Today we’d like to introduce you to Meri Ruiz
Hi Meri, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
The creation of Dolce Grazing began while I was home on maternity leave. My newborn son was just 2 months old when I decided to pursue my love for cheese and turn it into a purpose. I love food, entertaining and bringing people together, but I don’t necessarily love cooking, especially for large crowds. With this in mind, the idea of curating meat and cheese boards seemed like the right and practical choice. The ultimate deciding factor was a piece of live edge walnut slab that my husband and I decided not to use in our home reno after all. We had spent a couple hundred dollars on and it was just sitting there in a corner with no purpose (or so I thought). The next day, I jumped on Pinterest looking for ideas and came across the grazing table (spread or grazing station) trend in Australia. I knew right that moment, that I had found a purpose – not only for the walnut slab but for my love of cheese and food! One of my favorites quotes of all times is that of icon and legend Cesar Chavez – “If you really want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat with him… the people who give you their food give you their heart.”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This journey has not been a smooth sailing by any means. Trying to manage my business all while working a full-time job and tending to my family is one of the hardest things I have ever done. Talk about some serious multi-tasking. Throw in the pandemic and everything else – total madness! The biggest obstacle has been the COVID pandemic. I started my business in January of 2020 and the pandemic hit about two months later. Several months full of bookings were cancelled and I had to find a way to stay afloat. My business plan switched from grazing tables to grazing boxes as it was ideal given the circumstances. Word started to get out about my business and orders started flowing in. That’s how I managed to stay open during the pandemic.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Dolce Grazing, we specialize in artfully curated meat and cheese boards, boxes and grazing tables. We follow the seasons to bring you the freshest and locally sourced products possible. We thrive on creativity and enjoy customizing everything to meet your needs. If you can dream it, we can do it!
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
My definition of success is comprised of many things. The following are my definitions of success. Doing your best – it may be hard to feel proud of your efforts, especially if trying your best did not lead to big results. One that does not come naturally to people is self-belief. There will be people who do not believe in you or admire your work, but that should not stop you from believing you will succeed. Waking up and feeling grateful every single day. Some days it is easier said than done especially during hard times. Not giving up and celebrating the smallest victories. Work hard towards your goals, even if it takes time and when you reach or overcome an obstacle, celebrate!
Contact Info:
- Email: dolcegrazing@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.dolce-grazing.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dolcegrazing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dolcegrazing
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