Bre Parkes’s catering company Gather and Graze went from side hustle to full-time job last November, after less than a year. How? Have a scroll through the impeccably styled, larger-than-life grazing tables on her Instagram page.
On the up and up, last week she moved into a newly minted space on King William Road that’s part cafe, part “catering headquarters”.
Parkes was operating out of a friend’s cafe (after hours) when her soon-to-be landlord popped up in her inbox. “Turns out a friend of [his] follows me on Instagram and thought I might need a kitchen,” Parkes says. “I literally thought it was some ‘Nigerian Prince’ scam.”
Her platter prowess is now on show six days a week. There are shrunk-down options for one or two – your choice of cheese, cured meats and dips comes with bread and in-season extras. Or rally the troops for a pay-per-head platter (there’s a breakfast version, too).
Parkes rattles off a list of hyperlocal, long-time suppliers: Say Cheese, Barossa Fine Foods, Bottega Rotolo and Rustico Bakery.
If accompanying vino springs to mind – a liquor license is en route. Parkes foresees late-week knock-offs and “seafood and spritz” nights, in time for summer. The 60-person space will also accommodate functions and workshops.
Beyond platters, the simple menu features a succinct selection of breakfast staples, salads and sandwiches. Everything can be made to take away, or there’s a fridge full of ready-to-go options.
Sweets-wise, go for From the Wild vegan desserts, house-made vegan cakes and Bircher muesli, or whatever else Parkes feels like baking. A batch of scones is in the oven when Broadsheet visits. Caffeine comes courtesy of 1645 Coffee Roasters.
The former sandwich bar has had a few lives. Wielding her interior-design background, Parkes and partner Ryan (who’s a plumber) re-kitted it in six weeks with help from a few tradie mates. “It was a shell when we walked in,” she says. The relaxed, soft-toned interior is very easy on the eye, with peach and navy contrasts, handcrafted bench seats and a series of for-sale snaps of coastal Italy. “Dog friendly” puts it lightly; there’s “pooch parking” out front and free doggo treats.
Gather and Graze sits separate from King William Road’s shoulder-to-shoulder eateries. “Some businesses might be lost [there],” says Parkes. “Whistle & Flute round the corner is a destination. I kind of want to get to that here.”
Gather and Graze
23 King William Road, Unley
Hours:
Mon to Fri 7am–3.30pm
Sat 7.30am– 2pm
This article first appeared on Broadsheet on October 24, 2018. Menu items may have changed since publication.
