I recently used this at a BBQ with other items from the collection, and used it as pictured to hold utensils. It looked great alongside the other galvanized steel items, and helped keep cutlery organized. The little buckets do, in fact, come out from the tray, and have holes in the bottom so you could use them as planters if you wanted. I actually took the buckets out and used the tray for condiments, which worked really well.