Acts Of Graze is a new small cafe in Swedesboro offering fresh sandwiches, salads, snacks and coffee… as well as innovative charcuterie box arrangements, full catering capabilities and events!
I stopped in recently to catch up with owner Melissa, who has one of those stories you just have to appreciate… where she started from home creating beautiful and delicious charcuterie boards for her family gatherings during the pandemic, and has grown into a permanent cafe and kitchen location with catering.
And all of this success has really happened without any advertising… Simply “Word Of Mouth” from customers telling their friends and family about Acts Of Graze’s delicious and creative food.
The location for Acts of Graze is in the heart of downtown Swedesboro on the corner of Kings Highway and Lake Avenue… on the right end of a small building which looks over to the Swedesboro Municipal Building. A new large apartment complex is being developed around the corner.
Inside, Melissa has done a amazing job creating a comfortable cafe space which has a “country kitchen” feel to it, offering spaces for grab-and-go snacks and drinks, as well as several tables for indoor dining.
You can also order freshly brewed coffee.. iced coffees that you can pair up with delicious treats!
During my visit I had an amazing Roasted Red sandwich for lunch which featured provolone and salami, with red roasted pepper jam and arugula on a club roll. Full of flavor, you can definitely taste the fresh ingredients!
But likely the most innovative aspect of Acts of Graze… which I really have not seen in any other South Jersey cafe (and you know I’ve been to hundreds)… is her Charcuterie Bar!
First, if you’re unfamiliar with charcuterie… originally started by the French featuring a variety of prepared meats on a board, it has evolved into including cheeses, fruits, crackers and more… Honestly, I think really anything that is laid-out as easy to grab “finger foods” can qualify as charcuterie.
For example, on her website Melissa features a breakfast oriented board which includes croissants, bagels, hard boiled eggs, fruits and spreads… as well as a variety of prepared meats.
A beautiful presentation is also key to the perfect charcuterie board … similar to how a florist can take individual flowers and turn them into a beautiful bouquet.
For her Charcuterie Bar, Melissa has a custom designed cart which features a variety of different ingredients that you can then custom order a charcuterie box to dine within the store or take to-go.
Melissa thought ahead when designing this cart in that she can take it to off-site events where it is sure to become an interactive, fun and delicious part of your gathering.
And this is where things start blending into her full catering business. You can order larger prepared charcuterie boards for your next event, and she really has full capabilities and talent to cater your function of basically any size. Sandwiches, hot entrees, salads and more… a complete catering menu!
It’s a smart move for her with the Acts of Graze location because she not only has the permanent cafe for a steady stream of customers, but the commercial kitchen space needed to support the catering side of her business.
Other fun things that Melissa is doing for dine-in customers is a monthly grilled cheese special such as Brie with bacon!
And with her cozy sized dining space she has had a lot of success already with events such as the upcoming Winter Paint, Snack and Sip event this Friday… and also has planned are a Galentine’s Brunch and more!
The Acts of Graze cafe space is also available for private events where you can take over the dining area with Melissa providing all of the food for your small party.
Acts of Graze is open Wednesday-Saturday from noon to 4pm. Melissa plans on extending her hours over the next few weeks and will also be offering local delivery! Follow along on Facebook to keep up with the latest!
Links and Location
Acts of Graze – Kitchen & Catering
1454 Kings Highway
Swedesboro NJ
Wednesday-Saturday : Noon to 4pm