“We believe that good food and good company help to fuel a positive and healthy lifestyle.”
Some people see food as, well… food! But Kayley and Tyler Adams, owners of Essential Eats Grazing, LLC, see food as a way to bring people together and a way to change lives.
“No matter what life throws at you,” says chef and business founder Kayley, “at the end of the day, we all have to eat. Everybody. Every culture, every race, every person. It truly is essential.
“But eating can be so much more than simply taking in nutrition. Whether you’re gathering with your loved ones or business associates, getting married, or going on a first date – it can be a meaningful event that leaves a lasting impression.”
At their new cafe & catering kitchen, located on South 7 Highway, Kayley and Tyler take “grab & go” dining to the next level, with seasonal salads and fresh dressings, gourmet soups, assorted sandwiches on croissants or as wraps, plus sweets, gluten-free goods, quality coffee, and scratch-made coffee syrups. Pre-order what you want, or drop by the cafe on weekdays.
As caterers, they also go above and beyond. Their selection of high-quality artisanal and nutritious ingredients, freshly prepared meals, and culinary tableaus are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the tastebuds. Co-founder Tyler says they love showcasing quality, locally sourced ingredients, arranging them to highlight color, texture, and design. “Every item has a story,” he says. “It was grown somewhere, made somewhere, by people who care.”
Grazing! Essential Eats Grazing’s specialty “Grazing Table” options are curated spreads of charcuterie and cheese items that are feasts for your eyes. You can create a custom table, selecting from fresh hand-cut meats and cheeses, fresh and dried fruits and nuts, honey, dark chocolate, fresh-made herb butters, hummus, chutneys, dipping sauces, and a variety of breads and crackers. Specialty Grazing Tables range from sushi to breads and spreads, cheese only, fruit, or crudité boards. Appropriate for five people or 500, they are perfect for celebrating a special occasion, watching a big game, or enjoying a fun date night in!
Dietary restrictions? No problem. Vegetarian and vegan options are on the menu, created with intention, not as an afterthought! Specialty ingredients include a selection of vegan meats, cheeses and herb butters, agave, and cornichons. Food allergies can be accommodated.
Fine Dining Where You Are. Want to impress your friends or host a fancy dinner party? Essential Eats Grazing has you covered with beautiful & elegant place settings for up to 8 guests at your home or business, with seasonal menu options, executed by Chef Kayley.
Business Catering: These breakfast or lunch boxes or platters are not your usual bagels with schmear. Enjoy pearl sugar waffles with fresh fruit and nuts, or breakfast burritos - even avocado toast - for breakfast. Equally unique, fresh, and satisfying lunchtime grazing tables, boxes or platters are available for pick-up or delivery Monday-Friday.
Customers are already raving online, with comments like these:
"I love that you are using LOCAL products at their peak of freshness & taste."
"This place is amazing! The food is fresh and the salad was fantastic. I highly recommend."
The owners make a great team. Both began their careers and met while working in catering for corporate and higher education institutions – Tyler with a degree in hospitality and restaurant administration, and Kayley with a bachelor's in Culinary Nutrition.
“I loved that the culinary degree program focused on plant-based culinary techniques, using nutritiously-sound (research-based) cooking methods, that allowed me to pursue a career as a nutritionist,” Kayley explained.
“It was so rewarding to guide people toward improved health and well-being, through better nutrition,” she continued, “but my heart has always been in the actual preparation of the food. I am passionate about bringing food to life. I couldn’t wait to get back into the kitchen again.”
Tyler shared that their team works hard to understand what your event means to you, and they craft the menu to bring that out through food. “Dining together can create a memory, or re-create a memory. Who hasn’t smelled something cooking as they walked into a room and felt like they just stepped into their past?”
Together, Kayley and Tyler want to help cafe customers and catering clients, alike, create beautiful moments through dinner parties, catered functions, or even weekly meals, adding: “We hope to see you soon, and thank you for all your support in this new endeavor for us!”
"The food is amazing! The breakfast avocado toast box was so good!"
"Food brings people together & creates long-lasting memories."