LAFAYETTE, La. — A local small business is making sure that those in Acadiana not wanting to go out for a Valentine’s Day date can still enjoy a unique dinner – in the safety of their home.
Graze Acadiana is a mother-daughter owned business in Lafayette. They specialize in grazing tables and charcuterie boards.
The concept behind this style of food is a mixture of cured meats, nuts, olives, spreads, and cheese...a lot of cheese.
Mandy Osgood, co-owner of the business, says they have served 180 pounds of cheese in the week leading up to Valentine’s Day weekend.
They have implemented curbside pickup, mask-wearing, and a lot of Lysol spraying on their work space to keep things safe for their staff and their clients.
“I’m so thankful that we can give them that opportunity, so they don’t feel like just because I can’t go to a restaurant, or go with friends, I can still have something that’s fun and different, unique and enjoyable,” Osgood said.
The company started out of a love for hosting and entertaining friends and family. They had been making grazing tables for family events, including Osgood's brother’s wedding. Then, they realized that the trend had picked up in Australia to sell the individual boards and platters in a to-go format. This inspired them to launch their own version in Lafayette.
“My mom being more business-minded, and I’m more creative, she said ‘We should do this here, nobody else is doing it,'” explained Osgood.
They take pride in making sure that every component of the platter is where it needs to be.
“That matters so much,” she said. “We spent months planning our packaging, we tried not to settle for anything less of what we think looks pretty.”
The company only uses biodegradable packaging. During the pandemic, being able to secure these items was a challenge.
“Things that you don’t expect to become a challenge have been a challenge,” she stated.
One of the most interesting parts about this style of gastronomy is the fact that everything is cut into small pieces and assembled in a way that encourages the consumer to try new things. Osgood says she has never seen anyone just sit and eat from a platter without wanting to try something new.
For more information, visit grazeacadiana.com.
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