can drink it all night and still avoid the post-day hangs!  

Take a look at Tapas Addict on Instagram to check out some of Ebony’s latest showstopper platters!