Graze Craze launches in Stoney Creek
The Grays Road shop is the first franchise in Canada, specializing in charcuterie boards and boxes for parties of one, all the way up to large gatherings.
One day, Danielle Parkes said to her husband Michael, “I have an idea, but you need to sit down.” Born and raised in Hamilton and loving life in Stoney Creek for the last 16 years, Parkes had leveraged her business training into a 20-year career, mainly in retail. The valued employee wanted to be her own boss.
While social media can be disparaged, in this case, Instagram tossed up an image and profile that made Parkes stop scrolling. Graze Craze was launching its first location in Canada. Parkes was inspired. Her husband and children were on board, supporting her embrace of an enterprise that was all about “boards” – charcuterie boards.
Graze Craze is aiming to be global with locations in the U.S., Australia, and France, with the Grays Road, Stoney Creek shop being the first in Canada. Its boards and boxes, fit for “grazing” by one or groups of varying sizes, are artful compositions and creative combinations of cured meats, cheeses, dips, crackers, breads, fruits, vegetables, and classic charcuterie accoutrements. Much is sourced locally and dips are made daily in-house. Sandwiches and desserts are also available. Boards are available in versions tailored to dietary preferences such as gluten-free, meat-free, nut-free, or keto. Reasonably sized orders can be prepared same-day with only a few hours’ notice.
Boxes and boards are made from eco-friendly, wood-grained paperboard and sizes range from handheld Char-Cutie-Cups to picnic boxes and small to large boards. Graze Craze is not licensed, but has prepared a helpful booklet with wine pairing tips.
Parkes gets top marks for hospitality and customer service. Typically, people think of charcuterie boards for company, but she has many ideas about situations where they’d be welcome and about who would love them (or a gift card). A Grab & Graze box might even become your favourite office (or work-at-home) lunch or all-day snacking meal.
Parkes recently presented at a Women’s Network panel that focused on women who had “navigated pivots, rebranded their skills, and leaned into reinvention.” To her personal goals, she adds the values of community involvement, giving back, and contributing. Watch for Graze Craze at the weekly Stoney Creek Farmers’ Market and, in the fall, as the new vendor at Hamilton City Hall’s Common House Café.
