06/04/2026
Hi Friends,
Itâs Tracy and Mandy.
Warning: Long Sappy Post
Weâre writing today with something personal. â a little bit of our story, and a heartfelt plea as we head into the summer months.
How It Started
In 2019, we opened Graze Acadiana as Lafayetteâs first cheese & charcuterie shop â one of only a handful in the entire country at the time. We spent those early days teaching Acadiana what a graze board even was, driving around town giving them away just to introduce the idea.
You welcomed us into your homes, your holidays, your celebrations. You helped us grow into a household name, and we are forever grateful.
Sometimes we laugh because it feels like weâre living 2019 all over again. And now we are pouring free shots of olive oil, offering tastings, teaching, sharing, and introducing Acadiana to something healthier.
Weâre trusting that, just like before, our community will embrace it.
Why We Didnât Add Wine
When we expanded into a bigger space, everyone assumed wine was next. But it never felt right for us â not for our values, not for our employees, and not for the direction we felt called to go. We wanted something that truly mattered.
Our Health Journey
Around that time, our family was facing autoimmune issues and some other health concerns that forced us to take a hard look at what we were eating. The idea of âchanging everythingâ felt overwhelming. And we honestly didn't have the time or energy for it.⌠until we discovered something simple, powerful, and backed by real science: premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Aged Balsamic Vinegar.
Not the grocery store kind.
Not the âolive oilâ that isnât actually olive oil.
But fresh, cold pressed, chemically tested, ultra premium oils â the kind
proven in study after study to support heart health, inflammation, longevity,
and overall wellness.
The more we learned, the more we knew:
This was the path we were meant to take.
We Didnât Add Wine, We added EVOO
And So, Graze Oil Was Born- We took classes, studied chemistry, learned harvest seasons, vetted suppliers, and committed to one philosophy:
If it isnât premium, we wonât carry it.
Today, Graze Acadiana is home to Acadianaâs first Olive Oil Tasting Bar â over 60 premium EVOOs and balsamics where you can sample and learn how to use. We also built GrazeOil.com so you can read, learn, shop, and explore recipes anytime.
About Our Emails
We donât send many.
We donât want to spam you or feel too âsalesy.â
Our goal is simple:
To inspire healthier living, share what weâre learning, offer recipes and tips,
and keep you connected to whatâs new.
Now⌠Our Heartfelt Plea
Summer is the hardest season for small businesses.
Every year, we enter these months hoping we can make it through â hoping the
holiday season was strong enough to carry us, hoping we can keep our doors open and our employees paid. We donât pay ourselves.
We work harder in the slow months than we do in the busy ones.
And weâre not alone â every small business you love is fighting the same fight.
So weâre asking, from the bottom of our hearts:
⢠Please visit us this summer for Graze Boards or Graze Oils
⢠Please shop in store or online
⢠Please follow both Graze Acadiana & Graze Oil
⢠Please share our posts
⢠Please forward our emails
⢠Please tell a friend about the tasting bar and charcuterie boards
⢠Please think of us when youâre gifting, celebrating, or cooking.
Every visit, every order, every share truly matters.
Thank you for loving us, supporting us, and walking this journey with us.
We are here because of you.
With deep gratitude,
Tracy, Mandy & The Graze Team
