What’s better than walking into a wedding just to be met by a table overflowing with meticulously organized curated salamis, artisan cheeses, crackers, honey, fruits, berries, and more locally sourced delicacies? Or to be greeted by a perfectly Instagrammable, number-shaped charcuterie board filled with hand-selected charcuterie ingredients at a birthday party. Delicious, aesthetically pleasing, and the perfect centerpiece for any event…we’ll take ten!
What started as a hobby and eventual party staple at Graze owner Samantha Lewis’ house has transformed amidst the pandemic into a successful (and tasty) Lancaster business. Graze is an artisanal charcuterie shop that specializes in creating impressive, personalized charcuterie boards, grazing tables, and curating a fine combination of meats, cheeses and fruits, among other foods, for each arrangement.
Lewis has been creating curated boards for almost three years, and recently launched her business online. In September, Lewis quietly opened her storefront. She plans to use the space as a place to meet with couples about their weddings and host charcuterie crafting courses.
“I went from taking a couple orders a week in my home basement to being booked weeks out and now having my own store front,” said Lewis.
Lewis utilizes social media to promote her business and to foster relationships with other local businesses.
“Instagram is so great for this! I would reach out to other small businesses and offer them a sampling of what I do. In exchange, we would share each other’s businesses on social media and eventually start working together! I love to support other local small businesses,” said Lewis.
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Scrolling through Graze’s Instagram, their local business partnerships are abundant and apparent. Fresh flowers from Olivia’s Flower Truck and recently harvested figs from Off The Beaten Path Nursery are just a few of the local shops that Graze has relationships with. Lewis loves to change the foods she uses seasonally, so the ability to experiment with new foods and flowers for her displays are one of the joys of her job.
Social media was also critical for Graze thriving throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers were able to order from Graze online, and Lewis offered boards that could be picked up contactlessly from her porch.
“People really missed going out on dates, so I created the Date Night Board, and that was my most popular during COVID! I was very fortunate that COVID did not affect my business,” said Lewis.
A Date Night Board is a mini charcuterie board for two, which features chocolate dipped strawberries, meats, and cheeses, and can even be customized. For smaller servings, she offers the Adult Lunchable, which is just like the classic lunch staple but is instead filled with artisan cheeses, meats, crackers, honey, chocolate, and fruit. Another favorite—the well-loved charcuterie numbers and letters—measure eight or 16 inches, so they can be completely customized depending on size of the crowd. Boards are offered in all shapes and sizes and for a variety of events.
When choosing what to use in the boards, Lewis has a system.
“I try to give a good variety so there is something for everyone! I make sure to use a soft cheese, semi soft [cheese], and a hard [cheese]. I put so much stuff on my boards so you can basically sample things in so many different ways and find what you like!”
Lewis listens closely to client feedback and is sure to use ingredients that people love again in future boards.
Charcuterie boards are delicious, trendy, and offer something for everyone! Check out Graze in Lancaster today!
