Mingle and Graze [March 2023]

I'm really racking my brain to remember how this little outing came about. I mean, other than just a few totally amazing mutual wine-loving friends [in the form of two of my favorite humans, Sherri and Hannah] deciding to get together for wine and tapas. That part is not in question. How did we end up in Chandler!? Do either of you lovely ladies remember how we found Mingle and Graze? However it happened, I simply love that introducing a friend to a friend can breed new friendships!! Of course, Sherri, Hannah, and I are all travel nurses, so this creates a special bond all on its own.

Could it be that it was simply in the middle of an imaginary triangle in which we all lived, or could it be the description of the place… “artisanal Cheese & Grazing Boards. Curated artisanal cheeses, cured meats, and fresh accompaniments designed for gatherings, gifts, and unforgettable grazing.” Regardless, we found it and planned to meet up here, and if I remember correctly, we enjoyed our “mingle and graze” very much!! Mingle and Graze was opened by a husband-and-wife team, and I totally love the beginning of the story so far… sounds a bit familiar too!! Haha!!

Mahfam Moeeni-Alarcon and Cristobal like to say theirs is a love story that starts with a mutual love for hospitality. They met at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa, where they were both working as banquet cooks. They fell in love and soon married right there at the Biltmore. How romantic, right!? Cristobal has experience in restaurant management, and Mahfam is a chef and cheese specialist. Mahfam then started working for Whole Foods as their wine buyer. The couple got the idea of "grazing tables" from its popularity in New Zealand and Australia, and just to get her feet wet, Mahfam began to sell her marinated olives at the local farmers' market.

If she didn’t sell out, then she would drop samples at local bars and resorts in the area to get the taste of her products in front of the public. Mahfam soon added pickles, soups, and other snacks to her booth options. Then a friend asked for help with her daughter’s wedding, asking if she would be able to set up cheese boards and cocktails around the reception area to feed 100 people. This really got the ball rolling, and when the husband and wife duo became busy, they had to decide if leaving their full-time jobs to jump on the charcuterie craze was going to be worth it for them. 

After years of working for someone else, the Alarcons decided to make the jump. Starting a new business and putting everything into it can be kind of scary. [believe me… we know all about that!] They introduced this new concept of grazing tables to the town of Chandler; it was the first of its kind in the state of Arizona. In the beginning, it was a little challenging, and there were things that they wanted that they had to give up. Mahfam says that “when you have a business, you can’t be flashy.” She holds her palm up, gesturing toward the restaurant surrounding her. “This is my flash.”

But their place became such a big hit that they doubled in size and had to open a brick-and-mortar location. This was in 2019, and it is the place where we met. They offer crafted charcuterie boards, gourmet sandwiches, crisp salads, and a dinner menu. They also have a boutique wine list, along with local beers and handcrafted cocktails. We particularly enjoyed this Lapis Luna Zinfandel [above]; in fact, we bought a bottle to share. Honestly, I think we also liked the label. “Look beyond the dangers of the forest. Be brave.” We sat out on the patio and thoroughly enjoyed the wine, the company, and a couple of those crafted charcuterie boards I just talked about. [seen below]

Now it just so happens that right across the street from Mingle and Graze, the annual Downtown Chandler Barbecue Festival (historically featuring beer, bourbon, and BBQ) was in full swing. It takes place each March at Chandler Park in downtown Chandler, Arizona. They offer Texas-style BBQ and have live music all day.

While I did not attend the Chandler Barbecue Festival with Sherri and Hannah, it was fun to people watch for a little bit. LOL Next week Wine with Wixy will be going into the “ENTRANCE” of a new wine bar that was hiding in plain sight!!

Cheers to you my wine loving friends, and TTFN!!