These Grapevine-made ‘grazing boards’ go beyond charcuterie with colorful and eclectic spreads

Ayesha Patel is a 23-year-old Grapevine entrepreneur who has made a business selling “grazing boards.” Think charcuterie boards, but with a wide variety of food, not limited to meat and cheese.

Her business, YaYaYum Boards, sells everything from classic meat and cheese boards to brunch-themed boards from dessert boards to custom-themed boards for events and celebrations. The boards are arranged in an aesthetically pleasing manner with various elements and garnishes, in an array of bright colors.

Patel, who studied marketing in college, said she always knew she was creative, but never had a specific passion. In May 2019, she made a cheese board for a family member’s graduation party, winging it and building it on the spot.

“At that moment, it was just a really cool experience that everyone was watching me do something I really like doing,” Patel said, and that’s when she decided to try selling her creations.

A month later, she sold a cheese board to her first official client through a Facebook group.

Now, almost a year-and-a-half later, she’s opened a shop in Grapevine and her business is thriving. Patel estimates she’s sold more than 1,000 boards, her business growing from word-of-mouth and through social media.

YaYaYum Boards has also catered events, adapting what is usually a shared eating experience for the pandemic. Patel has converted the classic board elements into a personalized option for events: She assembles personal charcuterie bites in bamboo cones.

She also said she’s working to create individual boards for customers, with separate packing.

Patel tries to use a variety of vendors for the boards, like bagels for the brunch board from a shop in Flower Mound and custom-designed cookies from a local bakery for a birthday party board. Cheeses are sourced from Europe or specialty grocery stores, Patel said.

“I’ve eaten a lot of cheese,” Patel said. “I know what’s good and I know what is a good combination.”

She has big plans for her store in Grapevine, though it’s only open for takeout due to the pandemic. She’s taught workshops before, but when the virus dies down, she said she wants to start hosting grazing board classes and teach customers how to assemble the “perfect bite.”

“I really hope I can train people to do what I do,” Patel said. “I really want to grow. I want to make this business, eventually in the future, possibly where people can sit down to enjoy a cheese board with a glass of wine in our store.”

For now, she’s enjoying networking with the various wineries in downtown Grapevine. YaYaYum Boards is taking orders for Thanksgiving boards through Nov. 23. Its menu of various grazing boards can be found online.

YaYaYum Boards is located at 112 E. Texas St. in Grapevine and is only taking orders for curbside pickup.