Walk into The Boardroom by Graze & Gala on a weekday afternoon, and you’ll likely find Meredith Grey assembling charcuterie that looks more like edible art than lunch. Imported Manchego from Spain, French cornichons, Italian salamis, and jams you’ve never heard of (but won’t forget), all arranged with an eye for color and texture that would make a food stylist swoon. But what’s even more impressive than her boards is the story behind them.
A graduate of Texas A&M, Gray didn’t plan to become the Brazos Valley’s reigning queen of cured meats and artisan cheeses. In fact, before 2020, she considered herself a picky eater. “I wanted to challenge myself to try new things, meats, cheeses, fruits, olives, so every day during lockdown I’d make a little charcuterie board and post it to Instagram,” Gray recalls.
Then the messages started rolling in.
“Can you make one for me and my girls tonight?” “I don’t feel like doing it, yours are so cute!” What began as a personal challenge turned into a full-blown business practically overnight. Soon, strangers were sliding into her DMs with orders for charcuterie boards. Graze & Gala was born.
A Place to Gather and Graze
When she opened her first brick-and-mortar location at Lake Walk, Gray says the move transformed not just her business but her entire community. “I loved Lake Walk from the moment I moved here. It just felt like the heart of Aggieland. I couldn’t picture myself anywhere else,” she says.
With the storefront came more than just foot traffic; it brought real connection. Hosting events, meeting regulars, and collaborating with neighbors like The Stella Hotel and 6Whiskey (whose shirt she proudly wears during our interview) added a new layer to her business. Whether she’s hand-delivering a grazing board to Woodhouse Spa’s VIP suite or teaming up with Destination Bryan’s ambassador program, Gray has become a cornerstone of Lake Walk’s culinary scene.
Not Just Charcuterie
Gray’s approach is rooted in quality. “Anyone can put together a charcuterie board, but I focus on items you can’t find anywhere else in College Station,” she says. That includes imported cheeses and meats, but also premium crackers, olives, jams, and accoutrements that elevate a snack to an experience.
And The Boardroom isn’t just a cheese shop. Over time, the business has grown to include curated wines (with delivery available, thanks to a cartridge permit), scratch-made sandwiches, fresh salads, and brunch packages. It’s become a one-stop shop for anyone planning an event, whether that’s a casual girls’ night in or a micro-wedding with curated catering and wine pairings.
“People used to have to go to three or four different places to get everything they needed. Now, we handle it all,” says Gray. Delivery, setup, wine pairings, desserts from local bakeries, even small-scale event planning, it’s all part of the package.
The Boardroom Experience
The space itself also doubles as an intimate event venue. “If you’re hosting 15 to 20 people and don’t want to spend thousands on a big venue, The Boardroom is perfect,” Gray explains. Complete with seating, catering, wine, and décor from local partners like Poppin and Alphalette, it’s a turnkey option for showers, birthdays, corporate events, and more. The Board Room also regularly hosts charcuterie classes, where guests learn how to create beautiful boards at home.
And the best part? There’s more to come.
With the opening of The Lumen development, Lake Walk will soon unveil a lakeside boardwalk. Fittingly, The Boardroom will become The Boardroom on the Boardwalk. It’s a poetic next step for a business that’s grown, quite literally, board by board.
A Lake Walk: Already A Landmark
In a world filled with fast-casual dining and templated catering menus, Gray’s commitment to craftsmanship, charcuterie, and community feels refreshingly personal. She’s not just building a business; she’s helping shape the identity of Lake Walk itself.
“Lake Walk, life is here,” she says with a smile, and for Gray, so is the future of food, friendship, and feta. Watch her full interview below.
