Husband-and-wife team opens Graze Craze in Bay Shore, LI’s first

This Brightwaters couple is thinking outside the bun. And the plate.

Even the fork and knife.

Joe and Amy Rago have opened Graze Craze at 18 Fourth Ave. in Bay Shore, bringing handcrafted charcuterie boards, picnic boxes, catering spreads and grab-and-go options to Long Island’s South Shore.

The husband-and-wife team brings decades of culinary and hospitality experience to the new venture. Joe Rago, a Culinary Institute of America graduate and professional chef, has spent more than 30 years working in restaurants across New York City, New Orleans and Key West, reads a press announcement. Amy Rago, a speech-language pathologist, also spent more than two decades working in the restaurant industry.

“We’re excited to bring a unique combination of celebration, exceptional service, and healthier food options to the Long Island community through Graze Craze,” Joe Rago said in an announcement. “Currently, there’s nothing like Graze Craze in this area.”

The 1,100-square-foot shop specializes in handcrafted grazing boards made in-house by trained “Grazologists” using Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables, house-made dips, crackers and sweets.

Menu options include “Gone Grazey,” featuring a mix of meats, cheeses and produce; “The Vegegrazian,” a vegetarian-focused spread; and “Sweet & Grazey,” a dessert-style board with chocolate, fruit and cookies.

The Bay Shore shop also offers catering services for corporate meetings, parties and special events, along with gluten-free options.

Founded in 2018 and franchising since 2021, Graze Craze has rapidly expanded across the United States and Canada, surpassing 100 locations in less than five years as charcuterie-style dining has exploded in popularity.

There are two other locations in New York, but no other Long Island spots, other than Bay Shore.

Graze Craze Bay Shore is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

— courtesy photo/Graze Craze on Facebook